The world championship schedule was completely disrupted by the one day break for COVID. From a leisurely pace of 48 boards per day as was planned, days are more packed for the players. Each day has seen 64 boards, more taxing for players. Sometime back, WBF had kept a ceiling of 60 boards per day but that needed to be given the go by.
In the Bermuda Bowl event, Netherlands, who are ahead of their opponents by 114 imps, appear to be awaiting the winner of a too close to call match between the USA and Switzerland. The latter is up by 4 imps.
BB Semi Final Scores
In the Venice cup, Sweden are ahead of their rivals Poland by 23 imps which is not too big a gap. Turkey, on the other hand are a comfortable 45 imps ahead of England.
We left India and France 5 imps away from each other last night with France in lead. Today, Indians changed gears. Anil Padhye-Rajesh Dalal and Subroto Saha-Sukamal Das took on Michael Abecasses-Alain Levy and Dominique Pilon-Philippe Marill. Alain Levy and Dominique Pilon are both world champions, Levy won the World Bridge Olympiads twice, Pilon won the 1982 Rosenblum. Marc Bompis-Philippe Soulet, who were sitting out for this set, are also former world champions. Three of this French team (LLevy-Abecassis and Soulet) were part of the heart breaking loss by 1 IMP (in the quarter finals of senior event) to Denmark in 2019 at Wuhan. They were in the hunt. French pairings mostly play Standard system without too much gadgetry.
India Seniors started off with a bang. In board 18, they gained 9 imp when they caught their opponents speeding to 1NT. 3 down and +500. Another penalty came India's way when they doubled a 4S and collected 500 again. +9 IMPs. After the first 10 boards, Indians had scored 32 IMPs without reply. France gained 6 when they bid and made 3NT. This had defense which was not found. In the very next board, France drew blood by catching Indians in a 1NT doubled. -9 IMPs. But that was a brief French resurgence. Next two boards saw Indians extending their lead by two big boards for +25 IMPs. In one, after a pass from his right, Sukamal opened a all Vul 3C with KQTxxx and a meaty 12 HCP. Pilon had 16 HCP and 5 spades with 5332 distribution. He bid 3NT and played there with Axx in clubs. When dummy turned up with Jx in clubs, the "preempt" worked and Indians soon collected 3 down. At the other table, Abecassis holding the same hand opened 1C. Rajesh-Anil had no difficulty in reaching 4S and making 10 tricks. +14 IMPs. India ended the set 73-40 ahead.
India still carry a 48 IMP lead into the final session and should be fancying their chances of making the first entry into the finals of a world championship.
And we are with the Indian team all the way!
In the Wuhan Cup event, France are comfortably ahead of Germany. In the other semi final, USA1 is up 23 imps on Italy and that match could go to the wire.