Issue: 11 Wednesday, 30th October 1996 3 Far East teams in semis; Defending champs advance Perhaps the balance of power is shifting. It wasnt long ago that Europe and North America dominated Intellectual sports should the world bridge scene. But this time three of the eight semifinalists are from the Far East Chinese Taipei and Indonesia in the Open and China in the Womens. be in Olympics Hodler Not only that, but its possible for all three to reach the finals Indonesia and Chinese Taipei will not play each other.The pairings for the Open semifinals are: Indonesia vs. Denmark Chinese Taipei vs. France Another unusual happening TWO North American teams have advanced to the Womens semifinals. Both the United States and Canada triumphed yesterday. This is the first time this has happened in a Womens eventalthough last years Bermuda Bowl final featured the United States and Canada in the final.Todays pairings in the Womens semifinals: Austria vs.The United States China vs. Canada Thats right Venice Cup champion Germany is NOT among the Womens semifinalists. Germany took Talking about Olympic plans are President Evangelos Nartis of the Hellenic Bridge Federation, front, and, left to right,WBF Presi- an early lead against Canada, but the Canadians took charge in the second quarter, gaining 30 IMPs.They dent José Damiani, IOC Vice President Marc Hodler and WBF picked up another 4 in the third quarter. Germany attempted a comeback over the final 16 boards, but fell Vice President Mazhar Jafri. well short, losing 140-112.5 Marc Hodler, vice president of the International Austria, the defending Olympiad Womens champion, took a 35-point lead in the first quarter against Olympic Committee, conferred with WBF President José Damiani and members of the WBF Executive yesterday, Great Britain, and the British never were able to stage the necessary comeback.The match was very tight discussing matters involving bridge, the WBF and the the rest of the way, but the winner was Austria, 134-108. Olympic movement. He made some highly interesting observations about bridge and the Olympics. In the Open, defending champion France had some uneasy moments during the second quarter of their At present, he said, there are really only two kinds of match with Russia. However,a big third quarter put the match beyond the reach of the Russians, and France games in the Olympicsphysical and technical.The physi- is still looking to repeat its 1992 triumph.The final tally was 203-128. cal require strength, the technical require various skills. All doubts about bridge being a unique game have Denmark was far behind Italy at the halfway mark, 97-56. But the third quarter was the biggest blowout been eliminated in my view. I strongly believe there should be a third category of sports in the Olympics. of the day Denmark outscored Italy, 76-11, for the quarter and 161-139 for the match. "The Olympic view is that the Olympic sports should Indonesia took the lead at the outset against Iceland and the issue was never in doubt this time the be sports that provide for better health. Mental health also is important.We should be proud of developing our Ice couldnt quell the Fire. Indonesia outscored Iceland in every quarter to win 180-115. minds.There definitely is a place in the future for intellec- The closest match of the day was between Chinese Taipei and Poland. Chinese Taipei took the lead in tual sports." He believes mind sports such as bridge and chess the first quarter, Poland closed most of the gap in the second, and pulled within 5 IMPs in the third.The should become part of the Winter Olympics. "We have fourth quarter was extremely hard-fought, but Chinese Taipei had the edge enough to win the match by so many thousands of competitors and staff at a Summer 10 IMPs 132-122. Olympics that we dont really want to add any more. But the Winter Olympics are smaller, and there are always In the Womens, China was very strong against Israel.The Chinese took a 42-point lead in the first quar- plenty of places where such mind games can be played." In answer to a question about bridges place in the ter, and they added another 25 in the second. Israel made a small comeback in the fourth quarter, but it Olympic scheme, Hodler said, "First admittance is provi- fell far short China advanced with a 151-86 victory. sional.We always look again at a sport after 12 to 18 months. Bridge will be reviewed next June.There is no Big gains in the first and third quarters did the trick for the United States against the Netherlands.The doubt in my mind that the recognition of bridge will be Americans moved ahead with a 151-101 triumph. reaffirmed." 2 Wednesday, 30 October 1996 1996 World Bridge Team Olympiad Quarterfinal Results PROGRAM OPEN Country 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session Total World Mixed FRANCE 55 31 57 60 203 RUSSIA 40 37 22 29 128 Teams Championship DENMARK 32 24 76 29 161 ITALY 50 47 11 26 134 Swiss Teams ICELAND 16 23 39 37 115 10-Board Matches INDONESIA 47 35 58 40 180 POLAND 35 21 34 32 122 Wednesday CHINESE TAIPEI 51 15 29 37 132 14.00 - 15.30 Round 5 15.50 - 17.20 Round 6 20.00 - 21.30 Round 7 LADIES 21.50 - 23.20 Round 8 Country 1st Session 2nd Session 3rd Session 4th Session Total Thursday ISRAEL 11 21 25 29 86 CHINA 53 46 31 21 151 11.00 - 12.30 Round 9 13.45 - 15.15 Round 10 NETHERLANDS 25 36 9 37 107 15.35 - 17.05 Round 11 UNITED STATES 47 30 47 27 151 17.25 - 18.55 Round 12 CANADA 33 53 39 15 140 GERMANY 37 19 35 24 112.5* Friday 11.00 - 12.30 Round 13 GREAT BRITAIN 17 35 30 26 108 12.50 - 14.30 Round 14 AUSTRIA 52 26 29 27 134 14.40 - 16.10 Round 15 * 2.5 point penalty Justice prevails! Semifinals (Friday) By Jon Sveindal 3 x 10 boards The Norwegian team was among the favorites After this Stayman sequence, Helgemo led the {5, and 17.30 - 19.00 before this championship got under way, but high hopes declarer put up the ace. He played a small spade to his 20.45 - 22.15 and expectations were not fulfilled. However, most king, smoothly ducked by Helgemo.A club to the queen 22.30 - 24.00 Norwegians will find some consolation in the fact that was taken by Helness, but at this point Helness made a Geir Helgemo was named the Bridge Personality of the very uncharacteristic error. Instead of returning part- Year at the annual general meeting of the International ners suit, he played the [10. Souths jack was taken by Bridge Press Association on Tuesday. the ace, and Helgemo continued with the 9 to set up Final (Saturday) And he sure is a great personality. His manners at the 7. 3 x 12 boards the table are impeccable, and he never gives the oppo- In with the queen, declarer now played a diamond nents any clue as to how he thinks things are going. He to the jack again ducked by Helgemo without a 10.30 - 12.15 always puts up a fierce fight, amazingly often ending up flicker. The came the ]A, the ]K and a heart to the 12.30 - 14.15 victorious. queen. Helgemo discarded the eight and ten of dia- 14.30 - 16.15 This board against old Dutch rivals from the monds! Bermuda Bowl in Santiago in 1993 may illustrate these I am certain that Jan Westerhof could smell that points. something fishy was going on but what? Finally he went for the endplay.A spade put Helgemo in and in North/South Game. Dealer East. a way he was endplayed but only after he had cashed [ Q 5 4 3 the {K and {3 for down one. ] Q 3 2 SPECIAL INDONESIAN { A 4 PRESS GREETINGS } Q 10 9 8 We need that paper! [ A 9 7 2 N [ 10 8 ] 9 ] J 10 8 6 5 First, we salute the participants and the W E { K 10 8 5 3 2 { 9 7 A large supply of the A3 paper that we use WBF and HBF Executives for hosting this S Olympiad. We wish to thank the President of } 7 6 } A J 3 2 to print the Daily News was taken from the [ K J 6 the Indonesian Bridge Association, Lieutenant- Daily News office yesterday. This is special ] A K 7 4 General Mr Wiranto and his partners (Mr Roy { Q J 6 paper paper that will be very difficult to Tirtaji, Mr Surya Paloh, Mr Edward Possumah and friends) for coming to Rhodes and giving } K 5 4 replace in the limited time we have left in this their support to the fine effort of our team. tournament. West North East South God bless us all.Amen. Helgemo Jansen Helness Westerhof If you have the paper, please, please return JEFFREY RAWIS and FRIENDS Pass 1NT it. We really need it to produce your daily (Media Indonesia Daily Newspaper) Pass 2} Pass 2] newspaper. Pass 3NT All Pass Rhodes, Greece 1996 Wednesday, 30 October 1996 3 Great Britain v Spain Womens Series (Round 21) By Tony Gordon With only one round remaining in the round-robin, In the Closed Room, Great Britain bid unopposed In the Open Room, Spain played 3NT from the there was only one qualifying position up for grabs in to 4] and Pat Davies made 13 tricks on the lead of the South seat after North had shown only diamonds.