David Price – World Champion (2)

Having started the fifth of the six sixteen board sessions in the final against Poland down by an IMP and a bit, the England Seniors captured the lead and built on it, finishing the stanza ahead by 32. That didn't mean the World Championship was theirs, the Poles were sure to come back at them. And that's what they did. The final set saw early swings to Poland, who recovered 25 IMPs within nine boards.

A swing to each team and a flat boards left the unchanged, seven to England, now with four to play. I've heard since that people following on-line found it much harder watching than playing. If you're at the table yourself nerves and adrenalin kick in but what can the spectator do? Just will someone miles away to play the right card or make the right call. Poland was still pressing when this deal was placed on the table:

Game All
Dealer North
  • K9
  • 10
  • AQ107652
  • Q63
  • AJ6
  • AKQ2
  • J3
  • KJ97
N
W
E
S
  • Q1075
  • 54
  • 984
  • A1086
  • 8432
  • J98763
  • K
  • 42
West
North
East
South
Romanski
Price
Kowalski
Simpson
—
1
Pass
1
X
2
2
Pass
4
End

Poland pressed for game – another 4-3 fit but the only spot with any chance. Indeed, it seems that with just two diamonds and trump to lose, every chance of success. But David Price and Colin Simpson defended flawlessly. South led his diamond and Price overtook to play three rounds, forcing dummy to ruff while Simpson pitched both his clubs. Declarer could do no better than play ace and another trump but North won and gave his partner a club ruff, England +100.

West
North
East
South
Holland
Lasocki
Hallberg
Russyan
—
1
Pass
1
Pass
2
Pass
Pass
X
Pass
2
Pass
Pass
3
End

The delayed double expressed less strength and I doubt East realised his partner was that strong. That said had there been a better fit someone might well have bid more. Three diamonds had to fail by a trick and that was another +100 to England, 5 IMPs and the lead up to 12. The next three boards were tame but England made gains on all of them to take the world championship by 24 IMPs.

In Brazil the other winners were:

Bermuda Bowl (Open): USA – Zia Mahmood, Bob Hamman, Eric Rodwell, Jeff Meckstroth, Nick Nickell and Ralph Katz – beat Italy

Venice Cup (Women): China – Yan Ru, Dong Yongling, Sun Ming, Liu Yi Qian, Wang Wenfei and Wang Hongli – beat USA.

Published Saturday 26.Sep.2009