European bridge championships: Ireland scored the maximum 25 points to beat Latvia in round 22 of the Prokom Software SA European bridge championships in Warsaw yesterday and emphasised its claim to a place on the podium at the end of the event.
Tom Hanlon, Hugh McGann, Nick FitzGibbon and Adam Mesbur led from the start and always looked like bringing in a big score.
The Irish team is going from strength to strength and has recorded three maximum 25s from its last four matches. Significantly, the Irish have opened a 13-point gap over the fourth-placed team, Hungary, and have edged closer to the silver medal position, standing just nine points behind Norway. Ireland and Norway will meet in the second-last round on Friday evening. Italy maintained its commanding lead by beating Israel 19-11.
Following round 22 the teams had a break. Play resumes this morning, when Ireland meets Serbia, then Wales, teams currently in 21st and 22nd positions. Ireland should win both matches.
A contributory factor to the Irish success so far has been careful deployment of his players by non-playing captain David Jackson. Hanlon and McGann, a pair renowned for aggression and stamina, have played 17 matches. Veterans FitzGibbon and Mesbur, who first played as a pair for Ireland in 1975, have played 11. John Carroll and Tommy Garvey, who have been in the shadow of their more experienced team-mates until now, have consistently scored highly in their 14 matches and have claimed their places among the elite of world-class players.
England, following a 23-7 victory over Olympiad title-holders Russia, leads the women's championship. The Netherlands beat Scotland 20-10 to go second. Germany, despite losing 11-19 to France, is third. Ireland has dropped out of the top half of the competition for the first time following a 3-25 defeat by Denmark. The Irish women face another stiff test today when they take on Germany. Hungary, in round 13, should be easier opponents.
Ireland's seniors, the over-57s, had a good win over England in round 10 when John Comyn, Joe Moran, Enda Glynn and Paul Scannell combined to win by 21 points to 9. The Irish seniors face stiff opposition in their next two encounters against Denmark and Italy.
Standings
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP: Leaders after 22 rounds: 1 Italy 436, 2 Norway 407, 3 IRELAND 398, 4 Hungary 385, 5 Iceland 384, 6 Sweden 380.5, 7 Netherlands 366, 8 Denmark 365.5, 9 Poland 361, 10 Israel 360. 33 teams compete.
WOMEN: after 11 rounds - 1 England 213, 2 Netherlands 209, 3 Germany. 12 IRELAND 161, 22 teams compete.
SENIORS: after 11 rounds - 1 Turkey 208, 2 Sweden 200, 3 France 198, 13th IRELAND and Wales 142. 16 teams compete.
The championships continue until Saturday August 26th.