Italy beat Poland 269 to 249 to win the open championship at the 11th World Bridge Olympiad, which ended in Maastricht on Saturday.
The Italians were in front for most of the 128-deal final, although the Poles rallied late in the game to lead by three points with 11 hands to play. Italy, who are also the European champions, finally got the upper hand when they brought home two doubled games in succession.
It was Italy's fourth Olympiad title, equalling the number held by France. The team was Noberto Bocchi, Dano De Falco, Giorgio Deboin, Guido Ferraro, Lorenzo Lauria and Alfredo Versace.
The USA team of Mildred Breed, Petra Hamman, Joan Jackson, Robin Klar, Shawn Quinn and Peggy Sutherland retained the women's title for North America by defeating Canada 176 to 144 in the final.
The result was in doubt up to the last three of the 96 deals. It was the USA's fourth women's Olympiad success.
The transnational mixed teams event was won by Pinhas Romik's e-bridge team of John Mohan, Jill Mayers, Sam Lev, Irina Levitina, Piotr Gawrys and Migry Zur Campanile.
Bridge magazine's computer ratings, updated at the end of the Olympiad, put Italy top, followed by USA and Poland. Ireland is ranked 23rd out of 89 countries. USA, Germany and Canada head the women's rankings, in which Ireland is 46th.
Olympiad results: Open: 1, Italy; 2, Poland; 3, USA. Women's: 1, USA; 2, Canada; 3, Germany. Senior (over-55): 1, USA; 2, France; 3, Sweden. Universities: 1, Austria; 2, Italy; 3, Denmark. Transnational mixed: 1, Romik (USA, Israel & Poland); 2, Chemla (France); 3, Wernle (Austria).