Three Irish pairs are in contention for places in the semi-final of the mixed pairs event at the European open bridge championships in Tenerife.
Leading the Irish challenge at the end of the second session yesterday were Anna Onishuk and Karel de Raeymaeker, Dublin, who had two above average sessions to record a score of 51.8 per cent and 77th place of the 211 competing pairs.
Shirlie Brown and Philip Dufton, Northern Ireland, after a good first set of 57.1 per cent, had a poor second set and are on 51.58 per cent, in 81st place just ahead of Bríd Kemple and Terry Walsh, Dublin, 82nd, who after a slow start had a 58.8 per cent second session.
The first 70 pairs are guaranteed a place in the next round but slender margins separate 50th to 100th place. Any of the three pairs could secure a semi-final place with a good third session but Onishuk and de Raeymaeker, who have been consistent over the first two sets, look most likely.
The remaining Irish pairs, Sandie and Jeff Millership, Moyna and Greer Mckenzie, Northern Ireland, Lucy and John Phelan, Waterford, Mary Finn and Seán O'Lubaigh, Dublin, and Antoinette and Toss McGee, Ardee, are out of contention.
Leading the field after two rounds are 1. Harasimovicz-Lesniewski, Poland; 61.85 per cent; 2. Van Zwol-Bertens, Netherlands 60.32; 3 Constantini-Casterelli, Italy 59.91.
The 70 or so qualifiers will be joined by players defeated in the later stages of the mixed teams which has now reached the semi-final stage.
Mixed teams quarter-finals results: Herbst, Israel/Netherlands 59; Armstrong, England/ Netherlands 50; Erichsen, Norway 76, Gitelman, USA/France 41; Levy, France 46; Brigada, Russia 38; Goldberg, Sweden 57, De Botton, Sweden/England 56.
The championships continue until July 2nd.