IRELAND had a good start in the mixed teams championship at the World Bridge Olympiad in Rhodes yesterday. Pat Walshe, Grainne Barton, Neil Kennedy and Anne Dillon beat France 18-12 in round one.
In the next round Niall Toibin, freed from his duties as captain of the Irish Open team, replaced Kennedy and the Irish continued the success, beating Germany 17-13
Seventy-eight teams from 33 nations are competing in the mixed event. They will play 15 rounds of 10-board matches in a Swiss movement. The top four go on to semi-finals on Friday, with the final on Saturday.
The final round of the open championship qualifying stages ended in drama when Ireland beat Spain 18-12 and put an end to Spanish hopes. Ireland finished 16th in group A.
In the same group, Denmark's 17-13 win against Poland was enough to put them into the quarter-finals by one point, as New Zealand defeated Kenya 24-6 to just lose out. France, Indonesia and Poland filled the top three places.
In Group B Russia beat Kenya 25-4 to snatch fourth spot from Israel and Great Britain, as neither country could get a decisive score in their head-to-head match, which Israel won 17-13: Russia joins Italy, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia in the quarter-finals.
The vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, Mr Marc Hodler, of Switzerland, visited the bridge olympiad yesterday. Since the IOC has already recognised bridge as a sport, Mr Hodler's visit was seen as a significant step towards bridge taking its place in future Olympic Games
Open Championship Qualifying Round final tables: Group A - 1, France 691; 2, Indonesia 676; 3, Poland 642; 4, Denmark 633; 5, New Zealand 632; 6, Sweden 615; 7, Spain 607; 8, Japan 602; 9, Austria and South Africa 593; 11, China 580; 12, Canada 577, and 16, Ireland 531.
Group B - 1, Italy 692; 2, Chinese Taipei 659; 3, Iceland 652; 4, Russia 645; 5, Israel 643; 6, Great Britain 636; 7, Netherlands 633; 8, Norway 629; 9, USA 620; 10, Brazil 608; 11, India 601, and 12, Australia 572. Seventy-one teams competed.
Quarter-finals (64-board matches) scores after 32 boards: Open championship - France -86, Russia 77, Italy 97, Denmark 56, Indonesia 82, Iceland 39, Chinese Taipei 66, Poland 56.
Women's Championship: China 99, Israel 32, USA 77, Netherlands 61, Canada 86, Germany 56, Austria 78, Great Britain 52.
Mixed teams (after two rounds): 1, Romanovska (Latvia) 46; 2, Nahmens (France) 45; 3, Pokorna (Czech Republic) 44; joint 4, Bradley (USA), Cervi (Italy), Valeanu (France), Zobu (Turkey) all 42; 23, Walshe (Ireland) 35. Seventy-eight teams are competing.