| 4th European Champions Cup | Page 4 | Bulletin 5 - Sunday evening 16 October 2005 |
| |
||
The Final: fourth segment
Well, effectively over it was, the final margin being 78 to Parioli.
As a tribute to the good spirit in which the match was played by the losing team as well, here are two hands from the final segment.
| Board 5. Dlr: North/NS | ||
| ♠ K Q 3 ♥ Q 10 ♦ K J 10 6 3 ♣ 8 3 2 | ||
♠ J 9 6 4 ♥ J 6 4 ♦ 9 8 2 ♣ 10 7 5 |  | ♠ A 8 7 2 ♥ 5 2 ♦ A Q 7 5 4 ♣ 6 4 |
| ♠ 10 5 ♥ A K 9 8 7 3 ♦ ♣ A K Q J 9 | ||
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South |
| Sementa | Schaltz D | Angelini | Schaltz P |
| 1NT | Pass | 2♦ | |
| Pass | 2NT | Pass | 3♣ |
| Pass | 3♦ | Pass | 3♥ |
| Pass | 3NT | Pass | 4♣ |
| Pass | 4♦ | Pass | 4♠ |
| Pass | 4NT | Pass | 6♥ |
| All pass |
Easy enough after the weak NT opening; Schaltz +1430. Open Room
| West | North | East | South |
| Christiansen | Fantoni | Schaltz M | Nunes |
| Pass | 1♠ | 2♠ | |
| Pass | 2NT | Pass | 4♦ |
| Pass | 4♥ | All pass |
When the possibly weak Canapé entered the scene at the other table, NS suddenly found themselves in trouble. Nunes showed a void with 4♦, but what should North do holding no very clear fits? The necessary spade cuebid seemed far beyond… Anyway, only +680 to Parioli and 13 imps to Schaltz. On the very last board, Christiansen-Martin Schaltz also bid a fine slam, beating Angelini-Sementa’s auction to game:
| Board 12. Dlr: West/NS | ||
| ♠ J 8 7 5 ♥ 3 ♦ 10 8 6 ♣ 8 7 6 5 2 | ||
♠ A K 3 ♥ K 9 7 ♦ A 5 ♣ A Q 10 9 3 | | ♠ Q 10 9 6 ♥ A 10 6 5 4 ♦ 4 ♣ K J 4 |
| ♠ 4 2 ♥ Q J 8 2 ♦ K Q J 9 7 3 2 ♣ | ||
Closed Room
| West | North | East | South |
| Sementa | Schaltz D | Angelini | Schaltz P |
| 1♣ | Pass | 1♠ | 2♦ |
| Pass | Pass | 2♠ | Pass |
| 3♥ | Pass | 4♥ | All pass |
Eleven tricks, Parioli +450. Open Room
| West | North | East | South |
| Christiansen | Fantoni | Schaltz M | Nunes |
| 1♣ | Pass | 2♣ | 2♦ |
| Pass | Pass | Dbl | Pass |
| 3♦ | Pass | 3♥ | Pass |
| 3♠ | Pass | 4♣ | Pass |
| 4♦ | Pass | 4♥ | Pass |
| 4NT | Pass | 5♣ | Pass |
| 5♦ | Pass | 5♥ | Pass |
| 6♣ | All pass |
Twelve easy tricks in spite of the bad heart break. Very well done by the Danes again, for another 10-imp gain. They had managed to reduce the deficit by 14 imps and, as you can see, finished the match in a blaze of glory as well. However, the inevitable but also very pleasant conclusion will remain that the best bridge in Europe is still being played by a selected number of gifted Italians. It has been a joy to see them in action again too! Thank you all very much for playing so well in the final.
