Just as on the previous day two teams are tied at the top of the table, separated only by their respective IMP ratios. Israel and Russia both had two good victories to move ahead of the overnight leaders, Belarus, who have dropped to third.

These three teams are pursued by four of the pre tournament favourites, Sweden, Netherlands, Norway and France. Only the leading five nations will earn a trip to the next Junior World Championships, so the competition is sure to intensify over the next few days.

Although we have only completed three of the twenty-one rounds the chasing teams cannot afford to concede too much ground. All too often in a major Championship, the teams that get away too a good start tend to stay around the business end of proceedings.