Senior Bowl (bridge) - Latest Rendition

Latest Rendition

France won the 2011 d'Orsi Bowl by 165 to 160 IMP in a two-day final match against USA 2, the second of two qualifiers from the United States.

The Americans started with 6.33 IMP carryover from the 16-deal round-robin match, meaning France must score at least 7 IMP better on the 96 deals of the final. France yielded almost nothing during the first three segments, to lead overnight by 89 to 45+ including carryover. The Americans posted a huge fourth set, 79 IMP on 16 deals to regain the lead, but France again yielded almost nothing in the last two segments, and only 75 IMP on 80 deals in the five good segments.

The final lead change occurred on the 87th deal (#23) where France played 5♦ and made it while USA played at a 4♦ opening bid. France never led by so much as 11 IMP, which is attainable at once, and the final margin less than 5 IMP commonly scored at once. So the outcome "went to the end", even for spectators (who know the score, as players don't).

There were 22 national teams in the field, who represented the eight WBF zones as follows. The regular quota for Europe is six teams, seven at Veldhoven because the host country qualifies automatically.

Europe: Poland, Denmark, Italy, France, Germany, Bulgaria, Netherlands

North America: Canada, USA 1, USA 2

South America: Argentina, Brazil

Asia & Middle East: India, Pakistan

C. America & Carib.: Guadeloupe

Pacific Asia: China Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan

South Pacific: Australia, New Zealand

Africa: Egypt, Reunion

The first stage was a full round-robin scheduled in advance. Every team played 21 short matches of 16(?) deals at three per day.