Crete Congress Blog: Day 2

Submitted by English Bridge Union on
Bridge room full of tables of people, with one man stood at the front of the room, he is Ioannis Kotsopoulos, the chair of Heraklion Bridge club

The second day of the Crete Congress, Tournament Director Chris Benneworth talks through the second day, with a surprise visitor to the bridge room:

Today dawned bright, warm and sunny. A perfect day for relaxing by the pool, enjoying a bracing swim in the sea, or exploring a little more of Malia and its surroundings, then challenging the brain with forty boards.

Bridge started in earnest today with the first five matches of the Swiss Pairs. We had a full complement of all 81 players, which meant that both the hosts and one of the directors played throughout the day. After the first five matches, Roberta Linehan and David Arundel were leading with 77 VPs, while Simon and Debbie Richards shared second spot with Andy Baruch and Sarah Jones on 71.  

Roberta and David scored 100% by defeating 3Hx by one trick on board 7. Several players were in 3H going off, but Roberta and David were the only pair to double the contract and defeat it.

This is the board:

{dnew AQ8 32 Q7653 753; 532 KJ85 K92 Q92; K107 106 A84 AJ864; J964 AQ974 J10 K10 }

8
11HCP9
12

One of the highlights of the day was a visit from Ioannis Kotsopoulos, the chair of Heraklion Bridge club, who welcomed us all to his country and wished us a happy and successful congress. I think he was a little surprised when Steve Cane replied and thanked him in Greek. We are very grateful to Ioannis for organising the loan of equipment from the Greek Bridge Federation and seeing that it was delivered safely to the Kernos Beach Hotel. We are looking forward to Ioannis and some of the other players from Heraklion Bridge club joining us later in the week.

Chris Benneworth

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