Denmark moves into the lead

MUMBAI, JAN 20: Denmark comprising PG Eliasson, Thomas Magnusson, Lage Schaffer and Mattias Bruun shot into the lead after four rounds of...

MUMBAI, JAN 20: Denmark comprising PG Eliasson, Thomas Magnusson, Lage Schaffer and Mattias Bruun shot into the lead after four rounds of Swiss league with 84 Victory Points (VPs) in the sixth Tolani International Bridge Tournament at the Leela Kempinski Hotel here today.

Denmark began on a strong note hammering Bridge Lovers 23-7 and carried on the good work beating Dr Tolani 20-10, fancied Rajas 23-7 and England 18-12 to top the Swiss League table.

China were close behind with 82. China were held 15-15 by the Tolani girls, but thereafter they broke lose winning all there match with comfortable margins. They beat Sista 22-8, beat Canada 21-9 and fancied India Blues 24-6. Delhi’s Formidable kept the Indian flag flying by taking the third place with 80 VPs. They beat team Magic 25-5, edged past Chemeng Tea 16-14, hammered Poddar 22-8 and beat Kejriwal 17-13.

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Pre-tournament favourites Poland began with some hiccups losing to unfancied Tola 14-16 and could only manage a 17-13 win over DK Rao, but then theyput their act together scoring a thumping 22-5 win over India Oil and a 22-8 win over South Africa to remain in sight of a quarterfinal berth with 78 VPs.

Indonesia also retained their chances of qualifying and were tied for fourth-fifth place with 78 VPs.

Kejriwal 74, Ingersoll Rand 72, Jimmy Mehta 70, Well Knit 70 were the other teams in contention of the quarterfinals. Canada 65, South Africa 63, Finland 61, Rohowsky 59 and Japan 56 were the foreign teams which had still to put their act together while Singapore seemed to be bowing out of the race having scored only 41 VPs. Eight teams will qualify for the quarterfinals after 10 rounds of Swiss league in the Rs 10,00,000 prize money tournament in which 45 teams are taking part.