The Malta Open Pairs Bridge Tournament, organised by the Malta Bridge Association and sponsored by Marsovin, was won by Marie Farrugia and Albert Sacco with a score of 228.
Margaret Parnis England and Mario Dix had a second round score of 46 per cent, but recovered well with two scores of over 60 per cent to snatch second place from Anna Vella and Yvonne Muscat Inglott. The latter finished third with 218 after holding pole position for the first three rounds of the tournament.
The winners of this year's National Teams Championship, Farrugia, Sacco, Nathalie Marlin and Simona Ardelean, notched up another prestigious title by winning the Malta Bridge Club tournament.
After five rounds of multiple teams, these were the final leading positions:
1. M. Farrugia, A. Sacco, N. Marlin, S. Ardelean 430 (vps), 129 (imp); 2. W. Busuttil, G. Gatt Floridia, A. Vella, Y. Muscat Inglott 470, 79; 3. F. Consiglio, C. Williams, J. Consiglio, I. Naudi 395, 63.
The last event of the season at the Union Club, the tournament for singles, was won by Sacco with a score of 332.51. Charles Assouline was second with 327.47 and Christine Tabone third, 326.18.
The season at the Union Club re-opens in October with the Open Teams and the Sigma Open Pairs tournaments. For both these competitions, it is planned to re-introduce the performance prize which had attracted so many more participants to compete in the past.
The objective of the performance prize is to give everyone a target to aspire to throughout the whole tournament.
After two team tournaments in quick succession, the Marsovin Open Pairs provided a welcome relaxing change. The match pointed pairs game is a more highly-spirited game since, unlike Butler scored pairs or team events, no matter how reckless you are in your bidding, your losses are limited. This makes it easier and cheaper to try and disrupt your opponent's game.
On the following hand from one of the rounds of the Marsovin tournament, most Easts found space to show their Diamonds and either sacrificed in five Diamonds or managed to push North South into an impossible five Hearts contract.
West dealer. North South vulnerable.
One lucky North South pair were doubled in four Hearts which due to the bad trump break is not so easy, but still makeable, even after a Diamond lead. Sit yourself South and have a go.
So you ruff the Diamond lead and test the trumps. If they break three two, no problem. We would now be able to count at least ten tricks in various ways. Unfortunately, on the second round of trumps, East shows out.
Now what?
The only way to make the contract now is with a dummy reversal. Knock out the Ace of Spades. Obviously, whichever defender wins will continue forcing with Diamonds. So, ruff the Diamond continuation, play Ace and King of Clubs, Jack of Spades and over to the Queen of Spades.
Ruff dummy's last Diamond and the Queen of Hearts is now your 10th trick.