CHEATING CHARGE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31135, 11 August 1966, Page 9

CHEATING CHARGE

U.K. Players Cleared (N Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) LONDON, August 9. Two of Britain’s top bridge players were officially cleared today of American allegations that they cheated in the 1965 world championships in Buenos Aires. One of them, Jl-year-old Boris Schapiro, accused with his team-mate, Terence Reese, of making finger signals when bidding in a match with the champion Italian team, said afterwards he would leave the international bridge scene. Claiming that “a number of libellous things” had been said and written about the case, Mr Reese said today some newspapers in Europe had “gone wild.” “We will consider the possibility of taking libel actions against some of them,” he said. The official inquiry into the case, spread over a year and concluded about three weeks ago, was held here by a leading British lawyer and Parlimentarian, Sir John Foster. Its findings were announced today after their acceptance by the British Bridge League’s committee which started the inquiry. A copy of the inquiry’s report is to be sent to the World Bridge Federation, but the British League decided against publishing it. Mr Schapiro said after the announcement: “It is nothing more than I expected. I know I am not guilty. I am very much relieved. That’s all there is to it.” Mr Reese agreed with Mr Schapiro’s comments but said he was disappointed the committee had declined to publish the inquiry’s report. Britain dropped out of last year's championships, after the allegations had been levelled against the two players. They conceded a match to Argentina which Britain had already won, and another to the United States though Britain was winning easily. Britain thus came last in the championship instead of second to Italy, which won the title for the seventh year running.