ITALY HOLDS BRIDGE LEAD

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32778, 1 December 1971, Page 19

ITALY HOLDS BRIDGE LEAD

ATHENS. Tbe European open bridge tournament has been more than half completed with the Italian and British teams continuing

their winning performances. Although Britain has 189 points out of a possible 220, it is 18 points, or almost a complete match, behind the Italian leaders. If their relative position does not change, a spectacular finish to the tournament is possible, for the two leaders meet in the final round on Saturday afternoon. No team has exceeded Its expectations more than Portugal, which, though troubled by illness, and at times having difficulty in finding four players fit for action, is fourth in the open series and sixth in the women’s series.

Results: ..... Open series, round 11: Italy beat Norway, 20-0 (9746), Turkey beat Spain, 11-9 (8549), Iceland beat Finland, 20-0 (93-38). Poland beat Jugoslavia, 14-6, (80-64), brae! beat Austria, 17-3 (77-44), Hungary beat Germany, 11-9 (8681), Britain beat Greece, 20-minus 2 (10541). Denmark beat Belgium, 17-3 (9644), Switzerland beat Portugal, 15-5 (10444). Ireland beat Sweden 124 (5043), Netherlands beat France, 144 <72-35). . „ Championships points after round 11: Italy 207, Britain 189, Denmark 148, Portugal 131, Netherlands 130, Switzerland 124, Belgium 119, Sweden 119, Poland 116, Germany 114, Turkey 110, France 104, Iceland 102. Austria 101, Norway 94, Ireland 87, Hungary 84, Jugoslavia 82, Israel 75, 1 Finland 63, Spain 40, Greece 26.