The World Individual Bridge Championship was held in Verona, Italy, between 8th to 13th September this year. It was one of the world's prestigious bridge tournaments. The championship was organised by the World Bridge Federation and sponsored by Generally Insurance Company of Italy, which was immaculately conducted with par excellence bridge environment at the Convention Centre of medium-sized city Verona.
This was an invitational tournament to individual players from all over the globe. The format of the tournament envisaged natural systems with minimum of conventional bid for the competitors to strictly follow. In all hundred players were invited from four corners of the world and about six players participated in the tournament from this region including one each from India and Pakistan.
It was a great bridge spectacle that Italy - the bridge playing country - witnessed this year. The top honours were shared by Noberto Bochchi (Italy) and Andrew Robson (Britain) who finished first and second respectively.
Rashidul Ghazi was invited to play from Pakistan. Earlier in his bridge carrier he had crossed quite a few milestones in International and National bridge events. Subash Gupta was invited from India who has also a meritorious record in bridge to his credit. Another ex-Pakistani star player Zia Mehmood was invited from USA to take part in the competition and other outstanding players from Europe, Africa, South America and far East etc. were also invited to prove there bridge skill in the tournament at the individual level. Right from the board one to the last board there was a stiff competition among the players.
A hand is reproduced here from the last session of the tournament, which was played between Rashidul Ghazi and Zia Mehmood as opponents. Rashid in partnership with French international Mark Bonis against Zia Mehmood partnering with Jian shenging of China. The contract was three no trump played by bridge wizard Zia Mehmood.
North led club 4
When the dummy came down Zia appeared confident as usual and started to play with such a speed that the opponents felt no hope of beating the contract in any manners. On the lead of club 4 a small card was was played from the dummy South played the queen of clubs and the declarer won the trick with the club ace. After winning the trick West moved the queen of diamonds and allowed it to run which was won by the South with the king. Then the South returned the six of clubs, which was won by North with the king of clubs and dummy played the nine.
At this point the North moved a small spade, the West played the queen of spades from dummy and the South won with the king. Hoping against hope the helpless South returned another club on which West discarded a small diamond and the trick was won in the dummy with the jack of clubs.
The spade suit broke evenly and that brought the contract of three no-trumps for the West with one overtrick. That made all the difference to the score of Zia who was at 38th step of the tournament and with 23 points winning by virtue of this win, he shot up to 10th step whereas at that time Rashidul Ghazi was at 13th position in the tournament.
Since this was the last round of the last session of the tournament Zia improved his position and Rashidul Ghazi came down to 32nd position among hundred contestants.
Had Rashid's French partner ducked the second club trick the contract would have gone down as Rashid had an entry card with the king of spades to return the last club. That way the contract would have gone down by one trick. This was the result of Zia's confidence of making the contract without any chance for the defenders to defeat. The French player was afraid of ducking because of giving overtrick to the declarer, which was of great value in the partnership contest.
A single lapse in play can make a world of difference.
Both Side Vulnerable
S 654
H 108654
D ----
C K10743
S 982
H AK2
D QJ1052
C A5
S AQJ3
H J93
D A64
C J98
S K107
H Q7
D K9873
C Q62

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West      North      East      South
Zia       Mark    Jainshen  Rashidul
Mehmood   Bonis    ging        Ghazi
1NT        Pass     3NT         Pass
Pass      Pass
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