Yes! The team of Wilkinson pulled out from impending defeat in its last-round match against the Hans team in the recently concluded Australian Open Team Selection. In Round 5, the Wilkenson team led by 206 IMPS against Hans team with 194 IMPS.
Then the Hans team rallied and scored vital points in these boards:
2015 Australian Open Team Selection
Board 25 North
Whibley
♠A108
♥A9
♦AKJ106
♣AJ10
West East
Wilkenson Ware
♠942 ♠J3
♥Q8743 ♥KJ1065
♦73 ♦Q83
♣Q92 ♣843
South
Nunn
♠KQ765
♥2
♦942
♣K765
West North East South
Pass Pass
Pass 2NT Pass 3♥
Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT
Pass 4♣ Pass 4♥
Pass 4NT Pass 5♣
Pass 6♣
West North East South
Pass Pass
Pass 1♣ Pass 1♥
Pass 1NT Pass 2♠
Pass 2NT Pass 3♣
Pass 4♦ Pass 5♦
Pass Pass Pass
The slam which the Hans bid garnered them 12 IMPS.
Then another swing board for the Hans team on Board 22:
Board 22 North
Whibley
♠KQ6532
♥A6
♦1042
♣K7
West East
Wilkenson Ware
♠107 ♠J6
♥K83 ♥Q942
♦K8763 ♦QJ6
♣983 ♣A1064
South
Nunn
♠A94
♥J1075
♦A9
♣QJ52
West North East South
Pass 1♣
Pass 1♥ Pass 1♠
Pass 4♠ Pass Pass
West North East South
Pass 1NT
Pass 2♠ Pass 2♥
Pass 2♠ Pass 3NT
Pass Pass Pass
The decision of the Hans team to go on to four spade was right which netted tem another 12 IMPS. The Wilkenson team chose to play in three notrump, which went down on a diamond lead.
The final score: Wilkenson 234 against Hans 233. What an exciting finish. A win by one imp is a win nevertheless. That is why our captain in the international tournaments exhorted to be extra careful with every point which could mean a victory defeat.
Results Manila Peninsula on February 4, 2015
North-South
Mila Camus-Margaret Kowok
East-West
Justo Manlongat-Susan Kwee
Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@yahoo.com