“THE English team captained by Jason Hackett has won the 2015 NEC Cup in Yokohama (Japan). Hackett played with Brian Senior, John Holland and Gunnar Hallberg. They defeated in the final match England/Netherlands (David Bakhshi, David Gold, Ricco van Prooijen, Louk Verhees) by 124-115.
The Nec Cup is the main event of the International NEC Bridge Festival in Yokohama, Japan which has been held this year for the 20th time.”
Read the exciting account of the Hackett victory from the Bridge Bulletin of the NEC Bridge Festival from the editors: Rich Colker and Barry Rigal:
Hackett Victorious in the 2015 NEC Cup
Team Hackett (Jason Hackett, Brian Senior, John Holland, Gunnard Hallberg) had been running through the field here for four days straight. They qualified first in the Swiss more than 14 VP ahead of second, they won their quarter-final match by a score of 94-17, and as if that wasn’t enough they beat up on their semi- final opponents to the tune of 78-5. Could anyone have thought that the final would be any different? Especially since they were playing the team that had qualified last for the KOs (less than 1VP ahead of the next team), that had won their quarter-final match by 89-45 but their semi final match only by 67-54. Who would have thought the final would be so close? Who? The Junior Editor, that’s who! He predicted a close match and indeed the event hung on the final deal, where Justin Hackett had to find a critical shift at trick two give his partner a ruff or those last-place qualifiers, England/Netherlands (David Bakhshi, David Gold, Ricco van Prooijen, Louk Verhees), would have been the champions.
Well, Jason found the right shift and the rest is history, but the runners-up were no slouches and they thrilled the VuGraph audience-and both of your Editors-, and treated us all to a final to remember. Congratulations to the champs and the runners-up, and thanks for a thrilling ride.
A GUTSY FINESSE
This was a remarkable deal I played recently on Bridge Base Online:
Board 1
North
♠
♥AK95
♦AQJ9
♣AQ985
West East
♠QJ6 ♠AK98743
♥8643 ♥102
♦64 ♦753
♣KJ43 ♣7
South
♠1052
♥QJ7
♦K1082
♣1062
West North East South
Sylgen 1
3♠ Pass
Pass Dbl Pass 4♦
Pass 4♠ Dbl 5♦
Pass 7♦ Pass Pass
Pass
The North-South pair reached the contract of seven diamonds after my partner East preempted with three spades.
After South cleared the trumps he had to decide on how to play the club suit.
Sitting West and holding the king jack xxx of clubs I had to be alert on what to play on clubs. South played the ten of clubs. I followed smoothly with a small club. South finessed! A led the preempt South decided the only way he would make the contract to hope I held the king, jack of clubs.
Results of winners Alejandro Duplicate Game on February 10, 2015
1.Joli Kansil-Margaret Kwok
2.Hector Tarrazona-Abraham Rivera
3.Ching Holley-Harriet Velayo
Manila Peninsula on February 11, 2015
1.Margaret Kwok-Nena Ramirez
2.Nena Belo-Fusako-Breckner
3.Mencie De Vera-Dina Velasco