Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the world bridge finals in Bermuda received a setback at the Generali European championships here yesterday when the Letter Post-sponsored Irish team could manage only one win from three matches. For the first time since the championship began last Sunday week the Irish players showed signs of weakness when, after overcoming Estonia by 1614, they went down to Belgium 723 and to Portugal 5-25. Not only did they drop out of contention for a place in the world finals but they also dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since last Friday. A top 10 finish, however, is still a realistic aim.
Some pride was restored for Irish followers when the ranking of the pairs based on the Butler scoring method was published. Ireland's top pair, Tom Hanlon and Hugh McGann, are currently ranked seventh best of the 111 players in the competition. Gay Keaveney, Rory Timlin, Niall Toibin and Pat Walshe are also in the top 50. The Butler method of assessment, though not without flaws, does give an indication as to how players are performing.
At the top of the table France, Italy, Bulgaria and Norway have opened a gap. Spain has come back up to challenge in fifth place. The next three games will be make or break time for the Irish as they meet Norway, Britain and France in successive matches. Although the British are not doing well in Malta they have been a bogy team for Ireland in the past, which has lost badly to them in the last four European championships.
Ireland's senior team had a good win against Lebanon but lost to Poland C, Italy B and the Czech Republic. The senior championship, for players over 55, allows member-states of the European Bridge league to enter up to three teams. Britain, France, Sweden and Poland all have three. French teams fill the top three players after 16 rounds. Ireland is in the bottom half of the field.
France, Netherlands and Austria have gone clear at the top of the women's teams. Britain is sixth and Germany after a bad start has moved to 8th. Ireland is not represented in this event.
Generali Open team championship leaders after 25 rounds 1, France 473; Joint 2, Bulgaria and Italy 460; 4, Norway 451; 5, Spain 442; 6, Poland 441; 7, Netherlands 439; 8, Sweden 436; 9, Israel 429; 10, Greece 413; 11, Ireland 409. 37 teams competed.