Day 6

Last night I was interrupted in the middle of Captain’s Chores (filing; checking Convention Cards for next day; coping with Emails; posting Blog) by a power cut. Nothing to do but hit the sack and hope it is all different in the morning. Awakened by bright sunlight – or not, it is 4.30am and the lights are back on full blaze. Suddenly realise I have not put in the overnight lineup. Panic eases when I eventually remember I need not line up against Bye. Switch the lights off and snatch some more sleep.

Day really dawns, and we are conspicuously absent from the 9.30am Group Photograph. Our bye keeps us in 14th place. It is a lovely sunny day

The team appears for the second match against Israel. Stewart claims he has never scored a single VP against Israel. They are annoyingly accurate, take a number of good decisions, and the points dribble away. The only good news is that Stewart has now scored a single point against Israel. We have been overtaken by Croatia, slipping to 15th place. Time to accelerate the run in.

Our next opponents are Estonia, playing strong club. We need to win to stay ahead of them. Dream on. A couple of thin games that might be beaten get through and suddenly we have lost 18-35, just 5.49 VP. We slip to 16th place.

The final match pits us against the Bulgarian strong club. A poor first board is depressing, then Jun goes for 1100 in a weak jump overcall of their Strong 1C. Sadly there is a much better spot in 3D, found by the other Bulgarian pair, and we lose 14 imps.  More cheerfully, having lulled opponents into a feeling of invincibility, Jun is doubled in 2S, which is cold. But a poor opening lead and 2 missed slams cost 33 imps in 3 boards, and we score a whole 1.87 VP. Down to 17th.

I request some fresh players for tomorrow – maybe a good night’s sleep will work a charm?

We have Denmark (12th), Germany (the surprise 3rd-placed team) and Slovakia (13th) for our last day.