Indonesia have last laugh

The Indonesian non-playing captain’s move of resting their best player Denny Sacul for the last session paid off as they snatched victory from the last board of the 64-board final.

In the closed room, China bid a small slam and went one down, the open room Indonesia stopped in game to pick up five, which gave them 13 IMP’s and swung the final in their favour.

China won the first session of 165 boards 20-11 to promptly wipe off Indonesia’s carry over of 5.3, but the Indonesians came back strongly in the second session to win 47-23 and after winning the third session 58-52 they had opened up a lead of 14 IMP’s going into the finalsession. However, China seemed to be running away with the match, before Indonesia’s blitz on the last board.

China, fielding two players, Dai Jianming and Cao Xueliang, from the team that finished joint winners with Brazil in the IOC’s tournament at Lausanne, took the loss sportingly with non-playing captain An Yanbo saying, “It was close and the better team on the day won.”

Raja’s and Denmark, the losing semi-finalist got one lakh each, while Poland, Sweden Ingersoll Rand and England, who lost in the quarter-final got Rs 50,000 each. In the team of four progressive event, South Africa won the first prize of Rs 60,000 while India blues came in seconds for the prize of Rs 40,000.

Final Scores

Indonesia 152.3 (Hengy Lasut, Eddy Manoppo, Denny Sacul, Franky Karwur, Noldy George, Taufik Ashi, Sawiruddin) bt China 143 (Shi Haojun, Dai Jianming, Cao Xuelaing, Yang Lixin, An Yangbo).