
New Delhi, Nov 12: CV RAO and Sunil Machhar were leading their respective rivals at the end of the penultimate round in the team event for the Ruia Gold Trophy in the National bridge championships here today.
CV Rao from Vizag was leading Haldibari by seven IMPs 58-51. Mumbai8217;s Machhar establishing a lead of 60 IMPs 103-43 over Maheshwari.
Earlier, Vijay Jolly, PC Goekna, ITC and Pals bowed out of the tournament having lost their quarter-final matches.
Most surprising was the exit of ITC which lost the match to Machhar despite enjoying a lead of 28 IMPs with only the final session to go. But that last session made all the difference as ITC gave away as many as 40 IMPs thereby losing the match by 12 IMPs 63-75.