3rd Cuban International Bridge Festival

November 16th to 22nd, 2003

Havana & Varadero, Cuba

For the first three days, twenty teams participated in the Swiss Qualifying at the Hotel Habana Riviera with the Brazil-B foursome of Damiao Paes - Amilcar Magalhaes - Henri Friedlaender - Alderico Campos topping the list with 7 wins and 182 VP's. They played nine rounds of 10 board matches (Round by Round Results), with all teams playing the same boards. The Butler Pair Ranking had another Brazilian pair, Francisco Assis and Sergio Brum, leading the pack.

On Wednesday, the Playoffs began with four teams in the Open Semifinal and two teams in the Ladies Final. The Brazil-B team won the Open Team Final by the narrowest of margins over Brazil-A quartet, while Trinidad (Pamela Mapp, Denise Josa, Lisa de Meillac, Deborah Fletcher) grabbed the Ladies title. These matches started in Havana and were finished in Varadero.

Also on Wednesday, the First Session of the Open Pairs saw twenty-eight pairs participating at the Hotel Sol Palmeras, with Felix Sosa and Hernan Etcheverry from Argentina leading the field. Thursday, with the addition of the Open Team finalists, the Second Session of the Open Pairs was played. After Two Sessions of the Open Pairs, the leaders were Jose Camargo and Sylvia Mello from Brazil. The Third Session of the Open Pairs was played on Friday, and the Open Pairs - Final Overall saw Camargo/Mello hold on for the victory.