19th OECS BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

19th OECS BRIDGE CHAMPIONSHIPS

ST. KITTS

May 18th - 21st, 2006

The 19th running of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Bridge Championships was held in St. Kitts, at the Ocean Terrace Inn, on the outskirts of Basseterre. For history buffs, the twin volcanic isles of St. Kitts and Nevis figured prominently in the shaping of the Caribbean.

With Ian Slack and his committee looking after the organization, and Ralph Jaikaransingh handling the TD duties, I was looking forward to playing with the VIP and the FB's. Jean Yves and I had spent a few hours of bidding practice on BBO, as I would be playing "La Cinquieme Majeur" for the first time :-)

For the early arrivals, there was a Thursday Evening IMP Pairs with a record setting 43 pairs in the field. The Bajan Boys (Dave Blackman & Tony Watkins) ran away from the field, taking advantage of their late arrival and the sympathy it generated (lol). Their final total of more than +100 IMPs almost doubled the +55 of Amina/Jacky (Amina Beepat & Ramdat Rampersaud of Guyana) in 2nd place. Antiguans Ivan Michael & Junia Nibbs slipped into 3rd, while VIP/VID were well back but plus, tied for 8th spot.

On Friday afternoon, the serious business began with the Open Pairs - First Session with another record of 47 pairs in the field. Leaders at the break were VIP/VID with a solid 64.12%, while the Mother/Son Duo (Martine & Aymeric De Tessieres from Martinique), were close on their heels with 62.80%. Bajan vets Hyacinth Burton & Jeffrey Newton showed their mettle with 3rd at 59.59%, while Amina/Jacky demonstrated that it is like riding a bicycle with their 58.57% in 4th. Rounding out the top 5 were Domincans Phillip Griffin & Patrick Joseph.

After a leisurely evening meal with my friends from Martinique and perhaps a bit too much wine celebrating our success, the Open Pairs - Second Session got under way. With a splitting headache, some friendly opponents and a good partner (VIP) brought about one of the most amazing sessions I have ever experienced. We rattled off 20 straight plus scores (and it could have been 24 if I had not gone down in a pushy game that my friends gave me a chance to make) on our way to 68.68% and top of the heap. Locals St. Clair Bryon & Arthur Jones dashed my hopes of a 70% in our last round when they walked away with more than 60% on the three boards. The Bajan Boys were well back at 61.45%, narrowly edging out Anguillans Carol Baines & Marty Bloom with 61.44%. Marie-Chantal Rimbaud & Jean Rimbaud from Martinique were 4th at 60.56%, while Dominicans Albert Astaphan & Hilary Harry took 5th at 60.52%.

So, the Open Pairs - Final Overall showed the VIP (Jean Yves Dabreteau from Martinique) and the VID (yours truly) with a convincing victory at 66.40%, winning both sessions. Meanwhile, the Mother/Son Duo showed that they would be a force to reckon with in the Teams by finishing 2nd at 60.50%. The surging Bajan Boys took 3rd at 59.66%, while the FB's (our teammates Jean-Philippe Humbert,French Guiana & Antoine Delcourt, Martinique) posted a solid 4th with 57.58%. Locals Letsom Dublin & Charles Gumbs were 5th at 56.82%.

With the pair events out of the way, the main events started on Saturday morning. In the OECS Teams, there was a dogfight for the two spots in the final. Regular contenders Antigua, Dominica, and St. Kitts were all in the fight going into their last match of the round robin. Grenada won a match and were close in another, but like Anguilla, needed mathematical miracles. In the end, ANTIGUA (Junior Nibbs/Ivan Michael/ Franki Francis/Deverel Forde) were first in the OECS Team Round Robin, with 72 VPs. In a squeaker for the other spot in the final, DOMINICA (Foued Issa/Richard Green/Allan Guye/Henry Volney) chalked up 70 VPs to just edge out ST. KITTS (Ian Slack/Letsom Dublin/Charles Gumbs/Laughton Richardson) at 69 VPs.

Meanwhile, another record was being set in the Open Team event with 19 teams entered! Jaik was looking so happy when there were 18 teams registered, and he could run 3 pools of six teams. Everybody else was happy as well, as the round robin would finish in time for a leisurely meal and a few drinks. Then disaster struck as another team was found, and sure enough, our pool received the 7th team, which meant a long day for us, and some headaches for Jaik. Only the top team in each pool would make it to the finals.

The Open Teams - Pool A, "El Grupo de la Muerte", had all six teams in contention up to the last match. In yet another nail biter that seemed to be the norm for the weekend, the HARRY quartet from Dominca (Hilary Harry/Albert Astaphan/Phillip Griffin/Patrick Joseph) scored 83 VPs to nose out WATKINS (the Bajan Boys & Trinis Alvin Fitzpatrick/Shamshad Mohammed) by ONE VP!! Close on their heels in 3rd place with 80 VPs were JAMES' Antiguans, while the other three teams had two wins and 73, 67, and 66 VPs. Definitely a lot of excitement in the last round of the Open Teams - Pool A - Round Robin.

The Open Teams - Pool C had some contenders, but in the end, DE TESSIERES (Martine de Tessieres/Aymeric de Tessieres/Christophe de Tessieres/Guy Alain Germon) laid waste to their opponents, winning all their matches and blitzing three of them to amass 112 VPs, almost 90%. In a dead heat for 2nd place with 90 VPs were GILL's Bajans (Michael Gill/Leslie Atherley/Alan Moss/Charles Hollingsworth) and RIMBAUD from Martinique (Jean Rimbaud/Marie Chantal Rimbaud/Marie-Luce Rimbaud/Nicolette Dabreteau). RIMBAUD was the only team to hold the leaders in check, losing 14-16 in the Open Teams - Pool C - Round Robin.

The Open Teams - Pool D was a more drawn out affair as each time had a bye, but there was also another session after dinner (as you may have guessed by now, I am preparing for the postmortem). In the end, MACGREGOR (VID/VIP/FB's) was successfully through to the final, garnering 127 VPs (almost 85%). In a solid 2nd place with 117 VPs and winning all of their matches was TRAVERSON (Jean Traverson/Michel Faillet/Jean Michel Guiter, Martinique & Vincent Morton, St. Kitts). Lying a respectable third at 104 VPs was BEEPAT (Amina Beepat/Ramdat Rampersaud, Guyana & Richard Burns, U.S.A. & Bennet Roach, Monserrat), who were in contention until suffering a late round 22-8 loss to the leaders in the Open Teams - Pool D - Round Robin.

On Sunday morning, with the sun shining and the airport open, the finals of the main events and the consolation swiss began early so players could make their flights. In the OECS Team Final, DOMINICA carried an 8.66 IMP advantage into the match and their 69-21 thumping of ANTIGUA in the 1st half, basically sealed the deal. The 2nd half was pushed at 34-34, so the 2006 OECS Team Champions are DOMINICA (Foued Issa/Richard Green/Henry Volney/Allan Guye) with a solid victory.

In the Open Teams - Final, it was simply no contest as DE TESSIERES rolled over both opponents by IMP scores of 83-12 and 50-0, racking up the maximum 50 VPs !! The winners in an impressive performance both in the round robin and the final were Martine de Tessieres, Aymeric de Tessieres, Christophe de Tessieres, & Guy Alain Germon from Martinique. Our match against them was a rout at both tables from the beginning, with them doing everything right and us unable to gain any momentum.

In the Consolation Swiss Teams, another record entry with 16 teams, BEEPAT and GILL stood pat and were rewarded with a tie for 1st place at 54 VPs. On Swiss points, BEEPAT (Amina Beepat/Ramdat Rampersaud, Guyana & Richard Burns, U.S.A. & Bennet Roach, Monserrat) took home the silverware. Checking in at a solid 3rd with 48 VPs were the THOMPSON foursome (Jackie Thompson, Trinidad & Marcelle Smith/Barbara Hopewell/ Maureen Connolly, Barbados).

All in all, it was a great tournament among good friends with some good hands. For example, you hold s AKQJx h AKJ9xxx d K c -. Playing the French system, I was able to open 2D (game forcing) and VIP replied 3C, showing the club Ace and no other Aces. After showing my hearts and then my spades, we settled in 6H. With a little luck in the end game, I was able to use the diamond King as a stepping stone to dummy's club Ace to land the slam when the spades broke 5-1.

Another that was less successful was when my RHO opened 2S and I held s - h Tx d KJ9xxx c KJT9x. I decided to pass and this went around to VIP who doubled. Trying to show the minor suit-orientated nature of my hand, I leaped to 4S over which partner bid 4NT. I then tried 5D and partner leaped to 6H, which he played well but was unable to handle the 5-3 trump break :-)

Until next time, keep smiling !