Table of Contents Page The View from the Top 1 Round 8: USA v Sweden – Seniors 2 A Musical Joke 3 Egyptian One-Two 4 One for Ripley’s 4b Appeal No. 2: Hungary v. Mexico 5

Nearly halfway through the round-robin portion of the 12th World Bridge Olympiad, most of the teams looking down from the top of the standings are the ones expected to be there – but there are some potential surprises as the competition enters the fourth day today.

A few teams not usually seen in the contending spots are trying to prove the odds makers wrong.

Those would be Georgia and Lebanon in the Open series and Croatia in the Women’s heat, and there are others who could move up with strong showings in the days ahead.

As for the favourites, the holders – Italy in the Open and USA in the Women’s – seem in good position to have another run at the championship.

Italy were leading their group in the Open series, and the USA Women’s squad was comfortably in qualifying position after nine rounds of play.

Europe has been dominant in both Olympiad series and in the International Senior Cup as more than half of the current contenders make their homes on the continent.

Open series teams are in four groups that will produce the 16 teams that will compete in head-to-head matches. The women are playing in two groups, and the top eight from each will make up the round of 16 for them.

The Seniors do not have a knockout phase for their competition.