India trail France in World Bridge Championship semis after QF win over Bulgaria

Representational Image. Pic Courtesy/iStock

India U-31 trailed France 78-105 after three of the four sets in the semi-finals of the 18th World Youth Bridge Championships in the Netherlands on Sunday. Earlier, Team India won by the skin of their teeth against quarter-final opponents Bulgaria on Saturday.

Also Read: World Youth Bridge: India U-31 fight on in Bulgaria battle

India had only a nine-point lead when the fourth and final set started. The Bulgarians snatched 21 points early on, thanks to the two game swings going against India. However, India fought hard and pulled back 20 points in the next few boards - one of them being a 6H slam contract bid in a flash by the Wrik-Swaranshish pair while the other was a 3NT contract pulled off by the Sayantan-Sagnik partnership.

It came down to the last board, where India needed to hold on to a five IMPS lead. They lost three but survived and advanced to the semis.