In the Seniors, we are fielding the same team that played in the European Championships in June: David Price - Colin Simpson, Chris Dixon - Victor Silverstone, Ross Harper - Andrew Thompson with Peter Czerniewski NPC.
All three pairs have worked hard since then and we have also held a couple of training days including playing, slam biding (which let us down a bit in Pau), and coaching from David Burn. Our objective is to win a medal in Beijing.
Our first task is to get through the round robin by occupying one of the first 8 places (out of 17). We are confident we should be able to do that, but there is a significant advantage in finishing in the top 3 because you get a choice of round-of-16 opponents, so we will be gearing our efforts to that. We think our main rivals in our qualifying group are likely to be USA, Sweden, France, and Denmark, but there are some other teams we don't know so well (such as Brazil, Hungary, New Zealand) who could also turn out to be strong. We play USA (probably our strongest opponents) in the third match of the first day.
From the round of 16 we will be playing long knock-out matches. We obviously don't know who we will be playing, but we would expect to see teams such as Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Indonesia, and China in the knock-out rounds.
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Thoughts from a Beijing NPC: Michael Byrne (U21s)
There are 18 teams in the U21's and England will start amongst the favourites.
The teams play a complete round robin, and the key is to score consistently well — plenty of 19's and 20's, rather than 25-4 wins interspersed with 7-23 losses. Of course you have to get maximums against the weak teams as well, but a healthy winning record does a lot for confidence and team morale, especially if you have to play a team in the knock outs you have already beaten in the round robin.
Once we reach the knock out stages it is only a short sprint to the final, and the team must aim to keep their nerve, especially if lucks goes against them or they have a few unlucky boards.
England have a talented and able team, and they have put tremendous amounts of work in over the two years I have been in charge. Let's hope it finally pays off.
The teams play a complete round robin, and the key is to score consistently well — plenty of 19's and 20's, rather than 25-4 wins interspersed with 7-23 losses. Of course you have to get maximums against the weak teams as well, but a healthy winning record does a lot for confidence and team morale, especially if you have to play a team in the knock outs you have already beaten in the round robin.
Once we reach the knock out stages it is only a short sprint to the final, and the team must aim to keep their nerve, especially if lucks goes against them or they have a few unlucky boards.
England have a talented and able team, and they have put tremendous amounts of work in over the two years I have been in charge. Let's hope it finally pays off.
Thoughts from a Beijing NPC: David Greenwood (U28s)
There are 73 teams in the Swiss playing 17 matches with the top 8 qualifying
for the knock-out.
As ever, there will be a certain amount of luck in the round-by-round draws
and this will be particularly relevant for those in contention towards the
latter rounds. No doubt there will be a mad scramble for the last few
positions with every VP vital.
Our aim must be to optimise our result when we get a 'lucky' draw and do our
best to hold onto as many VPs as possible against the stronger teams. As
ever, team morale will be of utmost importance in this high pressure
atmosphere.
From an initial analysis, there are 4 teams of Open class and another 5 or
so very capable teams. I believe our team is well within these categories
and we will be very disappointed not to qualify. I imagine the higher you
are placed in the final rank the easier the opponents you can choose so I
won't postulate beyond the qualification stage.
I'll be posting more of my thoughts during the event so stay tuned.
for the knock-out.
As ever, there will be a certain amount of luck in the round-by-round draws
and this will be particularly relevant for those in contention towards the
latter rounds. No doubt there will be a mad scramble for the last few
positions with every VP vital.
Our aim must be to optimise our result when we get a 'lucky' draw and do our
best to hold onto as many VPs as possible against the stronger teams. As
ever, team morale will be of utmost importance in this high pressure
atmosphere.
From an initial analysis, there are 4 teams of Open class and another 5 or
so very capable teams. I believe our team is well within these categories
and we will be very disappointed not to qualify. I imagine the higher you
are placed in the final rank the easier the opponents you can choose so I
won't postulate beyond the qualification stage.
I'll be posting more of my thoughts during the event so stay tuned.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Beijing - Open Team Draw
There are 71 teams entered in the Open Series of the World Minds Sports Bridge Championships in Beijing, China, divided into four groups of 17 or 18 teams. Each group will play a complete round robin. At the conclusion of the round robin, the top four teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage, in which the leading teams will have a choice of opponents in the round of 16. The draw is out, and England are in group D which consists of 18 teams. Their order of play (UK time, 7 hours behind Beijing) is as follows:
| Round 1 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 04:00 | Australia |
| Round 2 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 07:20 | Lithuania |
| Round 3 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 10:10 | Lebanon |
| Round 4 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 04:00 | Thailand |
| Round 5 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 07:20 | USA |
| Round 6 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 10:10 | Jordan |
| Round 7 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 04:00 | Philippines |
| Round 8 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 07:20 | Botswana |
| Round 9 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 10:20 | Turkey |
| Round 10 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 04:00 | Indonesia |
| Round 11 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 07:20 | Reunion |
| Round 12 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 10:10 | Greece |
| Round 13 | Wed | 08 | Oct | 04:00 | Switzerland |
| Round 14 | Wed | 08 | Oct | 07:20 | Venezuela |
| Round 15 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 04:00 | Belarus |
| Round 16 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 07:20 | Germany |
| Round 17 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 10:10 | Serbia |
Beijing - Womens Team Draw
There are 54 teams entered in the Womens Series of the World Minds Sports Bridge Championships in Beijing, China, divided into three groups of 18 teams. Each group will play a complete round robin. At the conclusion of the round robin, the top five teams in each group plus the best sixth team will advance to the knockout stage, in which the leading teams will have a choice of opponents in the round of 16. The draw is out, and England are in group E. Their order of play (UK time, 7 hours behind Beijing) is as follows:
| Round 1 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 04:00 | Norway |
| Round 2 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 07:20 | Reunion |
| Round 3 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 10:10 | Egypt |
| Round 4 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 04:00 | China Hong Kong |
| Round 5 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 07:20 | Trinidad |
| Round 6 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 10:10 | Belarus |
| Round 7 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 04:00 | Guadeloupe |
| Round 8 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 07:20 | Portugal |
| Round 9 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 10:20 | Thailand |
| Round 10 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 04:00 | Japan |
| Round 11 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 07:20 | India |
| Round 12 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 10:10 | Italy |
| Round 13 | Wed | 08 | Oct | 04:00 | Palestine |
| Round 14 | Wed | 08 | Oct | 07:20 | Poland |
| Round 15 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 04:00 | USA |
| Round 16 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 07:20 | Brazil |
| Round 17 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 10:10 | Lithuania |
Beijing - Seniors Team Draw
There are 33 teams entered in the Seniors Series of the World Minds Sports Bridge Championships in Beijing, China, divided into two groups of 16 or 17 teams. Each group will play a complete round robin. At the conclusion of the round robin, the top eight teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage, in which the leading teams will have a choice of opponents in the round of 16. The draw is out, and England are in group K. Their order of play (UK time, 7 hours behind Beijing) is as follows:
| Round 1 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 04:00 | China Hong Kong |
| Round 2 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 07:20 | Japan |
| Round 3 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 10:10 | USA |
| Round 4 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 04:00 | Hungary |
| Round 5 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 07:20 | Chinese Taipei |
| Round 6 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 10:10 | Brazil |
| Round 7 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 04:00 | Bye |
| Round 8 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 07:20 | France |
| Round 9 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 10:20 | New Zealand |
| Round 10 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 04:00 | South Africa |
| Round 11 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 07:20 | Pakistan |
| Round 12 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 10:10 | Thailand |
| Round 13 | Wed | 08 | Oct | 04:00 | Wales |
| Round 14 | Wed | 08 | Oct | 07:20 | Denmark |
| Round 15 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 04:00 | Estonia |
| Round 16 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 07:20 | Kenya |
| Round 17 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 10:10 | Sweden |
Beijing - Under 21's World Championship Draw
There are 18 teams qualified for the Under 21's World Championships in Beijing, China. The teams will play a complete round robin. At the conclusion of the round robin, the top eight teams will advance to the knockout stage, on which the leading teams will have a choice of opponents in the Quarter-Final. The draw is out. The order of play (UK time, 7 hours behind Beijing) is as follows:
| Round 1 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 04:00 | France |
| Round 2 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 07:20 | Ecuador |
| Round 3 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 10:10 | USA |
| Round 4 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 04:00 | Botswana |
| Round 5 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 07:20 | Norway |
| Round 6 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 10:10 | Bulgaria |
| Round 7 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 04:00 | Pakistan |
| Round 8 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 07:20 | Indonesia |
| Round 9 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 10:20 | China |
| Round 10 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 04:00 | Uruguay |
| Round 11 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 07:20 | Chinese Taipei |
| Round 12 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 10:10 | Canada |
| Round 13 | Wed | 08 | Oct | 04:00 | Netherlands |
| Round 14 | Wed | 08 | Oct | 07:20 | Poland |
| Round 15 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 04:00 | Argentina |
| Round 16 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 07:20 | Australia |
| Round 17 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 10:10 | Singapore |
Beijing - Under 28's Schedule of play
There is no draw for Under 28 teams as the event is being run on a Swiss basis. There will be 17 rounds of Swiss teams, at the end of which the leading 8 teams will advance to the knockout stage, in which the leading teams will have a choice of opponents in the Quarter-final. The playing schedule follows that of the other events, in other words (UK time, 7 hours behind Beijing):
| Round 1 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 04:00 |
| Round 2 | Sat | 04 | Oct | 07:20 |
| Round 3 | Sat | 04 | ct | 10:10 |
| Round 4 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 04:00 |
| Round 5 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 07:20 |
| Round 6 | Sun | 05 | Oct | 10:10 |
| Round 7 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 04:00 |
| Round 8 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 07:20 |
| Round 9 | Mon | 06 | Oct | 10:20 |
| Round 10 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 04:00 |
| Round 11 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 07:20 |
| Round 12 | Tue | 07 | Oct | 10:10 |
| Round 13 | Wed | 08 | Oct | 04:00 |
| Round 14 | Wed | 08 | Oct | 07:20 |
| Round 15 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 04:00 |
| Round 16 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 07:20 |
| Round 17 | Fri | 10 | Oct | 10:10 |
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