Formidables continue to lead in Ruia Gold Cup

Favourite Formidables from Delhi continue to remain at the top with 45 Vicory Points (VPs) at the end of the second round of the pre-quarter final stage for the Ruia Gold Cup team event of the 53rd Krishnapatnam Port Winter National Bridge Championship at Sports Development Authority indoor stadium, here on Tuesday.

Close on the heels of Formidables are local Nest Inn, Malani from Andhra Pradesh, Manyavar from Maharashtra and Maya Mira from Delhi with 43.26 ( forty-three points 26), 42.96 (forty-two point nine six), 42.78 (forty-two point seven eight) and 41.43 ( forty-one point 43) respectively.

Other teams who have also made it to the pre-quarter final stage and are very much in contention to reach the last eight include Bimal Sicka from Maharshtra ( 40. 17), Indian Railways "A" from West Bengal (39. 91), Zugzwang from U.P ( 39. 91), Bajaj Nagpur ( 37.09), Indian Mavericks from Karnataka ( 35. 35) Texan Aces from Tamil Nadu ( 31.39), Naimuddin from Karnataka ( 30.87) , Indian Railways "B" from West Bengal (30.57), runners up Poddar Developers from Maharashtra ( 27.82), Priyar IV from UP (25.52), Capt. Karmarkar from Maharashtra (25.22), Nalco from Odisha (23.74),Guptas from Karnataka (22), Nagbagan Card Club from W Bengal ( 20.87) and Shree Cement from West Bengal .

After four more rounds in the pre-quarter final stage, which would be concluded on Wednesday, top eight finishers will enter the quarter final stage.

Hemant Jalan's team from Kolkata , which was rated as the "Dark Horse" of this meet could not make the pre-quarter final grade narrowly as they finished 21st in the 51- team field for the Ruia Gold Cup.

Among the other noted teams Dhampur Sugar from Delhi , which won the last HCL Bridge Tournament held at Noida earlier this year, failed to make the cut this time .

Commmenting on their poor show veteran Ashok Goel, one of their senior most player of the team who led the Indian squad in the last Bridge World Cup held at Eindhoven, Holland, informed that some of their noted players are playing for other teams this time.

Moreover he himself could not take part on the inaugural day's play because of some very urgent commitments elsewhere, Goel added. .

For Ruia silver trophy, twelve teams have reached the final stage after conclusion of eleven preliminary rounds last night.

They are now playing round robin league which would be concluded on Wednesday and the silver trophy will go to the team which would come first by earning maximum points.

In Ruia Silver Trophy for the lesser rated players T Bose's IV from West Bengal are now leading the field at the end of the third round with 78.84 VPs and are followed by Chowdhury Combines from Rajasthan ( 70.37), local Ramaratnamn (69.58).

Others who are also vying for the top honours in the Ruia Silver include, Fourth Suit, Mahanadai Coal Field, Patna Nagpur, Shavaz, Mamu's IV, Samadhan Bridge Academy, Navayug Youth, Haddock's Four and Bala Krishna's team.

In Ruia Silver the champions would be decided after the round robin league on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Mahender Niranjan IMP Pairs event began on Tuesday.

Out of the total six rounds the duo of Prasad Keni and Finton Lewis from Goa are leading with 93 Internstional Match Points (IMPs).They are being followed by the duo of Shib Nath De Sarkar and Pranab Bardhan from West Bengal with 84 IMPs.

(Reporting by Manik Banerjee)