There was an excellent turnout of 82 pairs for the virtual Master Pairs on BBO on 5/6 December. Well done to Fearghal O’Boyle and Mairead Basquille for managing the event so efficiently, including devising a new format this year, with the participants being divided into A and B Finals in the final Sunday session on the basis of the two qualifying sessions on the Saturday.

The overall winners were David Redmond & Liam Gaynor, with Teresa Rigney & Joan Kenny second, and Pat Liston & Pat Quinn third, while the Consolation B Final was won by Verna Brownlow & Geoff Roberts. You’ll find all the results here.

Meanwhile, great news to report elsewhere, with the Irish (with one Swedish guest) Moran Team (Mark Moran, John Carroll, Tommy Garvey, Fredrik Nystrom, Adam Mesbur, and Nick FitzGibbon, under NPC Grainne Barton) winning the prestigious EBU Gold Cup, beating the star-studded De Botton Team in the final, having seen off a team including their fellow Irish internationals Tom Hanlon and Hugh McGann at the semi-final stage.

Congratulations to all concerned on a great win in what is described as the most prestigious teams event in the British bridge calendar. And if you fancy your chances at trying to depose the victorious Moran team next year, entries are welcomed, with a closing date of 31 December. See the Bridge Great Britain website for full details.

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