Two of the three matches in the major event finals were wild and woolly on Thursday, as USA2 in the Bermuda Bowl and Poland in the D’Orsi Seniors Bowl exchanged body blows with their opponents, Italy and England, respectively. Even at that, not much separated either at the end of the day.

USA2 started strong against the powerful team from Italy, winning the opening set 46-19 to take a 54.33-19 lead including carryover. Italy hammered the Americans in the second set 57-1 to take the lead, but then suffered a 47-17 pasting in the third of eight sets to trail by 9.33.

The Polish Seniors zoomed out to a 59-1 lead (62.67 with carryover) against England in the first set but then saw England regain their composure to win 57-23 in the next stanza. England gained 6 more IMPs to trail 116.67-95 with three sets to go.

It is not as close in the Venice Cup, where China Long Zhu is leading USA1 121-78 with 48 deals to play.

In the 48-board bronze medal playoffs, there were no close matches, as Bulgaria defeated China Long Zhu 186-84 in the Bermuda Bowl, France defeated USA 2 134.5-93 in the Venice Cup and Indonesia topped USA2 125-77 in the Seniors Bowl.

As this issue went to press, the World Transnational Open Teams had played 16 boards of 32 in their quarter-final matches. These were the scores with play to be completed on Thursday night: Zimmerman 62, Orhan 34; Russia 69, Welland 18; Deutschland 49, Brazil 25, and Apreo Logistic Poland 69, Sweden 11.

The Venice Cup and Seniors Bowl will conclude today. The Bermuda Bowl competitors will play 48 more boards today and 32 more on Saturday.