WC Quarter-Finals

[Walddk]

Pairings for the quarter-finals (including carryover) at the World Championships:

 

Bermuda Bowl:

Italy v India (2.3 IMPs)

USA1 (9) v Brazil

USA2 v Argentina (4)

Egypt v Sweden (16)

 

Venice Cup:

France (15.5) v Canada

China (16) v Netherlands

Germany v England (3.7)

USA1 (9) v USA2

 

Seniors Bowl:

USA1 (11) v France

Indonesia (16) v Portugal

USA2 (16) v Netherlands

Denmark (16) v Israel

 

6 segments of 16 boards (3 Sunday and 3 Monday).

 

....

 

Schedule for Sunday

USA1 v USA2 (Venice Cup)

USA1 v Brazil (Bermuda Bowl)

To Be Announced

 

As usual, we are hoping to add a match in segments 2 and/or 3.

 

Roland

[luke warm]

ok all you team captains out there, explain to clueless me why usa2 is playing argentina (with the carryover) rather than egypt (without)... is it simply a matter of thinking they're 5 imps better than argentina and equal to egypt?

[mrdct]

Italy had 1st choice of opponents with their options being:

 

India (-2,3);

Argentina (+10.5);

Egypt (-4.3); or

Brazil (-7).

 

It seems Italy perceived Argentina to be at least 12.8 imps stronger over 96 boards than India. However, there may have been a broader strategy to not give USA2 the option to pick India against whom USA2 would've had +16 carry-over.

 

USA2 had 2nd choice of opponents, with their options being:

 

Argentina (-4);

Egypt (+9); or

Brazil (+9.5).

 

Again, it seems that USA2 perceived Argentina to be at least 13 imps weaker than their other two options. They may also have been seeking to impose a stronger opponent on USA1 (who would've had +9.5 carryover versus Argentina).

 

USA1 were then left with a choice of Egypt (+9) or Brazil (+9.5) and looked to have gone for the higher carryover. Interestingly, by picking Brazil, USA1 ensured that Sweden would get Egypt against whom Sweden has 16 imps of carryover (c.f -2.3 vs. Brazil).