26 January 2004	Monday	03 Zilhaj 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: Winning each match with clinical display, Candyland scored 143 Victory Points to win the Coca Cola Open Teams bridge championship at the Islamabad Club on Sunday.

The Candyland quartet of Ziaullah Baig, Hamed Mohiuddin, Khalid Mohiuddin and Hasan Askari has major accomplishments in national and international competitions.

Zia qualified for the 1998 World Team Pairs Olympiad and is the winner of the 2002 Balijee International Pairs tournament. Hamed and Kahlid represented Pakistan in the 1989 and 1993 World Junior Teams Championship. Hasan Askari has played for Pakistan in the 2000 SAARC Bridge Championship.

Trailing Asif IV in the third round by a solitary point, Candyland started with a bang. Candyland had a close 16-14 win over Asif IV and then went on to take the championship in style.

The team demolished pre tournament favourites, star-studded Tetley Tea by a handsome 24-6 score. Their onslaught followed setting aside of Electra 18-12. In their final match, the team blitzed Makeshift 25-5.

Tariq Aces comprising Tariq Aziz, Javed Khalid, Tufail Shaikh, Saeed Akhtar, Wajahat Suri and Uzair Kamal did the wildly improbable by taking the runner-up position with 127 points.

After a disastrous first round 25-1 loss to Candyland in the first round, Tariq Aces regrouped and rallied with all their expertise to claim second spot.Lums, fielding Ihsan Qadir, Waheed Khan, Noman Ahmed, Zia Haider and Ahsan Qureshi, finished third with 124 points.

Overnight leaders Asif IV had their hopes dashed after two crucial encounters. They lost 16-14 to Candyland and drew 15-15 with Tetley Tea. The team of Asif Ali, Sarwar Khan, Qamar Kiani and Khawar Ansari finished fourth.

Mian Muhammad Soomro, chairman senate, was the chief guest at the prize-giving ceremony. Final placing: Candyland 143 points, Tariq Aces 127, Lums 124, Asif IV 109, Tetley Tea 105, Electra 104, Cocktail Punch 101, Potohar Force 98, Makeshift 97, U-Force 96, Vanity Fair 82, Amina IV 64.