ISLAMABAD, May 28: Data Steel proved that consistency is the watchword for winning bridge as a sombre three-day performance outmatched a star-studded field of internationals, to land the Pakistan Open with 242 Victory Points (VPs) in a close encounter.

The winning team comprised Tariq Rasheed Khan, Rashedul Ghazi, Pervez Mirza, Shauq Hussain and Kamran Ibrahim.

Rashedul Ghazi and Pervez Mirza have the distinction of being the winners of the 1997 Bridge Federation of Asia and Middle East (BFAME) Pairs Championship at Cape Town and the 2003 BFAME Pairs Championship at Amman.

On the other hand Shauq Hussain has represented Pakistan at the 2000 World Team Olympiad at Maastritch, Netherlands.

Data Steel kick-started their campaign on the final day with an overwhelming 22-8 win over Chandna, then followed with a robust 25-5 thrashing of Tollink that took them within the title range and closer after endearing a 19-11 win over Four Bidders Club.

In the final round, a 14-16 loss to Pirzadas must have tarnished the team's final hour but the score was enough for them to take the championship.

Aces — Ihsan Qadir (non-playing captain), Ghias Malik, Izzat Khalil, Farrukh Liaqat, Ahsan Qureshi, Noman Butt and Zia Haider — went ablaze on the final day and crept up to the eventual winners with 240 VPs to take the runners-up position.

In a superb array of a late rally, Aces demolished Four Bidders Club 25-4, completely set aside Potohar Force 23-7 and diminished Giants 23-7 and a 18-12 final round victory over Margalla took them to just a couple of VPs short of the championship.

Candyland — Mohammad Ismail, Ziaullah Baig, Hamid Mohyuddin, Khaled Mohyuddin, Mubashar Puri and Hasan Askari — were placed third at 238 VPs. The national champions started the day superbly with a 24-6 win over SDC, then fell 11-19 to Giants and recouped to smash Computeronics 24-6. But they had to take the toll of a 14-16 loss to Tollink in the last round.

Tournament favourites Tariq Aces — Tariq Aziz, Zia Mahmood Javed Khalid, Saeed Akhtar, Tahir Masud and Tufail Shaikh — took fourth position with 233 VPs much to the dismay of the fans.

The team of the superstar performer Zia Mahmood had some great highs and lows but the consistency shown by Data Steel was clearly of championship mettle.

Finals standings:

Data Steel 242 VPs; Aces 240; Candyland 238; Tariq Aces 233; Allana 222; Chandna 209; Free Bidders 209; Pirzadas 202; Giants 199; Raees Four 199; Computeronics 198; Tollink 196; Margalla 196; Twin City 195; Free Bidders Club 194; Potohar Force 191; SCD 191; Dream Team 189; Partners 188; Lucky Strike 186; Friends 174; Challengers 170; Obiz 164; Silver Star 148; On the Edge 115.