TORONTO, Sept 1: Favourites Zia Mahmood and Michael Rosenberg, both from America, were beaten in the Pairs Open of the World Bridge Championships Saturday.

In a dramatic finish in the fifth and final session last evening, Italy’s Fulvio Fantoni and Claudio Nunes emerged winners.

Zia and Michael led in all the four sessions before being upset in the concluding session that marked the end of the 16-day championships.

Michael Rosenberg had some consolation when his wife Debbie won the women’s Pairs title with Karen McCallum.

McCallum had won this title before also in 1990 with Kerri Sanborn. Anne-Frederique Levy and Blandine de Heredia of France took silver with Kerri Sanborn and Irina Levitina of America finishing third.