Kolkata/IBNS: Displaying fine form champions Formidables along with Dhampur Sugar Mills, team Arun Jain, E A Bridge, Chef's Table, Rampage,  team Monica Jajoo and Mavericks entered the quarter finals of the team event in the 8th All India Shree Cement Bridge Championship being held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre here Friday.

In the pre-quarter finals, Formidables  consisting of Rajeshwar Teari, Sumin Mukherjee, Kaustabh Nandi, Sagnik Roy, Sayantan Kushari snd Kaustubh Bendre outplayed Orion by 104-47 International Match Points (IMPs) while at the other  matches of round of sixteen Dhampur Sugar  outplayed  Queen of Hearts 107-16, Chef's Table beat Mohota  78-63, Arun Jain  scraped through Lake My Love 97.5 – 91, E A Bridge drubbed TVS Mobility  143-23, Mavericks edged past EISK  54-49 and  Rampage beat Unity 100-86  while in the most contested match of the day team Monica Jajoo squeezed past  Bridge Lovers by a single IMP 72-71.

Champion in progress at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre: Photo: Organisers

Earlier during  eight-round Swiss league held yesterday and this morning , true to the top billing Champions 'Formidables' from Delhi, warmed up late  but moved into the pre quarter final stage finishing at  the top with 118.82 Victory Points (VPs).

Other 15 teams to qualify for the pre-quarter final stage were Mohta (113.93 ), Arun Jain (11.66) , EA Bridge (109.22), Monica Jajoo (107.58), Mavericks (104.96 ), Unity (102.88), Queen of Hearts (101.80), EISK (101.37), Orion (100.06) , Dhampur Sugar Mills ( 99.98),  TVS Mobility ( 99.98), Bridge Lovers ( 99.05),  Chef's Table (95.96),  Lake My Love (94.38)  and Rampage (93.25 ). 

Prasad Keni of BFI delivers welcome address in presence of Corporate Bridge Association of India Chairperson Kavita Singhania and Shree Cement Chairman H M Bangur. Photo: Organisers

The championship, a category one event of the country's bridge calender being participated by about 500 players from different parts of the country and a couple of European nation- Holland and Norway- was inaugurated Thursday morning by Chairperson of  E A Express Avenue Kavita Singhania in presence of Chairman of  Shree Cement H M Bangur, President of Bridge Federation of India (BFI) Prasad Keni, President of Bengal Olympic Association (BOA) Chandan Roy Chowdhury , BOA Vice President Biswarup Dey and BFI Secretary Debasish Ray.