A remarkable father-son partnership from the industrial town of Hinganghat has scripted a stunning victory on the national stage. Team Mohota, led by Basant Kumar Mohota and his son Anurag, has been crowned the new champion of the winter national bridge championship, lifting the prestigious 67th Ashok Ruia Gold Trophy. The tournament recently concluded in Kolkata, witnessing a masterclass in strategy and nerve from the winning quartet.
Dominant Run to the Final
The four-member champion team was a powerful combination of the Hinganghat-based Mohotas and the skilled Kolkata pair of Biswajit Poddar and Shambhu Nath Ghosh. Representing Team Mohota, this hybrid outfit dominated the bridge nationals from the very beginning. They seized an early lead in the qualification rounds and maintained a spot in the top four with consistently excellent play across eight challenging rounds.
Their journey wasn't without a hiccup; a sixth-round defeat to Formidables (9-32) tested their resolve. However, the team remained positive and quickly returned to their dominant form. In the quarterfinals, they outplayed Team Third Eye by a convincing 42 IMPS to enter their maiden semifinal.
Semifinal Upset and Final Showdown
The semifinals pitted them against the formidable defending champions, Indian Railways-A, a team with a history of victories. In a stunning repeat of their opening qualification round performance, Team Mohota delivered a stupendous performance. They outplayed the railmen in each of the four segments across 14 boards, securing a comfortable victory by a massive 52 IMPS margin (173-121).
The title clash saw them face the Hemant Jalan team, which had caused an upset by defeating table-toppers Formidables in the other semifinal. The Jalan team boasted at least two players who were former Ruia Gold Trophy winners. Initially, the final seemed a one-sided affair, with Team Mohota building a commanding 60-point lead in the first three segments.
Nerve-Wracking Finish and Historic Win
Comprising Ashis Malhotra, Hemant Jalan, Subhash Gupta, Sandeep Thakral, and Vikrant Mehta, the experienced Hemant Jalan team fought back fiercely. In the fourth and final segment, they roared back in the first six boards, slashing Mohota's lead from 60 to just 20 IMPS with 10 boards still to play.
In these dying stages, Team Mohota kept their cool. They did not let the pressure or their shrinking advantage unravel their game. Holding their nerve, they sealed the fate of the Hemant Jalan team by 21.9 IMPS, winning the championship clash with a final score of 144.9-123.
Upon their triumphant arrival in Nagpur, the victors were felicitated by the Vidarbha Bridge Association. Dr. Vinky Rughwani honored the key players, Basant Kumar Mohota and Anurag Mohota, marking a celebratory end to their incredible national campaign.
