When the World Championship began 60 years ago, it was a two-team affair. Then the number grew to four, six and nine. Last year 22 teams competed, and half of the 14-day event comprised preliminary matches to eliminate teams with no chance of winning. By the time the knockout stage arrived, stamina was a significant factor.

I can’t account for declarer’s play in today’s deal (from the Women’s Teams final, United States vs. China) on any basis except fatigue. At one table the US North-South reached 3NT. After West led the queen of hearts, ducked, and a second heart to dummy’s king, declarer faced a basic-textbook exercise: force out West’s possible entry to her hearts before they were set up.

South leads the ace and a low spade, planning to put in the 10 as a safety play if East follows low. If West could win to lead another heart, South would win and lose a diamond finesse to East’s king. The defense would have at most four winners, and declarer would have nine.

South actually led a diamond from dummy at Trick Three, and East won and led her last heart. Now the safety play in spades was unattractive, so South led the king and a low spade. West showed out, and South had to fail. (China got to four spades by South. On a diamond lead, that contract also could have been made but wasn’t.)

The Bermuda Bowl should be bridge’s World Series. It should return to a format — better from most standpoints — of long, meaningful matches pitting, say, four pre-qualified teams.