Hurd–Demuy win Platinum Pairs in squeaker
Winners of the Kay Platinum Pairs, John Hurd and Vincent Demuy
John Hurd and Vincent Demuy won the six-session Kay Platinum Pairs, holding off a last-session charge by runners-up Ola Rimstedt and Irene Baroni. The margin for the victors was razor-thin: Hurd and Demuy finished ahead of Rimstedt and Baroni by 0.02 matchpoints.
This is the first victory in the Platinum Pairs for Demuy of Palm Beach Gardens FL; he has previously finished second and third in the event. But this is the second win in the Platinum Pairs for Hurd, of New York City; he won with Joel Wooldridge in 2011.
Runners-up in the Kay Platinum Pairs, Ola Rimstedt and Irene Baroni
After the first final session, Rimstedt of Sweden and Baroni of France stood near the center of the field with a 50% performance, but a huge 68.00% game in the second final catapulted them to within striking distance of Hurd and Demuy, who posted twin 57% games in the final. Hurd and Demuy had a superior carryover from the semifinal round, and they needed every bit of it to outlast the runners-up.
Finishing third were Greg Humphreys of Charlottesville VA and Adam Parrish of New York City.