The auction in the match where Zia was South was fairly typical, with the main decision being whether to bid 2NT or 3NT on the second round. Seven of the North-South pairs were in Two or Three No-trumps, played by South. Only one was held to eight tricks.

McGann got his side off to a good start when he led Q rather then 3, the choice at all the other tables. The lead of the queen asked for attitude or, if that was clearly inappropriate, count. Zia won in dummy with A and Hanlon played 4, showing three hearts.
With Q likely to be offside Zia chose to play diamonds from the top. After cashing his six minor-suit winners Zia exited with Q. West had discarded two spades and East one spade. Confounding the predictions of the on-line VuGraph commentators, McGann found the only card to give him a chance of beating the contract – 10. Zia won the trick with dummy’s J and a bridge had been built to Hanlon’s 9, all the help that McGann needed to avoid being endplayed. Now, whatever Zia did, the defence had the communications to take 9, K, Q and A and beat the contract by one trick. When John Carroll made 3NT at the other table the Irish picked up 12 IMPs. They went on to win the match 50-10 and eventually win the tournament, with the All Stars just behind them in second place.