Moroccan tummy had got me on the last night of a week chez Wheeler. I lay moaning in bed, reflecting on my task ahead. I needed to get back to London, then leave for Verona the very next day to play the World Individual.

This biennial event is one of my favourites, giving you the chance to play two boards with those you normally oppose. I have always done well, and enjoy playing a standard, simple system (Frenchstyle, using Five=card Majors and Strong Notrump). My best placing was 3rd, in 1998, but it didn’t look like I’d even make the 2004 event, though, let alone improve on 3rd.

I’ll cut short the unpleasantness of the travel, except to say that I did make it to Verona, and was able to nibble at white bread on my way to an opening 55% session (first of four). The next two sessions went like a dream: my partners were brilliant, and a 58% followed by a 64% session saw me well in the lead with a day to go.

I slept nervously and sporadically that night. Although my lead was big, breathing down my neck was the might of Italian many time World Champion Norberto Bocchi, slightly taller than my six feet six inches.

I wanted a quiet start to the final session, but instead got this as the very first deal: