The battle for the semi-final berths in the Promocion Pairs Championship, the second tier competition, is hotting up with five pairs within two points of each other at the top. With four weeks to go matters are becoming serious, and not only every win but every point scored within a game may prove crucial. This week’s matches played out like so:

• OLAZABAL and LARRINAGA maintained their high ranking with an easy 22-11 win over LEMUNO and ARETXEBALETA in Eibar. The defeated pairing are now losing all hope, with only one win out of seven matches and a points difference of -33.
• Table toppers JAUNARENA and CECILIO took another victory, defeating TAINTA and ARGOTE 22-14 in Altsasu. Their only defeat came against Gorka and Arruti in the second rotation and they look set to progress with young Leitzarra Jaunarena especially impressive. Tainta and Argote remain rooted to the foot of the standings.
• In Pamplona, URRUTIKOETXEA and IZA beat ONGAY* and LADIS GALARZA 22-10. Things are looking promising for the Asegarce pair, who sit third. Ladis Galarza was without regular partner Aitor Mendizabal and Alberto Ongay was unable to lift him in another defeat, their fifth of the tournament.
• Tolosa saw an easy victory for GORKA and MERINO*, the latter replacing Arruti, over RICO IV and IBAI ZABALA*, who replaced Untoria, by 22 points to 8. This was a much needed boost for Gorka’s pair, who sit fifth, level on points with the couple they defeated who hang onto fourth.

The table now looks like this:

Gorka Esteban was victorious this week