Playing against Zia always is, and always will be, something special. One of my very first bridge books was Bridge My Way by Zia. While reading this book I was completely caught by the bridge game. His perception, his... well, the lot really. As for his charisma he simply is the greatest bridge player in the world. And he beat me last year at the quarter final of the world championship (contesting the Bermuda Bowl). So if ever there is a time for revenge, it's now.
Therefore it was fortunate that ’t Onstein, my bridge club, succeeded in luring Zia to the Netherlands for a practice match (and following that a tournament, the Onstein Pinkster Patton). He was partnered by Roy Welland. Welland is mostly very, very clever; furthermore he is a good bridge player, and, on top of that, more active at the table than anyone else. His motto is: A match in which you haven't been super-active, is a match in which you haven't played.

Already at the first deal the match exploded into action:

N/NS		♠	J 8 7 2
		♥	A J 8 2
		♦	K J 5 2
		♣	10
♠	9 3			♠	K 10 4
♥	K 7			♥	5 4 3
♦	Q 3			♦	A 10 9 8 7
♣	A K 8 7 5 3 2			♣	Q 4
		♠	A Q 6 5
		♥	Q 10 9 6
		♦	6 4
		♣	J 9 6

¹ Though we open more lightly than most other pairs, I was overdoing things
² Good hand, four-card heart support.

When Welland bid 3NT I correctly judged him to have an off-shape hand (but I didn't expect seven clubs...) and that he would have nine tricks on a heart lead. That's why I doubled for the spade lead (an agreement that is based upon bridge logic I think).
I got it and the contract duly went down two by way of two tricks in spades and four in hearts.
A good score? I couldn't tell; both 4♥ and 4♠ both make...

Four boards later I was at it again:

N/NS		♠	J 10 8
		♥	J 10 9 8 7 6
		♦	K 5
		♣	8 4
♠	A K 9 7 3			♠	Q 6 5 4
♥	Q 4 2			♥	K 5 3
♦	10 4			♦	6
♣	K Q 5			♣	A J 10 9 2
		♠	2
		♥	A
		♦	A Q J 9 8 7 3 2
		♣	7 6 3

¹ 21-23 HCP, balanced (!)
² Jacoby-transfer to 3♥

True, the vulnerability didn't favour my somewhat irregular action, but what the heck: do the cards know? I was very glad (and lucky) with Bas Drijver's transfer to hearts: now I didn't have to play 3NT.
After my pass Welland considered bidding for a while. But having 14 HCP opposite a partner who had passed... He decided I was to play 3♦.
Bas made precisely nine tricks. A good score, since 4♠ is on for EW.

In the end the match was decided by some actions from both sides.

W/NS		♠	K Q J 7 5 4
		♥	K
		♦	7 4
		♣	Q 8 6 4
♠	10 9 6 3			♠	A 8 2
♥	10 5 3 2			♥	Q 9 7 6 4
♦	J 2			♦	10 5
♣	J 3 2			♣	A 7 5
		♠	—
		♥	A J 8
		♦	A K Q 9 8 6 3
		♣	K 10 9

¹ Weak two (!)

A very weak two but at this vulnerability it is hard not to open...
After that the auction developed logically. Zia doubled my 6♦ contract but I really didn't think I was going to be defeated...
And so an easy redouble (and to go with it the remark that these people would never chicken out because their egos are too big) concluded the bidding.
After a club lead I made the contract (it makes after any lead) and that made my day.
That is to say… the remaining deals were somewhat to Zia and Welland's advantage and indeed: after comparing scores it was again Zia who laughed last.