About the Scheme

The English Bridge Union Master Point Scheme came into operation in September 1956.

Since then, many thousands of players have enjoyed the benefits of the scheme which enables recognition of their achievements from Club Master right through to Premier Grand Master.

Clubs have also appreciated the value of the scheme with its unique incentives in helping to promote and retain club membership.

Any player can obtain points from success in duplicate bridge competition, on a scale which varies according to the success itself, the size of the competition and its status.  About the top one-third of players in a competition will be entitled to a Master Points.  The register of Master Points is kept at the offices of the English Bridge Union.  Only members of the EBU may register their points and have their records maintained.  A lapsed member may have valid Master Points registered on renewal of membership of the EBU.

Members may register their points and see their record via the EBU website, using the member area and logging in or request a copy of their record at anytime.  Submissions must include details of name, address and EBU number.

Lists of promotions between Master Point ranks are published on the EBU website - click here to find the links to them - and County ranking lists are made available to all members on this website.  Rank and category prizes are awarded every year based upon the total number of Master Points earned during the competition year, which runs from 1 January to 31 December.

The New Masterpoint Scheme from April 2010

For the start of Universal Membership we have overhauled our Master Point Scheme to cope with all of our new members. We will be discontinuing the sending of Masterpoint statements to our members and the old reward system of certificates and pens. Members will be able to view their Masterpoints record on line in the Member’s Personal area. Log in details will be sent to members with the June issue of English Bridge.

The New Masterpoint Scheme frame work.

Four Landmark promotions These will be Master, Regional Master, Life Master and Grand Master. Promotions will be processed three times a year in line with English Bridge issues: April, August and December. The landmark promotions will be recorded in these issues of English Bridge. Members who have achieved one of the landmark promotions will receive a congratulation letter from the EBU Chairman, certificate of rank attained and a gift by post, along with free entry to the Ranked Masters Pairs (subject to space availability).

All other promotions All other promotions will be published on the EBU web-site and in the Member’s personal areas and entered into four monthly Master Point Draw; this will take place in March, July and November of each year.

The prizes are:

• 1st prize – 2 nights DB&B for 2 people at a Barcelo Hotel
• 2nd prize – 2 nights B&B for 2 people at a Barcelo Hotel
• 3rd prize – 1 night DB&B for 2 people at a Barcelo Hotel

(Or similar value prizes)

All promotions Each Bridge Club will receive every four months a list of all their members’ promotions; these will also be publicised on the EBU website and viewable in the member’s personal area.

The End of Year Annual Competition This will remain the same running from the January 1st to the December 31st each year with a new Club Award being introduced this year. We will publish the ranking lists on the EBU website and we will inform the Counties and Clubs when they are available to view.

The National Awards are based on black and green points won in the year, and then broken down into three categories:

• Category 1 - Life Masters and above
• Category 2 – National & Premier National Masters
• Category 3 – Regional and Premier Regional

The "Daily Telegraph" Salver and free entry to the Spring Bank Holiday Congress – will be presented to the player who has won the most points in the competition year.

The County Awards are based on black and green points won in the year and then broken down into three categories:

• Category 4 - Star, Tournament and Premier Masters
• Category 5 - County Masters, Masters, Advanced Masters
• Category 6 - Unranked, Local, Club, Area, District Masters

The top four in each category in each county will be published in English Bridge and the top player in each category in each county will receive a cash prize. This will be credited against the members account.

The New Club Awards are based on black points won solely in a club’s own events.

The player in each club who has won the most black points in that club’s events will:

• Be published on the EBU website
• Entered into an Annual Prize Draw, 1st prize £400, 2nd prize £200, 3rd prize £100