Administration & Support for Competitions

Entering and booking competitions

Bookings should be made online via My EBU. Full payment must be made at the time of entering. Those who play in an event without having entered and paid beforehand will be subject to an additional financial penalty of £20. Check the Competitions section of the EBU website for this and up-to-date details of the various competitions including dates and venues. Enquiries for the various events should be addressed to our Competitions Department at comps@ebu.co.uk or by phone on 01296 317 203.

Before booking

  • Note that all our EBU Calendars really are only drafts. Members should not make non-refundable travel or accommodation arrangements based on these drafts, and/or before they have formally entered the tournament in question.

Eligibility for entering an EBU Competition

You are eligible to play in an EBU congress if you are a member of the EBU or a member in good standing of any other National Bridge Organisation. EBU congresses are those that run over several days and have different events on different days. They include the Eastbourne Summer Meeting, the Spring Foursomes and any individual event called “congress” or “festival”. Members of other NBOs are bound by the disciplinary processes of the EBU when playing in EBU events.  

Counties are also free to accept entries for their congresses and one-day green-pointed events from members in good standing of other NBOs, if they wish.

If you are entering a Knockout competition or any other championship event such as the Portland Pairs, you will need to be a member of the EBU. You will also need to be eligible to represent England in order to play in the first division of the Premier League.

For the National Teams League, the captain and at least half of the team must be EBU members. 

Our daily online Social Bridge games on RealBridge and the daily EBU 12-board BBO games are open to all. 

Online Competitions Entries Issues

Competition entries through MyEBU will appear to fail after the payment stage, the entry has in fact succeeded so please do not try again as you will be charged again.

Booking online

The preferred method of entering forthcoming events is by logging into the members area.

EBU Accommodation Booking Service (ABS)

The Accommodation Booking Service, operated by Arena Travel is aimed at providing a comprehensive freephone service that is quick and easy. The number is 01473 917309.

Operating guidelines on hotel venues in England and on Overseas Congresses

Halfway venues

Some clubs are available for hire by teams wishing to hold a knockout match at a 'halfway venue'. A list of some of these is available: halfway venues list.

Rules & Regulations

By entering an EBU congress or event you agree to abide by the terms and conditions set out in the following documents:

Knockout Regulations

Eligibility

Seniors events

To be eligible for a Seniors event, players must have their 64th birthday or beyond during the calendar year (January-December) of the event. For example, a player can play in a Seniors event at the age of 63 provided his/her 64th birthday falls later that year.
Please note: The WBF - and consequently the EBL and Bridge Great Britain - have adjusted their criteria for eligibility for Seniors events. The EBU has therefore adjusted its criteria in response to this. Please note, therefore, that to be eligible players must have their 64th birthday or beyond during the calendar year (January-December) of the event - i.e. entrants must be born in 1960 or earlier. See seniors events further information for more details.

Junior events

To be eligible for a Juniors/Youth event, players must be under 26 years of age on 31st December of the year in which the congress takes place, or the year in which the knockout competition begins
For example:
- If you were born in or after 1996 then you will be eligible for half price entry to EBU events, or entry to Under 26 competitions, in 2021. - If you were born in or after 1997 then you will be eligible for half price entry to EBU events, or entry to Under 26 competitions, in 2022. See junior events further information for more details.

County allegiance

In EBU competitions players may only represent their County of primary allegiance. Please see county allegiance further information for more details.

Please note that your county of primary allegiance does not automatically change - for example, if you move house - and must be specifically changed. Any member wishing to change their county of allegiance should contact Karen Durrell - karend@ebu.co.uk or 01296 317201. You cannot make the change yourself so as to ensure that the change is permitted (for example that you haven't already changed allegiance that year).

You can see your county of primary allegiance in My EBU.

Transgender players in mixed or women’s events

Looking for a partner/team mates

If you are looking for a partner or team mates for this competition, please use the new Partnership forum

Getting involved

Become a standby volunteer

We would always like to hear from pairs who are willing to act as standby at our events, especially for Swiss Pairs and Swiss Teams competitions.

Both the directors and the players are very grateful for the role played by standby pairs and your generosity would be much appreciated.

We ask that you attend the competition and if you are required to play then you would receive free entry to the event. If you are not required then reasonable travel expenses will be paid.

For more information, or to volunteer, please contact comps@ebu.co.uk.

Contacts and communication

Entering events

To enter any of our events, or to find out more information, please contact comps@ebu.co.uk (Tel: 01296 317203).

Emergency

  • EBU Tournament Mobile:  In an emergency, if you need to contact a member of staff at a congress, and it is outside EBU office hours, please ring 07780 673522. Do not use this number for general enquiries or competition entries.

Forum

For more information