The Hubert Philips Bowl and Plate is by default a face-to-face competition but captains can agree to play matches online.
The knockout mixed teams-of-four championships of England is named after the former EBU chairman, Hubert Phillips, whose initiatives in the first part of the 1930s were instrumental in the creation of the EBU, of which he was the first Chairman, as well as being a figure of national significance outside bridge.
Scoring is by aggregate with honours counting. At no time may an all male or all female team be playing. Matches are played on the full pivot principle such that one plays one-third of the match with each of one’s teammates as a partner.
This is an ideal tournament for new players to the game of duplicate from rubber or chicago bridge.
Eight teams are seeded, and every non-seeded team is guaranteed at least one match before meeting a seed. There is a Plate competition at no extra cost, so all non-seeded teams play at least two matches. There was no change to the entry fee.
Matches are of 30 boards up to and including the quarter-final, except that 24- or 27-board matches may be played in Rounds 1–3 by mutual agreement. The semi-final is 48-boards, and the final is 60-boards.
Teams may contain 4, 5 or 6 players, but only 4 players may play in any single match prior to the semi-final stage.
The draw for the early rounds is regionalised to try to help keep travelling distances small.
Current results
Results of the ongoing competitions are available here: 2025/26 Bowl, 2025/26 Plate
To enter
By entering an EBU congress or event you agree to abide by the terms and conditions set out in the Terms and Conditions document.
Entries for the 2025/26 event are now closed. Entries for the 2026/27 event will open in the new year.
The easiest way to enter is via My EBU. Alternatively, please contact the Competitions Department on 01296 317203 or email comps@ebu.co.uk.
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.
Holders
2024/25
Bowl - Sebastian Atisen, Fiona Brown, Michael Byrne, Kieran Dyke, Ben Green & Stefano Tommasini
Plate- Chris Mooney, Carole Mueller, Herb Mueller & David Perkins
| Timetable 2025/26 | |
|---|---|
| Bowl | |
| Round | Play by Date |
| 1 | 13th July 2025 |
| 2 | 24th September 2025 |
| 3 | 19th November 2025 |
| Quarter-Final | 21st January 2026 |
| Semi-Final | 16th March 2026 |
| Final | By mutual agreement |
| Plate | |
| Round | Play by Date |
| 1 | 24th September 2025 |
| 2 | 19th November 2025 |
| Quarter-Final | 21st January 2026 |
| Semi-Final | 16th March 2026 |
| Final | By mutual agreement |
The final will be arranged by mutual agreement between the finalists.
| The entry fee for 2025/26 is £96 per team |
|---|
| The entry fee for 2026/27 is £106 per team |
Master Points
Master Points will be awarded in the form of Green Points for each round won as follows (based on an entry of over 64 teams): MP awards for Bowl
| Round | I | II | III | IV | QF | SF | Final |
| GPs | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
MP awards for Plate
| Round | I | II | III | QF | SF | Final |
| GPs | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
All awards quoted are 'per player'. To receive points, a player must have played in at least one third of the boards involved in the match in question.
Agreements
Level 4 agreements are permitted in this event.
Halfway venues
Some clubs are available for hire by teams wishing to hold a knockout match at a 'halfway venue'.
Downloads
- EBU Knockout and League Competitions General Regulations
- Regulations for Rulings and Appeals in Matches Played Privately
- General Regulations for Matches Played Privately (including Section F: online match regulations
- Specific Regulations for this Event
- General Regulations for Rulings Online
- Instructions for playing on RealBridge
Previous Winners
2025 Bowl results, 2025 Plate results
2024 Bowl results, 2024 Plate results
2023 Bowl results, 2023 Plate results
2022 Bowl results, 2022 Plate results
2020 Bowl results, 2020 Plate results
2019 Bowl results 2019 Plate results
2018 Bowl results 2018 Plate results
2017 Bowl results 2017 Plate results
2016 Bowl results 2016 Plate results
2015 Bowl results 2015 Plate results
2014 Bowl results 2014 Plate results
2013 Bowl results 2013 Plate results
2012 results
2011 results
2010 results
2009 results
2008 results
2007 results
Find a partner/team mates
If you are looking for a partner or team mates for this competition, please email comps@ebu.co.uk.