Please note this event will take place online in 2021
The Masters Pairs is a national competition hosted in club heats to compete for the Ann Staveley trophy. it is aimed at players with fewer Masterpoints.
Please note format changed in 2019 - the heats are hosted by individual clubs, rather than run by the EBU. This means cheaper prices, a chance to support your local club, and hopefully more participants.
Venues
The Masters Pairs will take place as two-session event heats organised by host bridge clubs. These clubs are responsible for most aspects of the heat, including taking entries, running the game and submitting the scores.
The entry fee is determined by each host club - a part of this is remitted to the EBU and the rest is retained by club, so by taking part you are supporting your local club.
If your club wishes to host a heat please contact comps@ebu.co.uk for information.
Details of the clubs which are hosting heats are available below.
Rankings
This event is open to players below the rank of Regional Master.
This includes: Local Masters, Club Masters, Area Masters, District Masters, County Masters, Masters, Advanced Masters, Star Masters, Tournament Masters or Premier Masters.
Players above this rank should enter the Ranked Masters Pairs.
Your ranking is taken as of 1st January 2021, and will include any Master Points which have been earned prior to that date, but not yet registered.
We may reserve the right to restrict entry only to those members with less than 25 Green Points in instances where the member in question has not yet accumulated enough Master Points in total to reach the level of Regional Master or higher.
Format
The competition is played as a 2-session, 1-day event scored by match-points simultaneously across several centres.
The start and finish time will be dependent on the host venue. Please see below for information.
The results will be stratified with those below the rank of Master in the 'B' stratification. In a change for 2020 stratification will be based on NGS grades (the average of the individual grades for both members of each pair). Details will not be announced in advance, but will be determined once the strength of the field is known, and arranged so that approximately 50% of the National field qualifies for the B stratification.
To enter
Please enter directly with the host club. The contact details and/or the process for making an entry for each venue is listed below.
Free entry for landmark promotion: Players who receive a landmark promotion to the rank of Master qualify for a free entry for the Masters Pairs or Ranked Master Pairs. They can play with any partner of their choice and will therefore play at the level of the highest player in the partnership. This would mean that in order to play in the Masters Pairs both players need to be a Premier Master or below. The free entry can be claimed for the competition immediately following notification of their promotion, or deferred for one year (i.e. those notified in April 2019 can reclaim their free entry in the event in spring 2020 or spring 2021).
In order to claim your free entry: enter with the host club as normal, and then contact the EBU to notify us that you will be taking part - comps@ebu.co.uk or 01296 317203. Assuming you are entitled to a free entry, the cost of your entry will be refunded to your EBU account following the event. This can then be withdrawn or used to enter another competition. Please note that the refunds will be done through a manual process so is therefore dependent on you making us aware that you believe you are eligible, and that you have taken part in the competition.
Congress Prices
The prices for our online congresses and competitions are significantly lower than they would have been face to face (about 20% less), but reflect the fact that green-pointed events always attract a premium. Players are also saving a significant amount of money in travel and accommodation costs.
We have been working hard to keep bridge going since last March, but with no end to the pandemic expected soon, we also need to work hard to keep the EBU going. Despite taking advantage of all government support that has been available, making a number of staff redundant and cutting costs everywhere we can, we are still using our reserves at an unsustainable rate. With the furlough scheme coming to an end this will only get worse.
Competitions are one way of raising the money necessary for the EBU's survival and we will be following this pricing strategy for all our online congresses and major competitions.
Holders
2020
Grace Hunter & Mike Brennan
Timetable
Day | Times |
|---|---|
Sunday 28th February | The start time will be 11.30am |
Entry Fees
The entry fee will be determined by the host club - see below for specific prices for each venue |
Members who have attained a landmark promotion to the rank of Master are entitled to free entry in the Masters Pairs. See above |
Master Points
Green Points are awarded throughout, both for session results and for final ranking. Session awards go to the top 1/4 of the overall field based on the session scores alone. In addition, ranking points go to the top 1/2 of the overall field based on the two-session total score. Session awards and final ranking awards are cumulative.
The results will be stratified - see above.
Agreements
Level 4 agreements are permitted in this event.