This is a group of pairs championships for which an appropriate EBU Master Point Rank is needed to enter. The rank must be attained by virtue of points earned by 1st January 2020, and players who hold unregistered points at that date, which would promote them to a higher rank, may only compete at the higher rank. Players currently or previously based overseas for any substantial period of their bridge playing career should make a special application for a national rank to be afforded them solely for the purpose of participating in this particular event.

Players below the rank of Regional Master should enter the Masters Pairs.

Cross-IMP (teams-type) scoring is used in all events.

Categories

Changes since 2019
This year, for the purpose of the movements, we will merge the Premier Life Masters (C) with the Life Masters (D), and the National Masters (E) with the Regional Masters (F). We will still have ranking lists for each group and award trophies, prizes and Master Points within those groups, but you will be playing in a larger field with more opponents and comparisons, which we hope will be welcomed by most players.

(A) Premier Grand Masters Pairs
This event is open to Premier Grand Masters partnering either another Premier Grand Master or a Grand Master.

(B) Grand Masters Pairs for the Harrison Gray Salver
This event is open to Grand Masters (but not Premier Grand Masters) partnering either another Grand Master or a Premier Life Master.

(C) Premier Life Masters Pairs for the Premier Life Masters Trophy
This event is open to Premier Life Masters partnering either another Premier Life Master or a Life Master.
(D) Life Masters Pairs for the Maurice Blank Trophy
This event is open to Life Masters (but not Premier Life Masters) partnering either another Life Master or a Premier National Master.
These competitions are contested through a merged field

(E) National Masters Pairs for the Bridge Magazine Cup
This event is open to National and/or Premier National Masters, or either of these playing with a Premier Regional Master.
(F) Regional Masters Pairs for the St Dunstan’s Plate
This event is open to Regional and/or Premier Regional Masters, or either of these playing with a Premier Master.
These competitions are contested through a merged field

Events A - D are system level 5; events E - F are level 4.

Players in the top 20 Gold Point rankings on January 1st may elect to count themselves as Premier Grand Masters.
Players ranked 21–40 may elect to count themselves as Grand Masters.
Alternatively, such players may elect to play in their normal rank category or in any intermediate category with a suitably qualified partner.

Additional optional qualification criteria
In addition to the criteria listed above, a player will be allowed to “play up” to join a partner of a higher rank providing their NGS grade meets the following criteria on 1st January, or they achieve that grade at some point during the January before the event:

• For the Premier Grand Masters Pairs they must be an Ace of Spades or Ace of Hearts
• For the Grand Masters Pairs they must be an Ace
• For the Premier Life Masters Pairs they must be a King or an Ace
• For the Life Masters Pairs they must be in the top half of the Queen group – ie 58% or higher
• For the National Masters Pairs they must be a Queen or higher
• For the Regional Masters Pairs they must be in the top half of the Jack group – ie 56% or higher

Please note that for those who already qualify by virtue of their Master Point rank there is no additional NGS requirement, but this modification will allow a few players to play at a higher rank than formerly.