The European Bridge League and World Bridge Federation host many competitions, online and in-person, in which bridge players from many countries are welcome to play.  Standards of play are generally (in Irish terms) from Area Master upwards, with some competitions being more restricted.  

Major championships are contested by representative teams from each country (or "NBO" - National Bridge Organisations).  Teams representing Ireland in these championships are decided through trials.  Open competitions take place in parallel with these tournaments and separately, both online and in-person - look for the term "Transnational" in championship names or descriptions.

To play in EBL or WBF open events, you must be registered with EBL / WBF as a player.  You can do this directly yourself.

If you wish to play in Irish trials for representative competitions, your EBL/WBF registration must show that you are affiliated to Ireland.  If you were born in Ireland (North or South) and reside permanently in Ireland (North or South), you can do this yourself.  If you were born outside Ireland or currently reside outside Ireland but wish to represent Ireland, please contact IBU about your registration as we will be obliged to submit additional documentation in relation to your Irish affiliation and eligibility. 

Before attempting registration, first check whether you are already registered with EBL/WBF!  Click >here< to go to the European Bridge League "People Finder" (or go to the European Bridge League website and look under People > People Finder).  Enter your surname, or check through Irish players that are registered in case of mis-spelling.

Use this form >2025 EBL Player Registration Form.xlsx< to register with WBF and EBL together.

The registration process has a number of steps.

• First, you will complete and submit a simple form with some basic personal and contact details, which include your registration number in Ireland (your NBID for RoI players, your membership number prefixed by "9" for NI players).
• Once the registration form is accepted, you will receive an email confirming this; and you will also be asked to sign two "commitment forms" relating to (inter alia) your willingness to abide by the rules and ethics of the game.  (Links are also on the registration form.)  WBF/EBL ask that you complete these forms online (i.e. key the information into the document) and NOT print and fill in by hand.
• A head-and-shoulders picture is required so that players you meet in competition will know (in person or on RealBridge) that they are facing the correct opposition!
• Finally, you should verify that you are in compliance with the WBF Eligibility Criteria and the WBF/WADA anti-doping regulations.

Once fully registered, you can enter EBL and WBF competitions.  You and your partner will be obliged to submit system cards in advance, so it is useful to have one prepared and kept up to date at all times.  

Online competitions are currently mostly on RealBridge.  Keep an eye out in particular for Women's competitions, as organisers of these are very active!  In-person tournaments are held alongside major international tournaments and at other times - best found by checking the EBL website directly.

The European Bridge League (EBL) has established a dedicated Women’s Bridge Committee, which has been tasked with the following goals:

• To strive to increase the number of female players in EBL tournaments;

• To “bridge the gap” between men and women in the top-level international competitions;

• To strengthen the links with female players, to get closer to their needs and the issues they face as youth, adult, and senior players;

• To promote, facilitate, and retain women in the practice of bridge under the best conditions;

• All of the above will be operated under the slogans: FAIR PLAY FOR WOMEN! & BRIDGE IS A GAME FOR ALL!

Each federation has been asked to nominate a representative to the Committee. Ours, representing the Irish Bridge Union, is Joan Kenny. You’ll find a website with information on the activities of the committee here. Amongst other things, you’ll see that special online training sessions are being offered.

If anyone would like more information on how to get involved in these activities, please check the "International News" section of this website, or you can contact Joan by email.

Find out here about the championships!

The 2^nd WBF Online Women’s Teams takes place on Jan 3-5, 2025 and is in place due to the inaugural success in February when 64 teams played. The feedback was great when players enjoyed meeting teams from across the world in a competitive yet friendly atmosphere on RealBridge.

The  link to information is on the WBF website and Team Captains are invited to register.

 http://championships.worldbridge.org/2025-wbf-online-womens-teams

The WBF Women’s Newsletter has just been published. Annaïg Della Monta and Anne-Lill Hellemann write of their Gold wins, regular contributors Mark Horton, Sophia Baldysz, Lone Bilde and Suzi Subeck are joined by Aaida Abu Jaber,  Marc-André Fourcaudot, Kim Frazer, Jeanne van den Meiracker and Carina Wademark to bring stories from across the globe.

Featured also is information on the WBF Women’s Online teams (RealBridge) and the  WBF Women’s Festival (BBO).

Did you know that BBO has a Free Daily Women’s Pairs and a Daylong for women?

You can read about this new initiative in the Newsletter. 

http://championships.worldbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WBF-Womens-Newsletter-September2024.pdf

After 18 months of intensive work by the Women's Bridge Committee and the National Women's Coordinators, the EBL believes it is time to check the impact of this work.

If you have been involved in any way with the EBL Women's Committee's work or its events, IBU encourages you to complete the questionnaire at => this link <= before the end of January 2024.