The MCBA have announced that the 2019-20 MCBA Bridge League will finish at midnight on 11^th July.

As there is no prospect of starting a new season in the immediate future we plan to run an online league for those teams who wish to participate.

The number of divisions will be dependent on the number of teams who enter.

Teams will be limited to eight players in total as we would prefer bigger groups to form multiple teams.

Matches will be 14 boards* played on BBO although if both teams prefer and are able to arrange it matches played on Bridge Club Live will count.

Matches can be played straight through with all players remaining in their respective ‘seats’ or can be played as two 7 board stanzas.  This is achieved on BBO by creating separate 7 board matches and adding the IMPs scored in each stanza.  A change of personnel will be allowed after the first 7 boards when matches are played in two stanzas.  By agreement of both Captains stanzas can be played on different days or with a long gap between them on the same day.

Completed matches will be scored in IMPs and then converted to VPs according to a continuous scale.  The relevant table will be provided to Captains at the start of each season and will be available on this website.

The intention is for matches to be played each week according to a schedule which will be published by the League Secretary.

Matches will be scheduled for a Thursday, daytime or evening.  If teams are unable to agree to play on a particular Thursday they can reschedule the match for another time convenient to both teams prior to the following Thursday.

Masterpoints will be awarded.

We will not charge for entry to Season 1 but, as we will have to pay the EBU for each person who plays we may start making a small charge to cover this cost in subsequent seasons.  All players must be EBU members whose primary or secondary affiliation is to MCBA but any players who are registered in our duplicates or who want to play in this league can become EBU members through one of our member clubs without any further cost until such time as Face to Face bridge recommences.  We will organise this for them.

.A Season will run for the necessary number of weeks to enable all teams to play each other according to the schedule.  We plan for Divisions to be no more than six teams which will result in all teams playing a maximum of five matches and the seasons lasting for five weeks. At the end of each season there will be promotion and relegation.  New teams will be allowed to enter each new season and will be placed in a division appropriate to their ability as judged by the League Secretary and, if necessary, any committee he forms for this purpose.  Promotion and relegation will not be guaranteed at the end of Season 1 only as new teams may need to be accommodated into the existing divisions.  However it may be possible to increase division sizes which would either require some matches to be played more than once a week or a longer season.  After Season 2 we will not guarantee to be able to add new entrants into the appropriate division for their ability but will do our best to accommodate everyone.

As long as there is sufficient support league Seasons will continue until such time as it is realistic to restart a face to face league.

The Season will start on Thursday 16^th July subject to sufficient entries.

If you wish to enter a team then please complete and submit the entry form which can be found here.

If you would like to play in this league but do not have a team yet then please click here 

* After all the entries are in I will poll teams to see if longer matches are preferred and a final decision will be made before the season starts.  Note that 16 board matches cost almost 50% more than 14 boards matches in the fees which have to be paid to the EBU.

Adam Wiseberg

MCBA League Secretary