• Latest News

The WBF has released the following statement:

"We regret to advise that due to circumstances beyond our control, the dates for the World Bridge Games have changed. The championships will start 1 day earlier, and finish 2 days earlier, than originally planned: The Opening Ceremony will now be on 21 October and play will start on 22 October The final day of play, and the Closing Ceremony, will now be 3 November."

The WBF has released the following statement:

"The WBF is pleased to advise that the next World Bridge Games (formerly the “Bridge Olympiad”) will be held at the Centro de Convenciones de Buenos Aires, Argentina with the Opening Ceremony on 22nd October and play from the 23rd October up to and including the 5th November 2024."

Winners
Charlie Lu - Peter Gill
Liam Milne - James Coutts
Tony Nunn - Nabil Edgtton

Runners Up
Andrew Spooner - Philip Markey
Mike Doecke - Will Jenner-O'Shea
Shane Harrison - Matt Smith

Session Times for Thursday:
9.00 am - 11.08 am
11.20 am- 1.28 pm
2.00 pm - 4.08 pm
4.20 pm- 6.28 pm

Teams with entry fees payable must pay by direct deposit 5.00 pm, Wednesday, November 8.

Entries are now closed. System Cards must be uploaded by 6pm AEDT, Monday 6 November.

The ABF has announced the financial assistance for the 2024 representatives and selection events.

» 2024 Financial Assistance

 • Purpose of the Playoff

The primary purpose of the Playoff is to select the Australian Open Team for the next year. By entering the Playoff, all players declare that they are available and intend to represent Australia in any Target Event/s if they qualify.

Participation and performance in the Playoff are also major criteria in deciding to whom the ABF offers the opportunity to represent Australia in any other (non-target) representative events that may arise in that year.

All players who enter the Playoff must be eligible to play for Australia as per the ABF's Eligibility to represent Australia Policy, and be eligible for any Target Events as per their eligibility codes.

 • Venue

Canberra Bridge Club, 5-7 Duff Place, Deakin, ACT 2600

 • Accommodation

There is a wide range of accommodation options available within a 5-10 minute drive to the venue from motels and hotels situated in the nearby suburbs of Forrest, Manuka and Kingston. Even if you don't have your own vehicle with you, Canberra has excellent Uber services to take you from any of these suburbs or the City Centre to Deakin.

 • Catering

Due to the shortish period allowed for lunch between Matches 2 and 3 each day (notionally 32 minutes if teams take their full allocation to complete 15 boards), the organisers have planned with a nearby café – Farmers Daughter in Yarralumla – to provide a light lunch to each player.  The menu being provided allows players to choose from the following options each day they are in the competition:

 Sandwiches/Wraps

• Egg, lettuce and mayo sandwich on sourdough or
• Leg Ham, tomato, lettuce and tasty cheese sandwich on sourdough or
• Vegetarian Wrap – roast pumpkin, zucchini, baby spinach, halloumi cheese and pesto or
• Chicken Caesar Wrap

Individually wrapped, labelled and in a brown paper bag.

Soup of the Day

• Pumpkin Soup with bread and butter; or
• Other flavours as advised each day

Individually packed in a disposable soup container

Salads

• Roast beetroot, baby spinach and bocconcini cheese salad with brown rice, orange segments, mint and pistachio nut; or
• Salmon Poke bowl with avocado, pickled ginger, cucumber, sumac spiced pumpkin, edamame beans and brown rice

Other salad choices may be offered each day. Individually boxed and labelled

Players with special dietary requirements that don’t conform to the above choices are strongly advised to bring their own lunches to avoid disappointment.  The Bridge Club kitchen has refrigerators for use by those who bring their own food and drink.

The Deakin shopping centre directly across Duff Place has two cafes that provide excellent coffee, other beverages, cakes, pies, sandwiches, and light meals. 

Double Shot, Shop 7  - https://doubleshotdeakin.com.au/

Opening hours 6.00 am to 2.30pm Monday to Sunday

Download Menu and contact details at website above

Café D’Lish, http://www.cafedlish.com.au/

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 7 am to 6pm, Saturday 8am – 1.30pm,  Sunday & Public Holiday CLOSED

Download Menu and contact details at website above

Take away is an option for consumption at the bridge club. There is a large IGA supermarket at the shopping centre which includes fresh fruit, snacks and confectionary items as well as a wide variety of cold beverages and ice cream.

Each player will receive a bottle of water at the start of play.  No drinking glasses or mugs will be provided but the bottles can be refilled in the Bridge Club kitchen. Instant coffee and tea bags, sugar and milk will be available with mugs for those who require it.

 • Parking

 • BBO Coverage

 • Player Wellness and Responsibility

Covid rules in the ACT have eased considerably since the 2022 Playoffs were held.  Notwithstanding, players remain responsible for monitoring their own health and should not turn up to play at the venue if they are unwell.  The TO retains the absolute discretion to exclude a player who arrives at the venue and is demonstrably unwell.

 • Fees and Subsidies

The entry fee for the Open Playoff is $2,100 per team including GST.

Payment of entry fees

Teams with entry fees payable must pay by direct deposit into the ABF Account (BSB: 082968; A/C: 641482644) by 5.00 pm, Wednesday, November 8.

To simplify administration for interstate players, it has been decided to net off the entry fee from player subsidies to produce a single player subsidy payment in all cases.  For six player teams, only players from Sydney and Canberra need to pay an entry fee as follows.  However, in the case of four player teams, players from Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney need to pay an entry fee as detailed in the table below.

Table of Player Payments or Fees

IF YOU ARE A SIX PERSON TEAM

IF YOU ARE A FOUR PERSON TEAM

*The ABF policy of discounted entry for Youth applies. In the case of youth players an appropriate adjustment will be made to the entry fees.

Please note the following changes to refunds and subsidies for the 2024 Open and Mixed Team Playoffs:

• There will be no entry fee refunds when teams are eliminated;
• no additional subsidies for players making the Final;
• Players who receive a subsidy for the Open Team Playoff and who subsequently decide to contest the Mixed Team Playoff will not be eligible to receive a second player subsidy for that event.

 • Format

• 120 board matches, 4 stanzas of 15 boards each day commencing at 9.30 am;
• teams ranked by PQPs for determining knockout brackets and tie breaking;
• a maximum entry of eight teams (ranked upon total PQPs - after bonuses are applied).

 • Target Events and Subsidy Information

The Target Event is the Vanderbilt Trophy - The Open Teams as part of the World Bridge Games, Buenos Aires, October 22 - November 5, 2024.

The ABF Board has determined that members of the Open Team will each receive a subsidy of $2,500 to contest the World Bridge Games in Argentina.

» ABF announcement on ABF Financial Assistance for 2024 Australian representative teams

 • Contacts

Tournament Organiser
Roy Nixon
☎ 0423 043 220
✉ 

Chief Tournament Director
Matthew McManus

For further information contact Laurie Kelso and Matthew McManus ✉