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• Latest News
Partnership-Based PQPs will be introduced for the 2027 Playoffs
Effective immediately, PQPs will accrue to partnerships rather than individual players. This change applies to all PQP-earning events from the 2025 GNOT onwards and will affect the 2027 Open and Mixed Teams Playoffs.
This change is in line with international best-practice and is intended to get more long-term partnerships representing Australia internationally, contributing to improved results.
A detailed explanation and the reasons behind the changes is available on the ABF website:
» Partnership-Based PQPs Announcement
• Purpose of the Playoffs
The primary purpose of the Playoffs is to select the Australian teams for the next year. By entering a 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 Playoffs 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 a 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
• Format
The format will be teams based.
- 120-board knockout matches, each played over two days;
- teams ranked by PQPs for determining knockout brackets and tie breaking; and
- a maximum entry of eight teams (ranked upon total partnership PQPs).
• Target events and financial assistance to representative teams
The target event for the 2027 Australian representative team is the Zone 7 Playoffs (date and venue TBA) leading to the WBF World Team Championships 2027 (August 24 - September 4, Barbados). The opening ceremony is on 23 August.
The selected teams will also be eligible to represent Australia at the Asia Pacific Bridge Federation Championships, expected to be held in the Philippines in April or May 2027. The dates and venue are provisional and will be updated once confirmed.
The ABF Board has approved increased travel subsidies for 2027, reflecting the improvement in the ABF’s financial position over recent years and our commitment to improving Australia’s international performance. The subsidies are based on a return economy airfare plus half the estimated cost of four-star accommodation. The same rates apply to each selected player and the team’s non-playing captain.
APBF championships
The subsidy will be $2,025 per representative. Representatives based in Adelaide, Canberra or Hobart will receive an additional $300, bringing their subsidy to $2,325. No departure-city supplement applies to Perth or Darwin representatives.
Representatives will be required to arrive no less than two days before play commences. The subsidy is calculated based on the schedule of previous APBF events. If there is a change to the schedule, the ABF reserves the right to alter the subsidy to reflect a shorter or longer duration, subject to Board approval of any substantive change.
WBF World Teams Championships
The base subsidy will be $5,700 per representative.
Base subsidies for representatives based in Adelaide, Canberra or Hobart will be $6,200. Darwin representatives will receive $6,450. Perth representatives will receive $6,700.
Representatives will be required to arrive in Barbados by 19 August 2027, allowing four clear days before play commences. The base subsidy includes half the estimated accommodation cost for the preparation period and six days of qualifying play.
Each representative, including the non-playing captain, will also receive an additional $400 if their team reaches the quarter-finals, a further $400 if it reaches the semi-finals and a further $400 if it reaches the final. The maximum additional payment is $1,200 per representative.
These are fixed subsidies and are not negotiable, subject to the APBF schedule adjustment described above. They are contributions towards the cost of representing Australia; representatives are responsible for costs exceeding the subsidy. The subsidy for each event applies to representatives attending that event.
• Contacts
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TBA