Matchpointer Online
(Serving Tournament Bridge players in A.C.B.L. Unit 430:
Greater Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Sunshine Coast)

American Contract Bridge League Multi-Level Events

Multi-level events run by the ACBL are:

• GNT - Grand National Teams.  This is an teams event with four flights and three stages.  The Championship Flight is unlimited; Flight A is for players under 5000 masterpoints, Flight B is for players under 2000 masterpoints, and Flight C is for non-Life Masters up to 500 masterpoints.  The event begins with a club qualifying stage in the fall and early spring.  Teams who qualify at that level can play in the District Final, usually held in greater Seattle or Vancouver in April.  The top team in each flight represents District 19 at the National Final, held at the Summer North American Bridge Championships.
• NAP - North American Pairs.  This is a pairs event with three flights and four stages.  Flight A is unlimited, Flight B is for players under 2000 masterpoints, Flight C is for non Life Masters under 500 masterpoints.  The first stage is the popular Club Qualifying stage, which takes place each summer on club-selected dates from June 1 thru August 31.  Qualifying pairs then move on to the District Final, usually held at a November or December tournament in Vancouver or greater Seattle.  The top three pairs in each flight at the District Final are invited to participate (with varying levels of ACBL funding) in the National Final, held at the Spring North American Bridge Championships.

If you plan to compete in these events and hope to get to the National Final of the GNT or NAP, there is subsidy money available from the Unit.  To qualify for subsidy money, you must play in the Fall FUNdraising game before the National Final, or (if you cannot play on that date) donate the equivalent of a two-session entry fee to the Unit Subsidy Fund.

There are many other events that the ACBL runs each year: 49er pairs, Senior Pairs, Charity Games, Instant Matchpoint Games, International and Junior Fund Games, Inter-Club Championship Games, and the ACBL is a participant in the annual World-Wide Pairs game in June.  The ACBL also publishes The Bridge Bulletin, the ACBL web page, and has a very active charity program.