Each member country of the European Bridge League may enter one representative team in each series of the championships.

The Open series will be played in two round robins: in the first round robin (qualifier), teams will be divided into two groups, according to their ranking in the preceding 3 European Team Championships. At the end of the qualifier, the 9 best ranked teams from each group will be determined, which will advance to the second round robin (final). The remaining teams will finish the championships at this point, and players may join the 50th Anniversary Tournament (see below). In the final round robin, it is anticipated that matches will be of 20 boards. Each qualified team will carry forward the entire result achieved against teams it has met in the qualifier, and these matches will not be played again. The final ranking of the Championships will emerge from the results of the second round robin (matches played in the qualifier and matches played in the final).

The Women series will be played as a single complete round robin with all teams playing each other. It is anticipated that matches will be of 20 boards.

The Senior series will be played as a single complete round robin provided that the number of participating countries is sufficient. It is anticipated that matches will be of 16 or 20 boards, depending on the number of matches played.

50th European Championships Anniversary In 1932, the first European Bridge Championships took place in Scheveningen, The Netherlands. 2010 will mark the 50th edition of Europe's flagship competition, and the EBL will be celebrating this special occasion. All European NBO Presidents, or their official representatives, are cordially invited to attend and enjoy the celebration and gala dinner on Saturday 26 June, in the company of many former and current champions and officers who played an important role in the history making of the League. Celebration Tournament - 'Paul Magerman Cup' The celebration also includes a pairs tournament, to be held in Kursaal, 1-3 July 2010. The competition is open to all players. Players from non-qualifying teams of the 50th European Team Championships are welcome to participate free of charge. Transnational pairs are welcome.

• Registration of Teams

All entries to the Championships must be submitted electronically, by 1 April 2010. It is very important that this deadline be respected. This registration shows the intention of an NBO to participate in one or more series, and it is required in advance of the team roster registration to facilitate the organization of the championships.

• Registration of Team Rosters (names of players, captain & coach)

Registration of team rosters must be made by 15 April 2010. A team must have been registered before the team roster can be submitted.

• Registration of Pairs for the 50th Anniversary Tournament (Paul Magerman Cup)

Registration of pairs for the special tournament which will be organized to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the European Team Championships is available below. Transnational pairs are welcome in this competition.

• Right to enter

Each member NBO, being up to date with the payment of its dues (including the dues for 2010) to the EBL, is authorized to enter one team in the Open Series, one team in the Women Series and one team in the Senior Series of the Championships. Countries must have paid the entry fee and be up to date with the payment of the dues to the EBL before they can participate in the Championships.

• Entry Fees       Full Discounted* Team stays in designated hotels**   Junior Pairs   Open Teams (per team) €3,500  €2,500 -€500     Women Teams (per team) €3,500  €2,500 -€500     Senior Teams (per team) €3,250  €2,000 -€500     Anniversary Pairs (per pair) €250      €125 * for countries that did not participate in the last three EBL Team Championships held in Malmo 2004, Warsaw 2006 and Pau 2008. ** a discount of €500 per team will be given to countries that accommodate all their players at the Thermae Palace Hotel or make their reservations through the Ostend Tourist Office and arrange accommodation for all their players in the recommended hotels. Entry fees must be paid by 15 April 2010, by bank transfer to the EBL account.

BANQUE PARIBAS (Suisse) 2 Place de Hollande CH-1211 Geneva 11 - Switzerland. Account EUROPEAN BRIDGE LEAGUE no: 3097300 IBAN: CH 46 0868 6309 7300 04978 SWIFT: BPPBCHGG

The following documents constitute the championship regulations:		Anna Gudge EBL Systems Administrator anna@ecats.co.uk
•	Tournament Rules & Regulations (in pdf format)
•	EBL Bona Fide Residence Requirements
•	EBL Disciplinary Code
•	EBL Dress Code
•	Tournament Systems Regulations (in pdf format) Systems to be used in any series of the championships must be registered with the EBL Systems Administrator, Anna Gudge by 10 May 2010.

• Final A
	Winner	Invitation to a pairs event at the 2011 European Open Championships (accommodation + entry fees) and the Paul Magerman Cup
	Places 2-3	Invitation to a pairs event at the 2011 European Open Championships (accommodation + entry fees)
	Places 4-12	Prize table
• Final B
	Winner	Invitation to a pairs event at the 2011 European Open Championships (accommodation + entry fees)
	Places 2-10:	Prize table

The General Assembly of the European Bridge League will be held on Sunday 27 June at 10.00 hrs at the Thermae Palace Hotel. The election of the new EBL President, as well as of the 12 members of the EBL Executive Committee, for the period 2010-14 will take place at this Assembly.

For further information, please contact:

European Bridge League Marina Madia - EBL Secretariat Via Ciro Menotti 11/C I-20129 Milan Italy.    39-02-7384 450     39-329-5609 996      ebl@federbridge.it