We examine the schedule and events list of the 2023 HCL International Bridge Championship, which will run from 31st October through 6th November in New Delhi
HCL, a prominent global conglomerate, has officially announced the 20th HCL International Bridge Championship.
HCL International Bridge Championship Delhi 2023 schedule, date, venue, prize money, registration
It is set to take place at the Leela Ambience in New Delhi from October 31st to November 6th, 2023. This highly anticipated annual championship attracts top teams and players from both India and around the world. This year, the prize money has been boosted by 18% to a remarkable 26 Million INR (Rs. 2.6 crores), making it one of the most lucrative Bridge tournaments worldwide.
📣 GREAT NEWS
We're happy to announce that the #BridgeChampTeam is soon to land in New Delhi, India. 🇮🇳
The 20th HCL International Bridge Championship starts on October 31st and we'll have two very talented bridge players representing us (stay tuned to find out more!) 🏆. pic.twitter.com/20T4sgVoR7
— Bridge Champ (@bridge_champ) October 27, 2023
2023 HCL International Bridge Championship schedule, date, venue, events, participants, & how to register
The seven-day championship guarantees an exciting week of strategic skill and fierce competition among the participating teams. Over 800 players from 14 countries, including the USA, Norway, India, Sweden, Poland, Bulgaria, and Italy, will compete under the Bridge Federation of India’s guidance. Renowned international players such as Zia Mahmood, Boye Brogeland, Mikael Rimstedt, and several Indian players, including Jaggy Shivadasani will participate.
Kiran Nadar, a globally acclaimed Bridge player, a gold medalist at the 5th Commonwealth Games, and a 2018 Asian Games Bridge medalist, expressed her enthusiasm, stating that the championship embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and nurtures a community that reveres the game. In previous editions of the tournament, over 1000 players from 185 teams participated, including international teams with players from numerous countries.
To register for the championship, interested players can visit here.
HCL International Bridge Championship 2023: events list, format, and tournament guidelines
The Championship comprises four main events: Team of Four Gold, Team of Four Silver, Open Pairs, and IMP Pairs. To mark the significant 20-year milestone of the HCL International Bridge Championship, amateurs will join professionals in an exhilarating one-day ProAm event, combining their expertise and passion.
Team of Four Gold Event:
Notably, the ‘Team of Four Gold Event’ is open to all participants. The qualifying round involves a Swiss League with 10 rounds of 10 boards each, played over the first two days. In each round, one team plays 10 boards against another, with the North/South pairs competing against the East/West pairs of their opponents.
In this event, the top 16 teams after the Swiss League will progress to the knock-out stage and these matches will consist of 4 sessions of 14 boards each. Similarly, the play-off for the 3rd position will encompass 3 sessions of 14 boards each, with the winners receiving the Naresh Tandan Trophy.
Team of Four Silver Event:
Meanwhile, the ‘Team of Four Silver Event’ is open to Indian Bridge players and the qualifying round also consists of a Swiss League with 10 rounds of 10 boards each, played over the first two days. Notably, the top 16 teams after the Swiss League will advance to the knock-out stage and these matches will include 4 sessions of 14 boards each. The play-off for the 3rd position will consist of 4 sessions of 14 boards each, with the winners awarded the Mohini Tandan Trophy.
Open Match Point Pairs:
The ‘Open Match Point Pairs’ event will commence on the tournament’s third day and run for four days. In this event, the top 26 pairs from Elimination-3 round of MP Pairs, along with two sponsored pairs, will qualify for the MP Pairs Gold final, while pairs ranked 27-52 will compete in the MP Pairs Silver final.
However, the remaining qualifiers from Elimination-3 will participate in the IMP Pairs final. The Open Pairs Final will consist of two sessions with the Barometer Howell movement (28 Pairs, 54 Boards), and the winners will be presented with the Neena Bonarji Trophy.
IMP Pairs and Pro-Am Pairs Tournament:
As per the official schedule, the ‘IMP Pairs’ event spans two days. The elimination round comprises three sessions of 18 boards each on the fifth day and the IMP Pairs final will be played over two sessions of 24 boards each. Notably, the non-qualifiers will have the opportunity to compete in IMP Pairs Strata II. Additionally, the ‘Pro-Am Pairs Tournament’ will take place on the championship’s final day, where amateur players will partner with professional players.
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