Format & Schedule | EYOC 2026
EYOC 2026

Format & Schedule

Everything you need to know about the European Youth Online Bridge Championships 2026

Event Overview

Championship at a Glance

🏆

Categories

U16, U21, U26, U31

🎮

Format

Swiss Qualifying + KO Stage

💻

Platform

RealBridge

👥

Team Size

Up to 10 players per NBO

🎯

Event Form

National Teams

💰

Entry Fee

Free of Charge

Format

Qualifying Stage

Swiss qualifier where the best results count. 10 nights of swiss are organized with two team matches of 2 × 10 boards. The team chooses what nights they want to play. No 'registration' needed except for the whole team to show up 15 minutes before the game starts.

U21, U26 & U31: 2 × 10 boards per session
U16: 2 × 8 boards per session

🎯 No pre-registration needed! Just show up with your team 15 minutes before your starting time. Opponents are assigned based on Swiss ranking logic.

The Victory Points (VPs) collected each night are added to your team's total. At the end of the qualifying stage, your 5 best sessions will determine your final ranking.

Minimum requirement:
Teams must play at least 6 out of 10 sessions to qualify for the KO stage.

⚖️ Tie-Break Rule

If two teams are tied after the qualifying stage, the team that has played more sessions wins the tie-break.

⚠️

Important Notice

All players must be logged on and at the table 15 minutes before their starting time. At least one EBL director will be present at every session.

⚠️

Important Notice

Nota bene: The tournament should be played on a computer or similar device with stable internet connection as well as a well-functioning camera, microphone and speakers. Players are not allowed to play from their cell phones.

Schedule

Session Dates

🌙

U31 / U26 / U21

🕖 Start Time: 19:30 CET (U21 & U31) • 19:40 CET (U26) • 2 × 10 boards per session

DateDaySessionBoards
Jan 27thTUEMatch 1 and 22 × 10 boards
Feb 5thTHUMatch 3 and 42 × 10 boards
Feb 10thTUEMatch 5 and 62 × 10 boards
Feb 19thTHUMatch 7 and 82 × 10 boards
Feb 24thTUEMatch 9 and 102 × 10 boards
Mar 5thTHUMatch 11 and 122 × 10 boards
Mar 10thTUEMatch 13 and 142 × 10 boards
Mar 19thTHUMatch 15 and 162 × 10 boards
Mar 24thTUEMatch 17 and 182 × 10 boards
Apr 9thTHUMatch 19 and 202 × 10 boards
🌟

U16

🕖 Start Time: 17:00 CET • Sundays • 2 × 8 boards per session

DateDaySessionBoards
Jan 25thSUNMatch 1 and 22 × 8 boards
Feb 1stSUNMatch 3 and 42 × 8 boards
Feb 8thSUNMatch 5 and 62 × 8 boards
Feb 15thSUNMatch 7 and 82 × 8 boards
Feb 22ndSUNMatch 9 and 102 × 8 boards
Mar 1stSUNMatch 11 and 122 × 8 boards
Mar 8thSUNMatch 13 and 142 × 8 boards
Mar 15thSUNMatch 15 and 162 × 8 boards
Mar 22ndSUNMatch 17 and 182 × 8 boards
Mar 29thSUNMatch 19 and 202 × 8 boards
Knockout

KO Stage / Final Stage

🌐 All times are CEST (UTC+2) 🥉 Both semifinal losers earn the Bronze Medal
April 25–26, 2026
🏆 Grand Finals Weekend 🏆

U26: 8 teams qualify — includes Quarter-Finals (no bye).
U31 / U21 / U16: 6 teams qualify — 1st & 2nd place in the qualifying stage receive a bye directly to the Semi-Finals.

Each QF and SF match consists of 2 sessions of 14 boards (U16: 12 boards). The Final consists of 4 sessions of 14 boards.

🥉

Bronze Medal

Both teams eliminated at the Semi-Final stage in each category are awarded the Bronze Medal. There is no separate third-place play-off match.

Draw & Brackets
U26 8 teams — QF included
Quarter-Finals
1vs8
5vs4
6vs3
2vs7
Semi-Finals
W 1/8vsW 5/4
W 2/7vsW 6/3
Final
🏆 FINAL 4 sessions · Sun Apr 26
U31 U21 U16 6 teams — top 2 have bye
Quarter-Finals
3vs6
5vs4
1stBYE
2ndBYE
Semi-Finals
1stvsW 5/4
2ndvsW 3/6
Final
🏆 FINAL 4 sessions · Sun Apr 26
Session Schedule
Saturday, April 25
Quarter-Finals
Session 1
U31 · U26 · U21
10:00 – 11:45 CEST
Session 1
U16
10:10 – 11:55 CEST
Session 2
U31 · U26 · U21
12:00 – 13:45 CEST
Session 2
U16
12:10 – 13:55 CEST
Semi-Finals 🥉 both losers → Bronze
Session 1
U31 · U26 · U21
14:30 – 16:15 CEST
Session 1
U16
14:40 – 16:25 CEST
Session 2
U31 · U26 · U21
16:30 – 18:15 CEST
Session 2
U16
16:40 – 18:25 CEST
Sunday, April 26
Final — all categories
Session 1
U31 · U26 · U21 · U16
10:00 – 11:45 CEST
Session 2
U31 · U26 · U21 · U16
12:00 – 13:45 CEST
Session 3
U31 · U26 · U21 · U16
14:30 – 16:15 CEST
Session 4
U31 · U26 · U21 · U16
16:30 – 18:15 CEST