Format

Each nation can enter one team.

Teams can have up to 8 players. This is an open event, and any players older than 16 may take part. All players must be compliant with the WBF Eligibility Code, including being in good standing with the Federation. All participants must be registered in the WBF Database and must have a WBF Competitor's Commitment Form registered since 2017 in place. Details of how to register and a copy of the form, which is digital and very easy to complete, can be found by clicking here.

The event will be a partial Round Robin teams, played on 2 to 5 October and 9 to 12 October. Details of the number of matches and boards per match will be provided here, at a later date.

The teams will not all be playing at the same time. Not every team will be playing on the same day. The fact that the weekend is not the same in all nations has been taken into account in the scheduling system. Each team will have a schedule of dates and times, showing their opponents for each round.

The playing platform is RealBridge. There will be several opportunities to practice using the RealBridge platform in the weeks leading up to the championship dates.

No team will play any earlier than a normal start time in their own time zone (typically 9 am). Teams will complete their matches no later than a normal end time in their own time zone (typically 11 pm). All teams can indicate their availability, by day and by hour.

There is no entry fee for the 2025 edition.
The maximum number of players in a team is 8.

Dates and Deadlines

Item Deadline

Registering teams

The closing date for entries is Thursday 11 September 2025.

Availability of teams for matches

In advance of the event, shortly after the deadline for entering, each team will be asked to supply their exact availability on the playing days. A form will be emailed to the captains. The dates supplied will constitute a commitment to be able to play at those times. To facilitate scheduling across time zones, teams are asked to supply a total of at least 38 hours of availability. This must be supplied by Monday 15 September 2025.

System cards

System cards must be registered by Wednesday 24 September 2025.

Changes to composition of team

A team can change or add members up to Thursday 25 September 2025 (subject to them being duly registered and eligible to play for the NBO in question).

Minor changes to system cards

Minor changes to system cards are allowed up to Monday 29 September 2025.

Each captain must ensure that their e-mail address is provided and they should check it regularly for information or queries from the organizers.

This event is an open representative teams event for invited small NBOs, with free entry for the participating NBOs. In future years an entry fee may be charged.

Please note this is an official World Championship, and all tables will be recorded, monitored and potentially broadcast in line with standard WBF promotion and integrity requirements.

Scheduling

As soon as possible after scheduling information has been provided (see above), each team will be assigned to matches at specified times within the periods that they are available. Where possible these will be grouped into larger sessions of several teams, each playing several matches in succession.

Spectators/Kibitzers

No persons other than the active Players, Captains, Coaches, TDs, and RealBridge support staff will be allowed in the RealBridge session.

Delayed online kibitzing of all tables will be available, through https://kibitz.realbridge.online. This will be deferred by the duration of the match.