May 2021 - 20

Grand
Reopening
The road back to face-to-face

bridge has been a long one, but we do
see a light at the end of the tunnel.
While more areas across the continent are " reopening " as the COVID-19
vaccine gains traction, there is still
quite a way to go to reach security for
member and staff health. With that in
mind, we want to give you an update on
what the rest of 2021 looks like.
First, the Providence North
American Bridge Championships
(NABC) set for Summer 2021 has
been moved to Summer 2022. Staff
and volunteers have worked tirelessly
to ensure that this event will be held
in Providence RI next year at the same
location.
Additionally, the previously
scheduled 2022 Summer NABC in

ACBL announces
phased return to live
play in 2021

Washington DC has been canceled due
to the playing and lodging site's bankruptcy and subsequent closing.
Thank you to the NABC committees of both Washington DC and
Providence for their incredible efforts!

place, and we expect this number to
grow. Holding this kind of play at the
club level is up to each individual club;
however, we urge you to act with caution and in accordance with your local
safety requirements.

Second, we have developed a
phased plan for the safe return to
face-to-face play:

The next phase of reopening faceto-face play will be the return of
sectionals. This will run parallel to increased availability of vaccines, and we
estimate these tournaments to begin in
August 2021 depending on local conditions (this is subject to change).

Return to playing in person will begin at the local club level. All tournament sanctions have been canceled
through the end of July. This is largely
due to access to vaccines and the progressing travel needs to play at the local
club, in a sectional, in a regional and at
an NABC.
Already, some clubs are playing
face-to-face with safety protocols in

The following phase will be the
return of regionals. We estimate
this period to begin in early October.
However, please note that these dates
are subject to change as the year
progresses.

Finally, we plan to resume the
NABC schedule in Fall 2021 with
ACBL 2021
the Austin NABC in November.
TIMELINE
The dates for the 2021 Fall NABC are
set as Nov. 25-Dec 5.
We are very excited for the return
of face-to-face tournament bridge! In
QUARTER 4
the meantime, there are daily opOct. - Dec.QUARTER 4
portunities to play online, along with
QUARTER 3
Oct. - Dec.
many special events. We are especially
July - Sept.QUARTER
Vaccinations
3
excited to announce improvements to
widely available
QUARTER 2
Jul. - Sept.
Vaccinations the
widely
Summer North American Online
available
Vaccination
Online
play
April - JuneQUARTER
Bridge
Championships (NAOBC).
2
rates increasing
continues
QUARTER 1
Vaccination rates
Online play continues
Visit acbl.org to see the new schedule of
Apr. - Jun.
Online play increasingBroader club
Vaccinations
Jan. - MarchQUARTER
NAOBC events.
1
continues
reopenings Broader club
continue
Online play continues
reopenings
Thank you so much for your support
Vaccinations continue
Jan. - Mar.
Club reopenings
Regional tournaOnline play
this
past year. Your loyalty ensures
Vaccinations
Club
reopenings
Regional tournament
Online play
continues
continue
ment sanctions
continues
begin
continue
considered
there is a future for bridge. We hope
Vaccinations begin
considered onsanctions
a
may
tournacase-by-case on a case-by-case
Club play may Club play Sectional
you will continue to bear with us
Majority
Sectional tournament
basis
online play based increase based
mentonsanctions
basis
online play Majority increase
sanctions considered
local vaccination/
as the plan to return to face-to-face
considered ononaa case-by-case
on local vaccinaNABCs resume
rate and
case-by-case
NABCs
resume
tion/ positivity positivity
play unfolds in 2021. If there are any
Tournaments Tournaments
basis
canceledrate and safetysafety directives
basis
canceled
changes, the ACBL will notify you as
directives
soon as possible with any potential
adjustments.
Subject to change

20 | Bridge Bulletin | May 2021

Subject to change
http://www.acbl.org
May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2021
