The English Bridge Union runs its Master Point Scheme to enable recognition of players’ achievements. The scheme provides a ranking system beginning with Local Master and continuing right up to the highest rank of Premier Grand Master. 

Players obtain points by success in duplicate bridge competitions, on a scale which varies according to the success itself, the size of the competition and its status. They can be won at anything from normal club sessions to National Congresses. Roughly the top one-third of players in a competition are entitled to Master Points. Only members of the EBU may register their points and have their records maintained. Lapsed members may have their records revived and valid Master Points registered on renewal of membership of the EBU.

Types of Master Point 

There are three types of point. Local and Green Points accumulate to establish a player’s Master Point rank. Gold Points, which depreciate in value over a five-year period, provide a measure of form for more expert players. 

• Local (Black) Points: These are awarded at any duplicate session, including club duplicates, complying with the normal rules and regulations of the Master Points scheme. At the club, points are recorded automatically through the scoring software.
• Green Points: These are won in national events and are necessary for progress to the most senior ranks. The club heats of the National Pairs competition attract Green Points. The value of a Green Point is 100 Local Points (so 1½ Green Points = 150 Local Points and, since the advent of decimalised Green Points, 2.28 Green Points = 228 Local Points).
• Gold Points: Any performance in a single event which merits an award of five Green Points or more automatically receives Gold Points in addition to the Green Points award (e.g. an award of 6 green points equates to 1.2 Gold points, i.e. 6 divided by 5) Master Points Ranks 

The ranks up to and including Tournament Master only require a player to have a specified number of Local Points (some of which may have been awarded as Green Points). The ranks of Premier Master and above require a player to have a specified number of both Local and Green Points. For example, 7,500 Local Points and 25 Green Points qualify the holder as a Regional Master.