About the CNTC-A
CNTC-A is Canada’s premier open team competition, with no upper masterpoint limit.
About the Championship
CNTC-A is Canada’s national open team championship and has no upper masterpoint limit.
Qualification required:
All players must earn or purchase a qualification before playing in
the round-robin stage of CNTC-A, CSTC, CWTC or CMTC. Qualifying games
are held at sanctioned clubs across Canada from September 1 through
December 31.
A player qualifies as an individual, and that qualification is valid for any team championship.
Eligibility and Registration
Participants must be paid-up CBF members in good standing.
Teams must pre-register for the National Final and pay the non-refundable round-robin entry fee by the deadline in the event documentation.
History of the Championship
The first CNTC was held in Toronto in 1977, with each province represented by a provincial champion. Earlier play-offs were held in 1968 and 1971 to select Canada’s team for the World Team Olympiad.
The grassroots format changed in 1980, requiring teams to qualify at the club, unit and zone levels before reaching the National Final. Unit Finals were eliminated in 2001, followed by Zone Finals in 2009.
Trophies and International Representation
Upon ratification by the CBF Board of Directors, the winning team receives a subsidy to represent Canada at that year’s world open team championship.
Mark Molson Trophy
Awarded to the CNTC-A champions since 2011, honouring seven-time
champion and CBF Hall of Fame member Mark Molson.
Sam Gold Trophy
Prior to 2011, CNTC-A winners were awarded the Sam Gold Trophy.
CBF Hall of Fame member Sam Gold was the second Canadian player
to achieve Life Master status and was “Mr. Bridge” to
generations of Québécois.
Eric R. Murray Trophy
Awarded to the team representing Canada in Open Teams at the
World Bridge Games.
Percy Sheardown Trophy
Awarded to the team representing Canada in the Bermuda Bowl.