Anshul Bhatt, a 16-year-old from Mumbai, secured 3rd position in the Kevin Stansbury Bracketed Round Robin Teams event at the North American Bridge Championships (NABC) on 6 December 2024 at Las Vegas. Partnering with Sam Ehrlichman and teaming up with Zain Mahmood and Camilla Schiaffino, their foursome finished just 3 points behind the tied first-place teams. The team played in the highest bracket (Bracket 1) in an event with 18 brackets representing descending competitive levels. A total of 149 teams participated in the event. Bracket 1 included 13 teams from across the world with best performance in North American events. All other brackets had eight teams while Bracket 1 had 13 teams with many top global players.
Anshul Bhatt with Bill Gates at Las Vegas, December 2024, North American Bridge Championship
The Kevin Stansbury Open Bracketed Round Robin Teams is a team-based event held at the NABC, organized by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL). Teams are divided into brackets based on their combined masterpoint totals to ensure balanced competition. The round-robin format features matches against multiple opponents within a bracket, with top-performing teams advancing.
Scheduled for 6 December 2024, at the Fall NABC in Las Vegas, the event honors Kevin Stansbury, a distinguished bridge player recognized for achievements in bracketed team events.
L to R: Sam Ehrlichman, Zain Mahmood, Camilla Schiaffino and Anshul Bhatt
In bridge tournaments, top-bracket events cater to elite players, with no upper masterpoint limit. For example, the top-bracket Swiss Teams event includes stratifications at unlimited, 6000, and 4500 masterpoints, providing a competitive platform for the most skilled players.
About The North American Bridge Championships (NABC)
The North American Bridge Championships (NABC), organized three times annually by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL), is a premier bridge tournament attracting players of all levels, including the top players in the world. Elite professionals like Zia Mahmood, Meckstroth-Rodwell, and Bob Hamman regularly compete, alongside rising talents, in high-stakes events such as the Vanderbilt Knockout Teams and Blue Ribbon Pairs.
With top-bracket events featuring no upper masterpoint limits, the NABC offers world-class competition while also hosting inclusive events for all skill levels. The Fall 2024 NABC in Las Vegas will again bring together the best in global bridge, fostering competitive excellence and camaraderie.