This list is a compilation of contract bridge players, writers, administrators and personalities who have been recognized for their skills, achievements or contributions to the game as identified by various specific sources.

People recognized by bridge organizations

American Contract Bridge League

Hall of Fame

The first bridge Hall of Fame was inaugurated by The Bridge World in 1964 and invested nine members between then and 1966 after which it ceased sponsorship. The American Contract Bridge League adopted the concept to recognize the achievements and contributions of those residing in its territory (USA, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda) and inaugurated its own Hall of Fame in 1995 by accepting the original nine and adding eight others that year. Annually thereafter, new members have been added in as many as three award categories. "Nominees in the Open category must have attained the age of 60 by 1 January of the year of the induction ceremony. The primary basis for consideration in the Open and von Zedtwitz categories is the player's North American and international record and achievements as a member and representative of the ACBL. An individual's personal history, whether good or bad, should be considered in nominating candidates or selecting recipients." In 2008, ACBL established the Foundation for the Preservation and Advancement of Bridge (FPAB) "to support the preservation of bridge history, to recognize individuals for their excellence and service to the game of bridge and to inspire the participation of youth through scholarships and grants."

Most influential personalities

In 2012, the American Contract Bridge League celebrated the 75th anniversary of its creation by the merger of the American Bridge League and the United States Bridge Association in October 1937. In partial recognition, the League published a list of the 52 most influential personalities during its history. Criteria included: Selections were not limited to ACBL members or North American residents.

Player of the Year

Canadian Bridge Federation – Hall of Fame

The Canadian Bridge Federation (CBF) is the national bridge organization for Canada and established the CBF Hall of Fame in 2010 to recognize the achievements and contributions of Canadian bridge personalities.

European Bridge League – Awards and Distinctions

The European Bridge League (EBL) is a confederation of national bridge organizations for European countries, established 1947.

World Bridge Federation – Awards and Distinctions

The World Bridge Federation (WBF) is the world governing body for bridge, established in 1958.

People recognized in bridge books

Numerous biographical entries are contained in the Encyclopedia of Bridge (1935), the various editions of The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (1964–2011), The Bridge Players' Encyclopedia (1967), and in the British Bridge Almanack (2004). In addition, the following books provide biographical information about bridge people as of the date of publication.

Aces All by Guy Ramsey (1955)

In the foreword of Aces All, Ramsey writes that "it is a book about some, though by no means all, of the leading players of today and the immediate yesterday..." He presents biographies of the following (all either British or playing in Britain):

The Bridge Immortals by Victor Mollo (1968)

The Bridge Immortals gives brief biographies of the "greatest bridge people living today", listed here in alphabetical order.

World Class by Marc Smith (1999)

World Class: conversations with the bridge masters features "the crème de la crème of the world of bridge" in their own words. Here is Smith's classification of his interviews. All-time Greats: Stars of Today: Women Stars: Rising Stars: Star Writers:

British Bridge Almanack by Peter Hasenson (2004)

The Editor's Choice nominations are listed alphabetically as follows: 20 Greatest Players of All Time 19 Greatest Partnerships of the last 30 Years 16 Greatest Female Partnerships of All Time Greatest Player Ever: Greatest Authors:

Simply the Best - 20 of the Greatest Bridge Players of all Time by Brian Senior (2015)

In this seventy-page booklet, Senior provides commentary about twenty individuals he regards as the best bridge players or personalities of all time.

Point leaders

American Contract Bridge League

Grand Life Masters (GLM) defined by lifetime ACBL master points (MP), with some condition on major achievements Players of the Decade – defined by ACBL platinum master points

European Bridge League

Lists of the top European Master Points (EMP) holders in various categories and for various periods

World Bridge Federation

The World Bridge Federation measures achievement in tournament play by a dual system of Master Points and Placing Points and provides ranked lists in Open, Women, and Seniors categories. Short colloquialisms like "Fulvio Fantoni is number one in the world" refer to the WBF Open Ranking. It ranks by Master Points those all-time players whose Placing Points accord "World Grand Master" status. MPs decay but PPs do not, so retired and deceased World Grand Masters remain on the list but drift toward the bottom.

Other listings

Video interviews

The American Contract Bridge League has published at YouTube audio-video interviews of numerous players including almost 30 members of its Hall of Fame. These listings include some other videos of bridge personalities published at YouTube. (Those marked "ACBL Hall of Fame" may be interviews conducted by Audrey Grant, as are the ones so marked.)

Bridge in fiction

Famous people and bridge

People with Wikipedia articles

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z