Revision as of 00:15, 4 July 2013

This page outlines the criteria that will be used to select the players who will represent Canada at the 2013 World SCRABBLE Championship (WSC).

Eligibility

All players wishing to qualify must be NASPA members in good standing.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible.

Temporary Residents (TRs) are eligible with the following restrictions:

• TRs must register for the qualification process on or before December 31, 2011.
• TRs must reside in Canada for the entire period between the start of the QP and the end of WSC 2013.

Registering for the qualification process

Players wishing to register for the qualification process can do so by contacting any member of the Canadian Committee. The deadline to be included in the Qualifying Tourney (QT) is 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on August 3, 2013. The deadline may be extended if the number of registered players at the deadline is odd. If that is the case, an additional player will be added to the roster on a first-come-first-served basis.

By a vote of the players already registered for the event, the QT will be held on the weekend of August 10-11 at the Earl Bales Community Centre in Toronto. The exact number of rounds and the pairing system to be used at the QT will not be finalized until the player roster is finalized. (However, it is expected that the QT will be about 14 rounds long.)

Registered Players

Fourteen players registered for the qualification process:

The following six players have qualified for the 2013 WSC based on either peak rating or by finishing in the top quarter of the field at the 2011 WSC:

• Adam Logan
• David Boys
• Joel Wapnick
• Matthew Tunnicliffe
• Robin Pollock Daniel
• Max Panitch

The following six players (listed by alphabetical order) have expressed interest in participating in the qualifying tournament which, based on the results of a players' vote, will be held in Toronto:

• Andrew Golding
• Tony Leah
• Jim Nanavati
• Geoffrey Newman
• Andy Saunders
• Sinna Vijayakumar

Qualification Standings

The qualification standings for qualifying based on peak rating are updated every time a tournament is rated.

Qualification period (QP)

The qualification period began on November 1, 2011 and ended on May 31, 2013. The qualification tournament will be held sometime in the summer thereafter.

Note: Tournaments that are in progress at the beginning or end of the QP will be considered to fall within the QP.

Available spots

Canada's player allotment for WSC 2013 is expected to be seven players.

Criteria (in order)

1. World English-language Scrabble Players' Association (WESPA) bye(s)

These are spots awarded by WESPA, typically for being a finalist in the previous WSC. Any spots awarded by WESPA do not count against Canada’s allotment. No one from Canada is expected to receive a spot awarded by WESPA.

2. Top finishers from the 2011 World SCRABBLE Championship

These spots are awarded to eligible players who finish in the top quarter of the field in WSC 2011 while representing Canada. Players already awarded WESPA byes are not considered part of Canada’s allotment and do not count against the maximum number of spots to be awarded. Players who withdraw from WSC 2011 without a valid reason will not be eligible for any spot granted using this criterion. Players who wish to accept one of these spots must register their intention to do so by April 30, 2013.

WSC tie-breakers (not applicable for 2013)

1. WESPA Rating achieved at the conclusion of WSC 2011.
2. Record against common opponents at WSC 2011.
3. Head-to head record at WSC 2011.
4. Drawing of Lots.

Qualified under this criterion

• Adam Logan 9th place
• David Boys 13th place

Both Adam and David have accepted.

3. Major Championship (One spot)

• One spot on the Canadian team is reserved for the winner or highest Canadian finisher at a major championship. This is the spot that in years past has been awarded to the winner of the CNSC.
• There are three potential major events but only one spot. As such they are listed below in descending order of importance. At this time it is not known which if any of the major events listed below will be held.
• Anyone earning a spot (or a potential spot) as a result of any of the major events listed below must accept that spot no later than one month after completion of the event in which the spot was earned, or by May 31, 2012 - whichever comes first.
• The major events listed below are only applicable if they are held in Canada within the QP.
• The QP will not be extended to accomodate any of these events.
• David Boys and Adam Logan have already earned WSC 2013 berths as a result of WSC 2011 high finishes. As such, they will be assumed to decline any berth they may earn as a result of any of the major events listed below, and the next event in the hierarchy will be in effect.

Canadian Collins Championship (CCC)

• The winner of the first Canadian Collins Championship held within the QP will be awarded a berth.

Canadian TWL Champion (CNSC)

• If no berth is awarded and accepted as a result of the CCC then the winner of the first CNSC held within the QP will be awarded a berth.

World Player's Championship (WPC)

• If no berth is awarded and accepted as a result of any of the above (CCC, CNSC) then the highest Canadian finisher at the first WPC held in Canada within the QP will be awarded a berth.

4. Peak rating (PR)

One spot will be reserved for a qualifying tournament.

The remaining spots will be awarded based on Peak Rating.

• Only NASPA ratings achieved in fully rated tournaments will be allowed to be considered a PR.
• Ratings achieved at the midpoint of split rated tournaments will be allowed to be considered as a PR.
• Players wishing to qualify based on PR must register for the qualification process by April 30, 2013.

• A player’s TWL PR is their highest tournament rating that is achieved after a player has played at least 34 TWL games in fully rated tournaments during the QP.
• A player’s Collins PR is their highest tournament rating that is achieved after a player has played at least 34 Collins games in fully rated tournaments during the QP.
• A player’s Qualifying PR (QPR) will be the higher of their TWL PR and Collins PR.

QPR tie-breakers

1. NASPA Collins Peak Rating
2. Second highest rating achieved after playing at least 34 fully rated games in the QP
3. Highest rating achieved after any fully rated tournament in the QP (eg PR before 34 games)
4. Drawing of Lots.

Note: Second highest rating can be taken from either rating system.

5. Qualification tournament (QT)

• A qualification tournament will be held sometime in the summer of 2013, at a location to be determined by a vote by players registered for the qualification process as of April 30, 2013. Some of those players will have carry-over votes from previous years.
• The remaining WSC berth will be awarded to the winner of this event.
• Any player who fulfills the eligibility requirements who has not already been awarded a spot may play in this tournament.
• Any player registering for this tournament will be considered registered for the qualification process and need not do so formally.
• If the number of interested players is fewer than six, players who have already earned spots through criteria 1–4 may also play in this event.

QT tie-breakers (if tied on wins and spread)

If two or more players are tied then that tie will be broken based on PR and PR tie breaker procedures will be in effect.

Alternates

• Players who accept an allotted spot under criteria 2, 3, or 4, and who withdraw before the QT will be replaced based on PR.
• Otherwise, alternate spots for the Canadian team will be awarded based on the standings of the QT.
• Any further alternate spots will be awarded based on PR.
• Any further alternate spots will be awarded by the NASPA Canadian Committee.

Note that if the QT is eliminated then this section will be revised

Obligations

Players who accept an allotted spot under criteria 2, 3, or 4, and who withdraw without a valid reason after the QT will not be permitted to qualify for the 2015 World SCRABBLE Championship except through the QT.

This only applies if there is a QT for WSC 2015.

Disputes

Any dispute regarding the interpretation of any of the above rules and criteria will be resolved by the NASPA Canadian Committee, whose decision will be final.