Revision as of 10:36, 29 January 2010

This page outlines the criteria that will be used to select the players who will represent Canada at the 2011 World SCRABBLE Championship (WSC).

Eligibility

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, 2009.
• TRs must reside in Canada for the entire period between the start of the QP and the end of WSC 2011.
• TRs are only eligible for spots that are awarded based on Peak Rating (PR) or the qualification tournament (QT).

Registering for the qualification process

Players wishing to register for the qualification process can do so by contacting any member of the Canadian Committee.

Registered player list

The following players have registered for the qualification process:

• Albert Hahn
• Andrew Golding
• David Boys
• Joel Wapnick
• John Chew
• Nick Ball
• Sinnadurai Vijayakumar
• Tony Leah

Qualification period (QP)

The qualification period begins on January 1, 2010 and ends May 31, 2011. A qualification tournament (QT) 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.

For example: Albany 2009/2010 — The main event will be in progress on January 1 and will be considered to fall within the QP.

Available spots

Canada will be represented by eight players in 2009. This means that the number of spots available is expected to be between seven and nine in 2011.

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.

2. Top finishers from the 2009 World SCRABBLE Championship

These spots will be awarded to eligible players who finish in the top quarter of the field in WSC 2009 while representing Canada.

The maximum number of spots awarded based on this criterion will be three if Canada’s allotment for 2011 is seven or eight, and four if Canada’s allotment increases to nine.

The spots will be awarded in the order in which players performed at WSC 2009 as determined by the final standings.

Players who wish to accept one of these spots must register their intention to do so by April 30, 2011.

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 2009 without a valid reason will not be eligible for any spot granted using this criterion.

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

1. WESPA Rating achieved at the conclusion of WSC 2009.
2. Record against common opponents at WSC 2009.
3. Head-to head record at WSC 2009.
4. Drawing of Lots.

3. Canadian Champion

The winner of the first Canadian Championship held within the QP earns a spot unless that player has already earned a spot from any of the preceding criteria.

Any player wishing to take this spot must register for the qualification process within one month of winning the CNSC or by May 31, 2011, whichever comes first.

4. Peak rating (PR)

The number of spots awarded on the basis of peak rating will depend on the number of spots remaining once the spots awarded by criteria 1–3 have been established.

If there are more than three spots remaining, then two spots will be reserved for the qualification tournament and the remainder will be awarded based on PR.

Otherwise, one spot will be reserved for the qualification tournament and the remainder will be awarded based on PR.

A player’s PR is their highest tournament rating that is achieved after a player has played at least 68 games in fully rated tournaments during the QP.

Only 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, 2011.

Clarification:

NASPA has implemented a separate sowpods rating system for those players who wish to play rated games using the international word list.

Games played in either rating system count towards the 68 game participation requirement.

Players who have two PRs will use the higher of those two as their qualifying PR.

PR tie-breakers

1. Second highest rating achieved after playing at least 68 fully rated games in the QP.
2. Highest rating achieved after any fully rated tournament in the QP.
3. Drawing of Lots.

Note: Tie-break ratings can be taken from either rating system.

5. Qualification tournament (QT)

A qualification tournament will be held sometime in July or August 2011, at a location to be determined by a vote by players registered for the qualification process as of April 30, 2011. The remaining spots (1 or 2) will be awarded on the basis of the standings of this QT.

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

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

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 2013 World SCRABBLE Championship except through the QT.

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.