2009 Tournaments

2009 Can-Am SCRABBLE Challenge

The Seventh Annual Can-Am SCRABBLE® Challenge will be directed by Dominick Mancine on August 29-30, 2009 (note date change) at the Crystal Inn in Denver, CO. Vying in this invitational tournament for the majority of the 98 team points and the Challenge Trophy will be the seven top ranking players from Canada and the USA.

The Can-Am SCRABBLE® Challenge has pitted the top players from Canada and the United States against each other since its inception in 2002. As of 2008, the U.S. leads Canada 4-2.

The Players

Team members will qualify based on their peak rating attained at a fully-rated tournament between the March 1, 2008 and May 1, 2009 NSA ratings lists, after having played at least 24 fully-rated games.

Team U.S.A.


Dave Wiegand
Portland, OR
Mortgage Underwriter, 34
2005 National Champion

Joey Mallick
Cape Elizabeth, ME Scan-Man, 29

Sam Kantimathi
Sacramento, CA Aerospace Consultant, age withheld

Nigel Peltier
Seattle, WA Student, 19

Jason Idalski
Warren, MI Student, 26

Nathan Benedict
Tucson, AZ
Professional Gambler, 28

Kenji Matsumoto
Aiea, HI
Student, 24

Team Canada


Adam Logan
Weehauken, NJ
Mathematician, 34
1996, 2005, 2008 Canadian Champion
1996 U.S. Champion
2005 World Champion

Robin Pollock Daniel
Toronto ON
Mom/Psychotherapist, 47

Tony Leah
Ajax ON
Labour Union Educator, 60

Max Panitch
Toronto ON
Researcher, 34

Chris Sykes
Toronto ON
Computer Programmer/Analyst, 43

Evan Berofsky
Thornhill ON
Student, Writer, 33

Chris Williams
Vancouver BC
Underachiever, 39

Final qualification standings are now posted. Please e-mail John Chew to report any discrepancies in the standings.

Statistics based on the first six events are also available for each player and team.


HASBRO is the owner of the registered SCRABBLE® trademark in the United States and Canada. © 2008 HASBRO. All rights reserved. "SCRABBLE® Brand Crossword Game" is the proper way to refer to this unique group of word games and related properties marketed by HASBRO. "SCRABBLE®" is not a generic term. To use it as such is not only misleading but also does injustice to the company responsible for the trademark's longtime popularity. All we ask is that when you mean SCRABBLE® Brand Crossword Game, you say so. 

The SCRABBLE® trademark is owned by J.W. Spear and Sons, PLC, a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. outside of the United States and Canada. 

For more information about SCRABBLE® or the NSA, or to comment on or correct the contents of this page, please e-mail: info@scrabble-assoc.com 
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