2004 NSC Format

The 2004 NSC will be held on July 31-August 5 at the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, Louisiana.

DIVISIONS

This year will feature a new seven-division format: Division 1 (players rated >1799), Division 2 (1600-1799), Division 3 (1400-1599), Division 4 (1200-1399), Division 5 (1000-1199), Division 6 (800-999), and Division 7 (<800). Your June 1, 2004 rating will be the default rating used to place you in your division. If you are a resident of the United States or Canada, you must have an NSA tournament rating in order to play in the NSC.

PLAYING UP

You may choose to play in the next stronger division than the one corresponding to your tournament rating. For example, if your 1450 rating would put you in Division 3, you may choose instead to play in Division 2.

You may also choose to use any peak rating earned at the end of a fully rated tournament held in April or May as your rating for division selection purposes [Added 2004-06-10] for the purposes of playing up [end addition]. For example, if you are rated 1450 in the June 1st list, but had a 1601 rating after the Boston Area Tournament in April, you may use the 1601 rating to qualify for Division 2 or even to play up into Division 1.

[Added 2004-06-08] You may also use your April 1st rating as your qualifying rating [Added 2004-06-10] for the purposes of playing up. If you register before June 1st, and your rating rises to the point where you are no longer qualified to play in your original division, you must reregister in your new division and pay the difference in entry fees.

OVERSEAS PLAYERS

If you live outside the United States and Canada and do not have an NSA tournament rating, you will be placed in Division 2. You may play up into Division 1 if you have finished in the top half of a World SCRABBLE^® Championship.