You are viewing a condensed mobile version of this NASPA webpage.
Switch to full version.
NASPA will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the game of Scrabble with two weeks of top-level competition in Las Vegas in July 2023 - the NASPA Double Down in Las Vegas - at the Westgate Las Vegas Resorts & Casino at 3000 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109.
Register
Book Hotel
2023 SPC Details
2023 WESPAC Details
The two championships will offer players the opportunity to play over 80 rated games of Scrabble and the flexibility to choose the events that best meet their schedule.
This webpage is subject to change and will be updated regularly as the plans are finalized.
Cutoffs effective 11:59pm EDT
Online registration is open now.
Lists of SPC and WESPAC registrants are available on this website and on cross-tables.com.
The rest of this section describes the general terms and conditions of registration for both championships.
The base entry fees for the championships are:
One- and two-day events, such as Early Birds, have a separate entry fee.
Youths, defined as those whose 18th birthday is after July 15, 2023, pay 1/2 of the base entry fee for each championship.
The above fees will be increased by $50 after May 31, 2023. For example, a non-youth player signing up for the SPC on June 1, 2023, would pay $300, while a youth would pay $175.
Players accepted after the close of registration on June 30, 2023 must pay a $75 late penalty. For example, a non-youth player signing up for the SPC on July 5, 2023, would pay $375, while a youth would pay $250. Acceptance of registrants after June, 2023 is not guaranteed and will generally only be permitted if it does not cause a division to be uneven.
Players not booked IN THE ROOM BLOCK at the host hotel for the duration of the events for which they are registered must also pay a commuter/facility fee of $20 per day ($100 maximum).
Verification of status as a hotel guest will be performed at registration/check-in and throughout the event. Players staying at the host hotel for only part of the event must pay the full commuter fee and may then apply for a refund of $20 per day stayed at the host hotel (to a maximum of $100) after the conclusion of the event, by providing the Championship Committee with hotel confirmation number and dates of stay.
Fees payable are computed based on when (Eastern Time) funds are received in full. If you are not paying right away online at the moment when you register, please be sure to allow enough time for your mailed payment to reach us.
Division changes are subject to the following conditions:
If your rating rises above the limit for the division in
which you registered, you will automatically be moved to the lowest division for which you qualify.
To change divisions after you have registered, please email the organizing committee at nsc@scrabbleplayers.org.
If you paid your tournament fees by credit card, any credit owing to you will be issued to your card; otherwise, we will mail a check to your membership address as shown in your member profile.
All refunds are subject to a cancellation fee of $25.
If you decide you need to cancel your registration, we will refund your entry fee (and commuter fee, if applicable), if you so request by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 10, 2022. No refunds will be issued after this date.
If you rolled over your registration from 2020, you should have received an email with a reminder of your registration details. Contact us via email if you need to modify your registration - any change fees will be waived through the end of February.
By registering for the SPC, you agree to abide by the NASPA Tournament Rules and Code of Conduct, and agree to comply with the 2022 Scrabble Players Championship Terms and Conditions.
In particular, some games at this tournament, probably the highest Division 1 board without a Gibsonized player, will be annotated live. If you refuse to play a designated game with annotation, you will forfeit it and may at the director’s discretion be assigned a spread penalty of −200 points.
A signed Minor Release and Consent Form will be required for all players under age 18 as of July 23, 2022, and may be downloaded and submitted in advance, or executed by a parent or guardian at registration.
Participants in the 2022 Scrabble Players Championship are responsible for bringing all equipment necessary to play in the tournament. If neither player in a game has equipment available for their game, a double forfeit may be imposed.
In accordance with current CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommendations, the following precautions against COVID-19 will be in effect at the Scrabble Players Championship:
We will continue to evaluate the situation and may adjust the policy as conditions warrant.
The Championship Committee reserves the right to modify the above to account for unforeseen special circumstances.
Players will be paired using tsh, with Gibsonization.
The winners of the top divisions in both NWL and CSW lexicons shall be determined as follows:
The official event hotel is the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards (110 S Eutaw St, Baltimore, MD 21201).
Tournament entrants are eligible for our group rate of $139 per night (plus applicable taxes) for King or Double accommodations.
The room block closed June 30, 2022.
Our hotel room block at the Marriott Inner Harbor is full - as is the hotel for most nights of the event.
We are working with the hotel to find rooms for participants who need them. Here's how you can help:
Self parking onsite is $25 per day for attendees staying at the hotel.
Attendees who drive to the venue but intend to explore the city by foot may opt to park at BWI for $8/day and utilize Light Rail to reach the hotel.
Baltimore has much to offer those visiting the area, including the Inner Harbor, Power Plant Live!, Oriole Park at Camden Yards (home of the Baltimore Orioles) and the historic Mt. Vernon area. The Visit Baltimore website showcases the varied options in the area.
If you need a roommate and would like a listing here, please complete the SPC Roommate Request Form.
Clay Herron is seeking a male roommate (nonsmoking) to share a room at the Marriott Inner Harbor from 7/22 to 7/27. You can reach Clay by phone (215-730-3616).
IMPORTANT: When you get your roommate, please contact the committee so we can remove your listing.
If you need a ride/rider to or from the tournament, and would like a listing here, please complete the SPC Ride Request Form.
Mohammad Sulaiman is seeking a ride from the BWI airport to the hotel on Friday, July 22. His flight arrives at 7:15 PM. You can reach Mohammad by phone (318-465-7671).
Mohammad Sulaiman is seeking a ride to the Reagan airport (DCA) from the hotel on Thursday, July 28. His flight departs at 9:40 AM. You can reach Mohammad by phone (318-465-7671).
Matthew Zeleznik is seeking a ride to the tournament from the Boston area on Friday, July 22. You can reach Matthew by phone (401-466-4449) or email (Littlezzzman@gmail.com).
IMPORTANT: When you get your ride/rider, please contact the committee so we can remove your request.
Baltimore, MD is served by the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). For complete airport information, please visit bwiairport.com.
Light Rail service from BWI to the event hotel is available for $2.00 per person. Rail tickets can be purchased near the exit of baggage claim. Take the rail north to the Camden Station stop - about a 30 minute ride. Exit the rail and head north on S. Eutaw Street to the hotel - about a 7 minute walk on mostly flat terrain.
Uber average is $25.
To play in the first round on Saturday morning, you must check in between 12:00 noon. and 7:00 P.M. on Friday, July 22, 2022, at the SPC registration desk in the Foyer located outside of the Stadium Ballroom on the 2nd floor.
You may ask a friend to check in for you by proxy if you cannot check in in person.
If you do not check in before the desk closes at 7:00 P.M., you may join the championship in progress as soon as it is convenient for the pairings staff to add you back in; this may not take place before Sunday morning.
No refund will be issued to latecomers.
When you check in, you will be given an announcement sheet. This is to reduce the number of announcements that have to be made on Saturday morning, so that the event can get underway quickly. You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the announcements and tournament schedule.
This schedule for the 2022 Scrabble Players Championship may be modified to add new events or possibly to change room locations. Also, until about a month before the event, it should be considered an early draft, with only the times for registration and the main event to be set in stone. Once the event begins, please check the schedule for changes at the beginning of each day.
SWAG SUNDAY! Wear your Scrabble Championship or Scrabble-related swag!
Bob and Andi Schoenman, creators of Protiles, honor Rose Kreiswirth's memory. Rose was an expert Scrabble® player for over 30 years and cherished the game for its educational values. An accomplished player, Rose was as well known for her sense of fairness and her congeniality as she was for her competitiveness. The Rose Award will be awarded each year at the Scrabble Players Championship to a female player who, in the opinion of the judges, best exemplifies the fierce competitiveness and compassion that we remember Rose for. Thank you, Bob and Andi Schoenman!
If you are interested in donating prizes to events at the championship or otherwise supporting the championship, please email us at nsc@scrabbleplayers.org.
Thanks to Betty Cornelison and Rachel Gillette for donations.
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, we will be offering the Sirius awards to the brightest and youngest (under 18) stars of the Scrabble Players Championship this summer.
Two prizes will be awarded to the players with the best records across divisions:
To eligible for a Sirius award, you must turn 18 after the beginning of the tournament - July 23, 2022.
Thanks to the generosity of San Diego (CA) player Joe Payne, we will be offering the Arcturus awards to the brightest and oldest (80+) stars of the Scrabble Players Championship this summer.
Six prizes will be awarded to the players with the best records across divisions:
To eligible for an Arcturus award, you must have turned 80 on or before the beginning of the tournament - July 23, 2022. In the event of identical records, the older player wins.
Why Arcturus? It is the brightest star that can been from North America.
As a reminder, if you are over 80, you can become a NASPA Life member if your membership is up-to-date.
Not yet 80? We will still be awarding a Senior Trophy to the player over 60 with the best record in each division.
For information about sponsorship opportunities at the championship, please contact John Chew.
If you have a product to sell to Scrabble players, this is the place to do it. Hundreds of the most avid fans of the game will be in one place with money ready to spend at your table. To become an SPC vendor, print out, date and sign two (2) copies of the SPC 2022 Vendor Agreement and send both executed copies to Art Moore, P.O. Box 1217, Ocoee, FL 34761, along with the required payment for extra tables, if you wish to exhibit on more than one table.
If you have questions about becoming an SPC vendor, please contact the Championship Committee at nsc@scrabbleplayers.org.
Volunteers are needed to assist with set up, registration and tear down. Volunteers receive a free event T-shirt. Sign up here.
Volunteers are needed to help prepare the playing room for the tournament.
Volunteers are needed to help prepare the playing room for the tournament.
Volunteers are needed to help with registration and check-in.
11:30 A.M.-1:30 P.M.
1:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M.
3:30 P.M.-5:30 P.M.
5:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.
We need about 15 Clean and Pack volunteers to help collect and box NASPA tournament supplies to be shipped back to the storage facility after the awards ceremony.
This page will be updated as the event draws nearer. If you have urgent questions about the event, please email us at nsc@scrabbleplayers.org.
Copyright © 2024 NASPA All rights reserved. SCRABBLE is a trademark of Hasbro, Inc. in the USA and Canada, and of Mattel, Inc. elsewhere. NASPA and its activities are neither endorsed by nor affiliated with Hasbro or Mattel. For more information about NASPA or for comments or issues with this page, please email us.