Revision as of 22:41, 21 March 2016

The 2016 Canadian National SCRABBLE Championship (CNSC), the ninth such event since its inception in 1996, will take place on May 13–16 at the Bond Place Hotel, 65 Dundas Street East, Toronto (map). Hasbro Canada is once again generously underwriting a $12,150 prize fund.

News

2016-03-01

The Advisory Board has voted to uphold the qualification system as originally published. We are still waiting for final legal approval for the event.

2016-02-29

Pre-announcement of event dates and venue to help players make travel plans. Please note that some details are still pending final legal approval, and that the qualification system is currently the subject of an Advisory Board appeal.

For older items, see 2016 Canadian National SCRABBLE Championship News Archive.

Player Roster

You can follow the registration and qualification process in the qualification standings chart. Players marked with a ‘y’ are paid registrants; those with a dollar sign have informed us that their payment is en route, but will not be considered registered until payment is received and cleared.

Schedule

Here is an overview of what happens when. Please also see the more detailed full schedule.

Please note that everyone is welcome to attend the regular weekly meeting of the Mississauga SCRABBLE® Club on the evening of Thursday, May 12th.

How to Compete

The CNSC is an invitational event for the top 52 players who qualify according to a qualification system (QS) maintained by the NASPA Canadian Committee. As described in the QS, competitors must play a minimum number of games during a qualification period (QP), be Canadian citizens or permanent residents and be members in good standing of NASPA. One place goes to defending champion Adam Logan, the next 51 places are awarded based on peak ratings.

Regardless of how you wish to qualify, you must register by making sure that John Chew receives your $75 entry fee together with your T-shirt size no later than April 13th. You may pay by cash, cheque or INTERAC e-Transfer, but not PayPal or credit card. Cash and cheque payments may be made by mail (9 Fulton Avenue, Toronto ON M4K 1X6) or in person at the Toronto SCRABBLE Club. If you are not sure whether or not you will qualify, please pay by cheque, so that your cheque can be destroyed or returned if you do not qualify.

As usual, to participate in the CNSC, you must comply with the CNSC rules, which set out in legal terms the agreement that you are entering into as a participant in the event.

Format of 2016 CNSC Finals

The top two finishers in the preliminary round will earn berths in the best-of-five CNSC finals which will be held on Monday, May 16. The first player to win three games will be declared the CNSC champion for 2016.

The player who finishes first in the preliminary round will go first in games 1, 3, and 5 of the finals. The player who finishes second in the preliminary round will go first in games 2 and 4.

Any tie games will be considered, as is usual in NASPA tournament competition, a half game won and a half game lost for both players. If each player has 2.5 wins after five games, the player who has the superior point spread in the finals will be declared the winner. If both players have identical points spreads, a sixth game will be played with the player who went first in games 2 and 4 also going first in game 6.

A scheduled lunch break will take place after the third game.

Web Coverage

The championship will receive major event web coverage typical of recent national and international championships, including photography and commentary and live annotated games from Board 1.

When the event begins, please take a look at the live webcast site.

Spectators

Spectators are invited to attend the finals on Monday, May 16th, where the best-of-five match will be relayed play by play onto a projection screen. Admission is free.

Spectators are also welcome to take a look at the preliminary rounds on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but space is extremely limited. They should introduce themselves to tournament officials on arrival, and take care not to disturb games in progress.

Prizes

The $12,150 prize pool donated by Hasbro Canada will be awarded according to the same distribution as at the 2008 CNSC.

Venue

Exterior photo showing Bond Place Hotel at left, east end of Yonge-Dundas Square at right

The Bond Place Hotel is located in downtown Toronto, one block east of Yonge-Dundas Square, the “Heart of the City”, in a popular neighbourhood known for shopping, dining and entertainment. Within a 200-metre radius are such other Toronto landmarks as the Eaton Centre (the largest mall in the region), Massey Hall (a century-old performing arts theatre), the (self-proclaimed) World’s Biggest Bookstore, St. Michael’s Hospital and Ryerson University.

A limited number of rooms are available at $125, per room per night, based on single or double occupancy, not including 16% tax. This rate is available until April 13, 2016 by calling the hotel at 1-800-268-9390 and giving the group name Canadian National SCRABBLE Championship.

Parking

(This section has not yet been updated since 2013.)

The hotel’s guest parking is located catercorner to the hotel on the northeast corner of Bond and Dundas (enter off Bond). Hotel guests are entitled to 24-hour rates with in/out privileges.

In general, parking rates in the area vary according to the day of the week, and whether or not there is a special event (such as a theatre production, or public event at Yonge-Dundas Square) nearby. Most lots have separate maximum rates for day and night parking, but they differ as to when the night rates begin. Some lots are cash only; most accept Visa and Mastercard.

The hotel's parking garage charges: weekdays $13 until 6:00 P.M. and $5 after (best deal if staying day and evening, or just evening), weekends $5 until 5:30 P.M, $3 for 5:30-6:00 P.M. and $5 after.

There is a parking lot on the southeast corner of Bond and Dundas which may be convenient to players who are running late on arrival. Its rates are a little higher than the hotel garage, with weekdays $15 until 6:00, and evening and weekend rates according to market demand.

There is a lot on the west side of Church St. (one block east of Bond), a few buildings north of Dundas, which as of early June had the following rates: weekdays $13 until 4:00 P.M. and $7 after, and weekends $5 until 6:00 P.M. and $5 after (best deal Saturday).

The Ryerson parking garage on the west side of Victoria (one block west of Bond), north of Dundas, has the following rates as of early June: weekdays $15 until 6:00 P.M., $6 from 5:00 P.M. (best Friday evening deal), Saturdays $8 until 6:00 P.M. and $8 after, Sundays $8 all day (best deal Sunday).

If you want to look further afield, don’t go north into Ryerson University, south toward St. Michael’s Hospital or west toward the congestion of Yonge Street; that leaves east into a mostly residential and light commercial area. If you park on street, make sure you pay careful attention to the signage, and are aware of a remote possibility of being ticketed under an unposted time limit of three hours’ parking on city streets unless otherwise signed.

If you’re driving in from the suburbs, please carefully consider the possibility of parking at a suburban subway station and taking the so-called Better Way to Dundas subway station. Don’t do this on Sunday though, when the subway doesn’t start early enough in the morning; that’s when parking rates are cheapest anyway.

Dining

Dining area outside the playing room, lower level, Bond Place Hotel

During the main event, breakfast and lunch will be provided to contestants and staff in the lounge. For both the early bird and main event, coffee and tea breaks will be served in the morning and afternoon.

The nearest food courts are in the malls on the other three (NE, NW and SW) corners of Yonge and Dundas. A list of additional restaurant suggestions will be posted here as the event draws nearer.

Staff

Equipment

Players should take careful note of what equipment they will be provided, and what equipment they should bring.

Boards

Players must bring their own boards, but may if travelling from outside of the greater Toronto area arrange to borrow a local player’s board. If neither player in a scheduled game has a board, both may forfeit their game.

Racks

Racks will be provided at this event; players may choose to use their own racks instead.

Tiles

All players will be given a set of 2016 CNSC Protiles at registration. This year’s Protiles are white, with red print, and are square for international compatibility. Please check their distribution carefully before playing your first game; as per NASPA rules, no changes may be made once a game has begun. Games must be played using CNSC Protiles, but players may bring and play with Protiles from past CNSC events if they wish.

Tile Bags

Players are requested to bring their own tile bags this year.

Clocks

Players are requested to bring their own digital game timers. A limited number of timers will be available on a first-come basis; if neither player in a game can find a clock, both may forfeit the game.

Scoresheets

A limited number of standard NASPA scoresheets will be available for player use, as well as plentiful supplies of blank paper.

Pens/Pencils

A limited number of writing implements will be available for player use, but we strongly recommend that players bring their own.

Further Information

If you have questions about the 2016 CNSC that are not answered on this website, please contact CNSC Director John Chew.