Player Titles

Beginning in 2017 (and backdated to 2011), NASPA has recognized player excellence by awarding the titles SCRABBLE Expert, SCRABBLE Master and SCRABBLE Grandmaster.

An annually updated list shows the years in which each titlist achieved their current rank.

How Titles are Earned

Each year, we calculate overall performance ratings (OPR) for all players based on their tournament activity from the start of the previous year’s North American SCRABBLE Championship (NASC) to the last tournament that begins before the start of the current year’s NASC. The player with the highest OPR is designated the Player of the Year.

Then, we consider those players who have played 50 games in each of 3 of the past 5 such OPR calculation years.

The top 1% are eligible to become SCRABBLE Grandmasters (GM); the top 6% (not including the top 1%) are eligible to become SCRABBLE Masters (SM); and the top 25% (not including the top 6%) are eligible to become SCRABBLE Experts (EX).

Players retain earned titles as long as they maintain their memberships in good standing, or until they earn a superior title.