2023 WESPA Championship US Qualification System

This page outlines the criteria that will be used to select the players who qualify to represent the United States at the 2023 WESPA Championship (WESPAC23).

WESPAC23 is an event with national allocations. It will be held in Las Vegas, NV, in July 2023. The United States has been allotted 16 spots for WESPAC23. There will be a Last Chance Qualifier in July 2023 in Las Vegas to select additional players.

Eligibility

All players wishing to qualify must be NASPA members in good standing.

A player must not have been suspended for more than twelve months for any NASPA Code of Conduct violation.

If a player's NASPA membership has lapsed, the player must renew and pay up retroactively to cover any lapses since the beginning of the Qualifying Period (excluding the COVID-19 moratorium).

United States citizens and permanent residents are eligible.

Players may not register for the qualification process if they have already registered to qualify for another nation. If a player registers to play for the US and also attempts to represent another nation at WESPAC23 (with or without withdrawing from the US registration), they will be ineligible to compete for the US at the next such championship.

Registration

Players wishing to register for the qualification process can do so by contacting info@scrabbleplayers.org.

The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on February 28, 2023.

Former World / WESPAC champions automatically qualify for WESPAC23 and do not need to register for the qualification process. Slots awarded to former champions do not count toward the US quota.

If selected, players are responsible for paying the tournament entry fee.

Qualification Period (QP)

The qualification period began on December 1, 2019 and ends on February 28, 2023.

Note: Tournaments that are in progress at the beginning or end of the QP will be considered to fall within the QP.

Peak CSW Rating

Players will qualify by peak rating (PR) achieved during the QP in one of two ways:

• Peak NASPA rating with a minimum of 31 NASPA-rated games played during the QP.
• Peak WESPA rating with a minimum of 31 WESPA-rated games played in North America during the QP.

PR Calculation

• The higher PR will be used if a player qualifies by both NASPA and WESPA PR.
• The final rating from any fully rated tournament may be used as a PR.
• Ratings achieved at the midpoint of split rated tournaments may be used as a PR.
• Any bonus points will count toward a person’s PR.
• Ratings following tournaments that are not fully rated (i.e., COTs or LCTs) will not count as a peak rating, but any such games played will count as 1/3 of a game towards fulfilling the participation requirement.

PR Tie-Breakers

1. Higher NASPA rating during the QP.
2. Head-to-head records among tied players in fully rated games during the QP.
3. Second highest rating achieved after playing at least 31 games in the QP.
4. Highest rating achieved after any fully rated tournament in the QP.
5. Number of CSW games played in the QP.
6. Drawing of lots.

Registered Players

The following players have registered to represent the US at WESPAC23:

Alternates and Unclaimed Spots

If more than 16 players register during the QP, those players will be designated as alternates and will be offered any spots that become available. Spots may become available if someone drops out or WESPA offers additional seats to the US.

After the alternates, any unclaimed spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis to players who meet the criteria for participation.

NASPA, as host organization, will designate a stand-by player to play if needed to have an even number of players at the start of the tournament. This designation will happen on the morning of the first day.

If a stand-by is needed, NASPA will select the alternate player from the US and Canadian Qualification System with the highest PR in attendance at the opening of the tournament. If no alternates are available, the Tournament Director will choose a stand-by player.

Obligations

Players who accept an allotted spot and who withdraw without a valid reason after the QP cannot register to qualify for the next event with national allocations.

Players may appeal to the NASPA International Committee US Subcommittee to have their eligibility reinstated.

Disputes

Any dispute regarding the interpretation of any of the above rules and criteria will be resolved by the NASPA International Committee US Subcommittee.