Scrabble Players Championship
The Scrabble Players Championship (formerly the North American Scrabble Championship, and earlier the National Scrabble Championship) is the largest Scrabble competition in North America. The event is currently held every year, and from 2004 through 2006 the finals were aired on ESPN and ESPN2. The 2023 event was held in Las Vegas from July 15–19, 2023, with Joshua Sokol emerging as champion.[1]
Championship history
[edit]The first officially sanctioned Scrabble tournaments in the U.S. were spearheaded, organized and run by Joel Skolnick in the mid-1970s. Skolnick was a recreation director for the New York City Parks and Recreation Department. He approached Selchow and Righter in late 1972, and the first tournament, open to Brooklyn residents only, commenced on March 18, 1973. The Funk and Wagnalls Collegiate Dictionary was used to rule on challenges, and the official word judge was Skolnick's then-wife Carol. Carol's sister, Shazzi Felstein, who would later finish in ninth place at the first North American Invitational tournament, won the first preliminary round with 1,321 points over three games. The final round took place on April 15, 1973, and Jonathan Hatch was the winner of the first official Scrabble tournament
The summer of 1973 saw two more tournaments, held respectively at Grossingers (won by Minerva Kasowitz) and the Concord hotel (won by Harriet Zucker) in New York's Catskill region. Another two tournaments quickly followed in November that same year: in Baltimore, Gordon Shapiro topped approximately 400 contestants; and at the Brooklyn War Memorial approximately 2,000 people entered the nine weekly preliminary rounds of the first all–New York City Scrabble Championship. It was won by Bernie Wishengrad. The New York City Championship was thereafter held annually, jointly sponsored by Selchow and Righter and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation.
The first national tournament was the North American Invitational, held May 19–21, 1978, in the Presidential Suite of the Loews Summit Hotel in New York City. Joel Skolnick and Carol Felstein, as usual, served as the tournament director and word judge, respectively. David Prinz took the $1,500 first prize, followed by Dan Pratt and Mike Senkiewicz.
In 1980, soon after the publication of the first Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, control of the national tournament passed to the National Scrabble Association. They continued to organize the tournament until 2008.
The official name of the tournament has been National SCRABBLE Championship in recent years, except in 2006 when it was named US SCRABBLE Open.[2] In 2015, to recognize the longtime eligibility of Canadian members, it was renamed North American SCRABBLE Championship.
Since 2009, the tournament has been organized annually by NASPA Games (formerly known as North American SCRABBLE Players Association). The first event under NASPA was held in Dayton, Ohio, in August 2009. Since then, the championships have been held in various U.S. cities (chosen more or less based on a rotation between five regions: southeast, southwest, northeast, northwest, and central).[3][4]
The 2020 and 2021 events were canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[5] The 2022 event, the first under the new SPC identity, was held in Baltimore on July 23–27, and was won by Michael Fagen, a data analyst from Quebec.[6]
Collins
[edit]In 2012, a Collins division for international-English play was added for the first time, won by Sam Kantimathi with a 24–7 record.[7] In 2013, John O'Laughlin, creator of the Quackle software program, won the division with a 24–7 record, winning $2,500 and claiming his first NSC divisional title.[8] Past world, national, and Canadian champion Adam Logan won the division easily in 2014 with a 23–4 record and four byes.[9] Peter Armstrong prevailed over past champion Dave Wiegand in 2015, winning 3–2 in the final best-of-five series.[10] David Eldar won the division in 2016 with a 27–4 record, beating past champion Logan by a six-game margin.[11] Austin Shin won the top division in 2017 with a 22–9 record, prevailing over runner-up Dave Wiegand in the final round; this was the first year that Collins players were divided into two divisions.[12] Austin repeated his win in 2022, defeating Waseem Khatri from Pakistan in a 5-game playoff.[13]
Youth
[edit]Rafi Stern won division 3 of the 2006 National Championship, posting a 20-8 record. Joey Krafchick out of Georgia won division 5 at the 2007 Players' Championship with a 25.5-5.5 record, followed by Bradley Robbins from New Hampshire winning division 6 going 24-4 in 2008.[14] In 2010, Richard Spence of Arizona won Division 4 with a 25.5–5.5 record, and in 2011, won Division 2 with a 25–6 record.[15][16] In 2012, Amalan Iyengar of North Carolina won Division 4 with a 22–9 record.[17] Also in 2012, Chris Canik of Texas won Division 3 with a 26–5 record, the best record in that division's history.[18] In 2013, Andy Hoang of North Carolina won Division 3 with a 23–8 record.[19] Bradley Robbins and Andy Hoang are the only people to have won both the National School Scrabble Championship (2010 for Robbins, 2009 and 2012 for Hoang) and a division in the National Scrabble Championship (2008, Division 6 for Robbins & 2013, Division 3 for Hoang). Mack Meller of New York placed seventh in Division 1 in 2013.[20] He started the 2014 event with a 7–0 record, giving him first place in Division 1 after the first day of the event, and again finished seventh overall.[21]
Past events and Division 1 winners
[edit]NASPA Word List (NWL/OTCWL/OWL/OSPD)
[edit]Year | Winner | Location | Region | Entrants | Winner's Prize | Total Prize Pool |
2024 | ![]() |
South Bend | ||||
2023 | ![]() |
Las Vegas | SW | 239[22] | USD 10,000 | USD 43,750[23] |
2022 | ![]() |
Baltimore | NE | 244[24] | USD 10,000 | USD 42,200[25] |
2019 | ![]() |
Reno | NW | 249[26] | USD 10,000 | no current data[27] |
2018 | ![]() |
Buffalo | NE | 403[28] | USD 10,000 | USD 52,000[29] |
2017 | ![]() |
New Orleans | SE | 365[30] | USD 10,000 | USD 54,350[31] |
2016 | ![]() |
Fort Wayne | C | 417[32] | USD 10,000 | USD 49,275[33] |
2015 | ![]() |
Reno | NW | 340[34] | USD 10,000 | USD 50,225[33] |
2014 | ![]() |
Buffalo | NE | 524[35] | USD 10,000 | USD 45,775[36] |
2013 | ![]() |
Las Vegas | SW | 521[37] | USD 10,000 | USD 43,725[38] |
2012 | ![]() |
Orlando | SE | 339[40] | USD 10,000 | USD 36,150[41] |
2011 | ![]() |
Dallas | 329[43] | USD 10,000 | USD 42,075[44] | |
2010 | ![]() |
Dallas | 408[46] | USD 10,000 | USD 42,075[47] | |
2009 | ![]() |
Dayton | 486 | USD 10,000 | USD 43,175[49] | |
2008 | ![]() |
Orlando | 662 | USD 25,000 | USD 85,385[51] | |
2007 | ![]() |
Dayton | 451 | USD 12,000 | USD 85,385[51] | |
2006 | ![]() |
Phoenix | 625 | USD 25,000 | USD 85,385[53] | |
2005 | ![]() |
Reno | 682 | USD 25,000 | USD 85,415[54] | |
2004 | ![]() |
New Orleans | 837 | USD 25,000 | USD 92,805[55] | |
2002 | ![]() |
San Diego | 696 | USD 25,000 | USD 89,290[56] | |
2000 | ![]() |
Providence | 598 | USD 25,000 | USD 89,290[57] | |
1998 | ![]() |
Chicago | 535 | USD 25,000 | USD 82,200[58] | |
1996 | ![]() |
Dallas | 412 | USD 25,000 | USD 75,485[59] | |
1994 | ![]() |
Los Angeles | 294 | USD 15,000 | USD 50,585[60] | |
1992 | ![]() |
Atlanta | 315 | USD 10,000 | USD 35,910[61] | |
1990 | ![]() |
Washington | 282 | USD 10,000 | USD 37,400[62] | |
1989 | ![]() |
New York | 221 | USD 5,000 | USD 24,425[63] | |
1988 | ![]() |
Reno | 315 | USD 5,000 | USD 23,100[64] | |
1987 | ![]() |
Las Vegas | 327 | USD 5,000 | USD 16,850[65] | |
1985 | ![]() |
Boston | 302 | USD 10,000 | USD 52,370[66] | |
1983 | ![]() |
Chicago | 32 | USD 5,000 | USD 13,600[67] | |
1980 | ![]() |
Santa Monica | 32 | USD 5,000 | USD 10,100[68] | |
1978 | ![]() |
New York | 65 (invitational) | USD 1,500 | USD 8,400[69] |
Year | Winner | Location | Entrants | Divisions | Winner's Prize | Total Prize Pool |
2024 | ![]() |
South Bend | ||||
2023 | ![]() |
Las Vegas, NV | 47[71] | 1 | USD 4,000 | USD 8,500[72] |
2022 | ![]() |
Baltimore | 34[24] | 1 | USD 3,000 | USD 5,850[25] |
2019 | ![]() |
Reno | 35[26] | 1 | USD 3,000 | USD 5,850[29] |
2018 | ![]() |
Buffalo | 73[28] | 2 | USD 4,000 | USD 10,000[29] |
2017 | ![]() |
New Orleans | 64[30] | 2 | USD 4,250 | USD 10,550[31] |
2016 | ![]() |
Fort Wayne | 44[32] | 1 | USD 2,500 | USD 6,000[33] |
2015 | ![]() |
Reno | 48[34] | 1 | USD 2,500 | USD 6,000[33] |
2014 | ![]() |
Buffalo | 63[35] | 1 | USD 2,500 | USD 5,775[36] |
2013 | ![]() |
Las Vegas | 40[37] | 1 | USD 2,500 | USD 4,700[38] |
2012 | ![]() |
Orlando | 38[40] | 1 | USD 1,500 | USD 3,450[41] |
See also
[edit]- World Scrabble Championship
- Canadian Scrabble Championship
- National Scrabble Championship (UK)
- Brand's Crossword Game King's Cup
- World Youth Scrabble Championships
- National School Scrabble Championship
References
[edit]- ^ "NASC 2023 Live Coverage". event.scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
- ^ "National SCRABBLE Association: Championship Archive". Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
- ^ "Welcome to NASPAWiki - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ "North American SCRABBLE Championship - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ "2020 North American Scrabble Championship". Retrieved 2020-09-04.
- ^ "Prize Table". event.scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ "NSC 2012 Live Coverage".
- ^ "Division CSW Round 31 Ratings".
- ^ "Division CSW Round 31 Ratings".
- ^ "Event Coverage Index".
- ^ "NASC 2016 Live Coverage".
- ^ "Division CSW1 Round 31 Standings". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "2022 Scrabble Players Championship". SPC 2022. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ "2008 NSC Live Coverage". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "2010 NSC Live Coverage". Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
- ^ "2011 NSC Live Coverage". Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
- ^ "NSC 2012 Live Coverage".
- ^ "cross-tables.com". www.cross-tables.com. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ "NSC 2013 Live Coverage". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "NSC 2013 Live Coverage". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "NSC 2014 Live Coverage". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "NASPA: SPC2023: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "Event Coverage Index". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "NASPA: SPC2022: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "Prize Table". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "NASPA: SPC2019: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "2019 National SCRABBLE Championship prizes - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "NASPA: SPC2018: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b c "2018 National SCRABBLE Championship prizes - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "NASPA: SPC2017: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "2017 North American SCRABBLE Championship prizes - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "NASPA: SPC2016: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b c d "2015 North American SCRABBLE Championship prizes - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "NASPA: SPC2015: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "NASPA: SPC2014: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "2014 National SCRABBLE Championship prizes - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "NASPA: SPC2013: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "2013 National SCRABBLE Championship prizes - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "NSC 2012 Division 1 Standings: Round 31". Archived from the original on 2014-08-10. Retrieved 2012-08-25.
- ^ a b "NASPA: SPC2012: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ a b "2012 National SCRABBLE Championship prizes - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "NSC 2011 Division 1 Standings: Round 31". Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ "NASPA: SPC2011: Registered Players". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "2011 National SCRABBLE Championship prizes - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "NSC 2010 Division 1 Standings: Round 31". Archived from the original on 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
- ^ "NASPA: SPC2010: Registered Players". scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "2010 National SCRABBLE Championship prizes - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "NSC 2009 Players: Alphabetical Listing". Archived from the original on 2009-08-09. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- ^ "2009 National SCRABBLE Championship prizes - NASPAWiki". www.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "NSC 2008 Division 1 Standings: Round 28". Archived from the original on 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ a b "2008 NSC Prizes". Archived from the original on 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- ^ "NSC 2007 Division 1 Standings: Round 28". Archived from the original on 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ 2006 Prizes[permanent dead link]
- ^ "2005 NSC Prizes". Archived from the original on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- ^ "2004 NSC Prizes". Archived from the original on 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- ^ "2002 NSC Prizes". Archived from the original on 2008-01-06. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- ^ "2000 NSC Prizes". Archived from the original on 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- ^ "1998 NSC Prizes". Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- ^ NSC 1996 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ NSC 1994 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ NSC 1992 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ NSC 1990 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ NSC 1989 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ NSC 1988 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ NSC 1987 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ NSC 1985 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ NSC 1983 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ NSC 1980 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ NSC 1978 results at cross-tables.com
- ^ "SPC 2023: Finals". scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "SPC2023: Registered Players". scrabbleplayers.org. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "32nd National Championship (CSW) (NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP)". cross-tables.com. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Division CSW Round 31 Standings". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "Division CSW Round 31 Standings". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "NASC 2018 Live Coverage". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "NASC 2017 Live Coverage". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "NASC 2016 Live Coverage". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "Division CSW Round 5 Ratings". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "Division CSW Round 31 Ratings". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "Division CSW Round 31 Ratings". event.scrabbleplayers.org.
- ^ "Division CSW Round 31 Ratings". www.scrabbleplayers.org.