Information

General Information

Date, time and venue:

Qualifying Rounds
Date: 7 April 2018
Time: 9:00 – 20:00 (Registration starts at 8:30)
Venue: Room 2308, 2310 and 2312, Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Academic Building, City University of Hong Kong

Finals Day
Date: 8 April 2018
Time: 10:00 – 19:30
Venue: Room 2312, Li Dak Sum Yip Yio Chin Academic Building, City University of Hong Kong

The Finals Day is for the top 16 available finishers of Division 1 of the Qualifying Rounds only. All other players are not required to attend the Finals Day.

Eligibility: All HKSPA individual members (and non-members with free quotas) with Hong Kong representation statuses defined under the Hong Kong Player Statuses Regulation are eligible.

Format:
There are two divisions in the Qualifying Rounds:

• Division 1 (for players with HKSPA Ratings 1500 or above)
• Division 2 (for players with HKSPA Ratings below 1500)

Ratings are determined as on 26 March 2018.

Subject to the Association’s discretion, players with HKSPA Ratings below 1500 can choose to play in Division 1 provided that they can show, to the Association’s satisfaction, their competence in competing in the Division, best supported by previous local and/or overseas tournament experiences. A player who wants to play up a division should indicate his or her intention to do so and provide justification for the Association’s consideration in the online application form.

The top 16 available finishers of Division 1 will qualify for the Finals Day. Only Division 1 of the Qualifying Rounds and the Finals Day are WESPA-rated. Both divisions of the Qualifying Rounds and the Finals Day are HKSPA-rated.

Qualifying Rounds (Division 1):
9 games, first 7 games Swiss Draw (first 2 games random draw, lagged in game 3, 4, 6 and 7), last 2 games King-of-the-Hill (KOTH)

Qualifying Rounds (Division 2):
7 games, first 6 games Swiss Draw (first 2 games random draw, lagged in game 3, 5 and 6), last game KOTH

Finals Day:
9 games, first 7 games Swiss Draw (no lagged), last 2 games KOTH

25 minutes per player, WESPA rules version 3

5 points unsubstantiated challenge penalty (Division 1 of the Qualifying Rounds and Finals Day), free challenge (Division 2 of the Qualifying Rounds)

Dictionary: Collins Official Scrabble Words 2015 (CSW15)

Prizes:
Based on the results of both days (including Division 2):
High Word – medal
High Game – medal

School Awards
Most Supportive School – trophy
(for schools sending 10 or more players to the tournament)

Based on the results of the Finals Day:
Champion – the title of “Hong Kong Scrabble Champion” + the Lion Rock Trophy + plaque
1st Runner-up – medal
2nd Runner-up – medal
3rd Runner-up – medal

Based on results of the Qualifying Rounds (Division 1):
Individual Youth Awards
Best Under-18 Player (born on or after 1/1/2000) – medal
Best Under-16 Player (born on or after 1/1/2002) – medal
Best Under-14 Player (born on or after 1/1/2004) – medal
Best Under-12 Player (born on or after 1/1/2006) – medal
(Players may receive more than one award, e.g. the Best Under-16 Player might as well be the Best Under-18 Player)

School Awards
Best Player from a School – medal
(Results will be collated for the top 3 finishers from each school; those with fewer than three players will not be counted)

Based on results of the Qualifying Rounds (Division 2):
Winner – medal
1st Runner-up – medal
2nd Runner-up – medal
3rd Runner-up – medal

Individual Youth Awards
Best Under-18 Player (born on or after 1/1/2000) – medal
Best Under-16 Player (born on or after 1/1/2002) – medal
Best Under-14 Player (born on or after 1/1/2004) – medal
Best Under-12 Player (born on or after 1/1/2006) – medal
(Players may receive more than one award, e.g. the Best Under-16 Player might as well be the Best Under-18 Player)

School Awards
Best Player from a School – medal
(Results will be collated for the top 3 finishers from each school; those with fewer than three players will not be counted)

Certificates will be given to the top 16 players who advanced to the Finals Day on request.

Certificates of participation will only be given to participants on request.

Entry fee:
To play in the tournament, one must be an HKSPA member (except for a non-member with free quota). Players can join HKSPA Individual Membership before the tournament by filling in the online application form in advance and paying the membership fee (HK$60 for full-time students; HK$120 for others) on or before 7 April 2018.

Entry fee (not including membership fee):

The best player from each HKSPA school member in the Inter-School Scrabble Championship 2018 – Primary Category and the “Headstart Cup” Hong Kong Inter-Secondary School Scrabble Championship 2018 can join the National for free. (It is free to join HKSPA School Membership)

Cash reward for the Qualifying Rounds:
To encourage players to contribute their rotating boards, tiles and racks produced by Mattel to the Qualifying Rounds, the following incentives are provided for players who contribute a rotating board with a full set of tiles and two racks, the usage of which is solely arranged by the organiser:

• Providing 1 board – HK$20 cash reward
• Providing 2 boards – HK$30 cash reward
• Providing 3 boards or more – HK$40 cash reward

The above rewards would be used to set-off against any amount payable to the Association.

Official souvenir:

The online ordering for T-shirts has ended, thank you! T-shirts are now available for purchase at a price of HK$150.

How to enter:
Please click on the Application tab to fill in the online application form on or before 26 March 2018.

Applications after the deadline will only be accepted with reasonable explanation. A late charge of $20 should apply in addition to the original entry fee. Late entrants are not allowed to compete in any school award.