The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our daily life a lot, so as Scrabble events as well. After a few years of disappointment, we are happy to announce the Youth Scrabble Champions Tournament (YSCT) is back! This year, we are co-organising this event with HKMA K S Lo College.
Details
Date: 17 December 2022 (Saturday)
Time: 09:00 – 17:30 (Registration starts at 08:30)
Venue: School Hall, The Hong Kong Management Association K S Lo College, 26 Tin Pak Road, Tin Shui Wai
An hour lunch break will be arranged. The finishing time of the tournament may vary subject to the actual tournament schedule.
Eligibility
The main event is open to all players who are born on or after 1 January 2005.
There will be a side tournament as well. The side tournament is open to all HKSPA Individual Members who are not eligible for Main Tournament (players can join HKSPA membership before the start of the tournament), as well as school teachers who are sending a team to the tournament.
Format
Main event
6 games
Game 1: Random Draw
Game 2 to 5: Australian Swiss Draw
Game 6: King of the Hill (KOTH)
Players from the same school can play against each other in all rounds. Lagged draw will apply to some selected games to enhance efficiency of the tournament.
For side tournament
If less than or equal to 6 participants:
5 games, round robins (If less than 6 players, KOTH after completing a round robin)
If more than 6 participants:
5 games
Game 1: Random draw
Game 2 to 4: Australian Swiss Draw, sometimes lagged
Game 5: King-of-the-Hill (KOTH)
The side tournament will be cancelled if there are less than four enrolled players. Format is subject to changes.
25 minutes per player, 5 points unsubstantiated challenge penalty per word, WESPA rules version 4, CSW19 dictionary will apply. This tournament will be HKSPA rated.
Prizes
- Champion – trophy
- 1st Runner-up – medal
- 2nd Runner-up – medal
- 4th Place – medal
- 5th Place - medal
- 6th Place – medal
- 7th Place - medal
- 8th Place – medal
- 9th Place - medal
- 10th Place - medal
- High Word – medal
- High Game – medal
Individual Youth Awards
- Best Under-16 Player (born on or after 1/1/2007) – medal
- Best Under-14 Player (born on or after 1/1/2009) – medal
- Best Under-12 Player (born on or after 1/1/2011) – medal
(Players may receive more than one award, e.g. the Best Under-14 Player might as well be the Best Under-16 Player)
School Awards
- Best Performing Secondary School – trophy
- Second Best Performing Secondary School – trophy
- Third Best Performing Secondary School – trophy
- Best Performing Primary School – trophy
- Second Best Performing Primary School – trophy
- Third Best Performing Primary School – trophy
- 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 and will not receive the best player from a school award)
For side tournament, the Winner will receive a winner certificate.
Certificates of participation will be given to all participants in the main event.
Certificate of award could be issued to prize winners on request. Players are required to pay an Administrative fee as per the Guidelines on issuance of certification letters.
Entry fee and Enrollment
Enrollment can be on an individual or school basis.
- Main event - enrolled by school teachers: Each school will be given 8 free quotas. HK$50 entry fee will be charged per each additional player sent to the tournament.
- Main event - individual applications: Free for HKSPA individual member. HK$50 per player who are not HKSPA individual member.
- Side tournament: Free for HKSPA individual member and school teachers sending a school team to the tournament.
To enroll for the main event, please visit here: https://events.hkscrabble.org/tms/app/details?tou=20221217_ysct
There will be an overall quota of 80-100 players. We will open the tournament for enrollment in two stages:
- From 27 October to 18 November 2022: Each school may enroll up to 8 players.
- From 19 November to 30 November 2022: If there are still vacancies, schools may enroll additional players if they wish by modifying their original application form. While application is accepted on a first-come-first-served basis, priority will be given to newly enrolled schools.
Individual applications will be accepted during both stages. We will normally consider applications on a first-come-first-served basis. However, the tournament organiser reserves the right to refuse entry when deemed necessary. Applicants to the Main Event will receive immediate acknowledgement by email. However, their entry will only be confirmed after the closure of application period.
For side tournament, please enroll on this page with your HKSPA member account or as a non-member. Please complete an online application on or before 30 November 2022.
Other policies and regulations
COVID-19 prevention guidelines
The event is a full day event on Saturday. Teachers and parents should ensure their students / children are in compliance with the government's directives on vaccination before they enroll their students / children to the event.
For teachers and parents, they will only be admitted to the venue if they fulfill the Vaccine Pass and LeaveHomeSafe requirement.
Body temperature will be taken at the entrance of the venue. Those who are found to have abnormal temperatures are not permitted to enter the venue.
Venue users are also required to wear their masks at all times during the event. Players are advised to consume their lunch in off-campus catering premises.
We hope to keep everyone safe in the event! The above measures are subject to change, especially when the government updates its policy. Please visit this page again for the latest arrangement prior to the tournament.
Change of players (for school applicants)
Changing players on or before the enrollment deadline may be done online by the school teacher on his/her own. No approval is required.
For request made after the enrollment deadline, requests may be addressed to info@hkscrabble.org with justification. All accepted changes are subject to HK$50 administrative charge per name changed, as certificates / other materials with the players' names may have been prepared. Applications without proper justifications will normally not be entertained.
Verification Policy
To confirm your eligibility to different age- or school-restricted prizes, we will verify your identity prior to the start of the tournament.
Main event participants: Please show us your Hong Kong Identity Card, Birth Certificate or Passport so that we can verify your age and name. Please also show us your Student Handbook (with school chop on your photo) or Student ID Card to show the school you are studying in.
Side tournament participants: Please show us your Hong Kong Identity Card or Passport for us to verify your name.
You must present us the original of the above documents. We will check your documents in the registration counter. They will be returned to you immediately after inspection. If you cannot show us the document before the first game begins, you will NOT be allowed to play even if you know the committee members personally. Players who forget to bring the original could show us a photo of the required document(s) for verification with an administrative fee of HK$50.
Enquiry: Please direct all queries to info@hkscrabble.org.