Organized by SKH Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School
A. Date, time, venue and dress code
Introductory Workshop
Date: 16 March 2024 (Sat)
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 nn
Venue: Student Activity Centre (SAC), 4/F, SKH Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School
Address: 6 Tak Hau Street, Wo Che Estate, Shatin
Dress code: School uniform
Competition
Date: 6 April 2024 (Sat)
Time: 9:00 am – 5:30 pm (Registration starts at 8:45 am)
Venue: School Hall, SKH Tsang Shiu Tim Secondary School
Address: 6 Tak Hau Street, Wo Che Estate, Shatin
Dress code: School uniform
B. Eligibility and Application
Introductory Workshop
The Introductory Workshop will cover the basics of Scrabble, including game introduction, rules, skills (anagramming and hooks), score calculation, and introduction of format of the 8th Shatin Interschool Scrabble Competition (2024).
The workshop is open to all primary and junior secondary students. All participants of the 8th Shatin Inter-School Scrabble Competition (2024) are strongly encouraged to participate in the workshop. The workshop will be mainly conducted in Cantonese, with English handouts, 2- and 3-letter word lists provided. Special arrangements for English-only speakers could be arranged upon request.
Competition
The competition is open to all primary and secondary schools in Shatin, and any schools invited by the organizing committee.
There are two divisions in the competition: the Primary division and the Secondary division. Primary 1 to 6 and Secondary 1 to 6 students of all schools in Shatin are eligible. Each primary school can send a team of up to 6 players, while each secondary school can send a team of up to 9 players. Teams with at least 3 players are eligible for team prizes. All players can compete for individual prizes.
Schools wishing to send an extra number of players could make a special request. The organizing committee shall decide after considering the enrolment status.
The above rules of eligibility and application are subject to amendment without prior notice at the sole discretion of the organizing committee.
C. Format of Play
Each player will be given a total of 25 minutes in each game. Two-and three-letter word lists will be provided during all games.
All competitors will play all five rounds of Scrabble individually in this competition, in the mixed division.
Swiss Draw is used to determine the pairings for the first four games. In these four games, each player can only face each opponent up to once and players from the same school will not play against each other. King-of-the-Hill (KOTH) is used to determine the pairings for the final game, meaning it is possible for players from the same school to play against each other or face the same opponent from a previous game in the competition in the final round. Minor changes may be made to the pairings to ensure fairness.
Results will be collated for the top 3 finishers from each school for the school prizes. Schools with fewer than 3 players will not be counted. Only schools in Shatin are eligible for school prizes.
D. Rules and Dictionary
WESPA Rules Version 4 will be used with free challenge (i.e. no penalty for wrong challenges). Collins Scrabble Words 2021 (CSW21) will be used as the official dictionary.
E. Prizes and Titles
Primary Category
School Prizes
- Champion: A trophy and certificates
- 1st Runner-up: A trophy and certificates
- 2nd Runner-up: A trophy and certificates
Individual Titles
- Individual Champion: A medal
- Individual 1st Runner-up: A medal
- Individual 2nd Runner-up: A medal
- High Word: A medal
- High Game: A medal
- Honorable Mention*: A medal
Secondary Category
School Prizes
- Champion: A trophy and certificates
- 1st Runner-up: A trophy and certificates
- 2nd Runner-up: A trophy and certificates
Individual Titles
- Individual Champion: A medal
- Individual 1st Runner-up: A medal
- Individual 2nd Runner-up: A medal
- High Word: A medal
- High Game: A medal
- Best Novice**: A medal
- Honorable Mention*: A medal
*The Honorable Mention medals will be given to
(1) the best player from a school, excluding the top 3 individual finishers, and if any medal remains,
(2) the highest ranked players excluding the top 3 individual finishers, the Best Novice and those who already have an Honorable Mention medal.
**Novice excludes players with an existing HKSPA rating, provisional or not.
Only schools in Shatin are eligible for team prizes. Schools not in Shatin invited by the organizing committee (if any) can only compete for individual titles.
In addition to the above titles, all players will receive a certificate of participation.
F. How to enter
The competition is open to primary and secondary schools in Shatin only. Please fill in the application form, and email it to scrabbleteamskhtstss@gmail.com.