The formula for deciding how to set national quotas for a World Scrabble Championship has been analysed by the World English-language Scrabble Players Association tournament subcommittee, capping the playing corps at 150 and a national allocation at 15. Details were set out in a report issued today by the panel.
Last March, Philip Nelkon, WSC organiser, asked Wespa to examine the methodology behind fixing national allocations for the global event.
Some countries receive a larger quota, based on the number of members in their national association or the country’s performance in the previous WSC, or a combination of the two.
Countries may gain or lose a place or two based upon national performance in the previous WSC.
Giving a seat to those outside the quota – like the reigning world champion and the international youth titleholder – was also considered as well as to top-rated players who do not otherwise qualify in a national team. These players are termed “wild card entries.”
At next month’s ninth WSC about 104 competitors from over 40 countries are expected to take part.
The status quo remains for this year’s allocations with a new formula expected for the 2009 WSC.
Nelkon wants the playing corps capped to figure not far from that of the last global event.
The three-member Wespa tournament committee agrees with holding to 150 participants in the WSC and keeping national quotas to no more than 15.
Moreover, the panel also accepts having the WSC champion and runner-up and world youth titleholder as automatic entries through other wild cards would have to be studied on a case-by-case basis, the committee felt.
The USA , with an estimated 2,500-3,000 competitive players, has already reached the 15-player WSC cap while Great Britain, with over 1,200 competition players, currently has a 14-player quota.
Nelkon has applied a certain methodology to deciding national allocations but was interested in knowing how players felt.
Any proposals from the Wespa committee, the WSC organiser, underlined, would be carefully considered though would be non-binding.
In any country where there are up to 50 competitive players, one seat is the minimum allocation, the committee proposed; otherwise, two seats for 51-200; 201-400, three seats; 401-700, four seats; five places for 701-1,000 members; 1,001-2,000 members, six seats, and 2,001 or more, eight seats.
A country which has at least one player ending up in the top fourth of the playing corps can be considered for an improved allocation in the next WSC while, conversely, a player or more at the bottom fourth of the heap could risk losing a seat.
In a survey of Scrabble groups around the globe, about 30 replies were received with committee proposals sent to Wespa, then on to Nelkon who gave the nod to 80 per cent of the recommendations, according to Chief Toke Aka (Nigeria), chairman of the panel.
He considered some responses most useful in compiling an analysis of the quota system, particularly from countries like Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Ghana, Great Britain, India, Israel, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand and the USA. “Their say in the issue mattered a lot,” said Chief Aka.
The chairman, however, bemoaned the lack of interest among players who, other than playing, “find it difficult to contribute in affairs that could affect the improvement of the administration of the game.”
Such disinterest in the mechanics and administration of tournaments is the prime reason “responsible for the minimal progress Scrabble’s made over the years compared to chess.
“Scrabble players prefer to dream of better playing conditions and rather play the game, thereby leaving little or no time to the advancement of the game,” Chief Aka underlined.
Other committee members are Albert Hahn (Canada) and Bob Jackman (Australia).
Since its founding two years ago in London, the tournament subcommittee had worked, too, on what constitutes the basics in holding an international Scrabble contest.
Using the word reference, Collins Scrabble Tournament and Club Word List, authorised by Wespa earlier this year, combining words in both American and British usage, is a basic premise for national associations to accept worldwide.
However, North America uses a US-only word list though an international “players championship”
An international tournament is considered one where no more than 50 per cent of the participants come from the host country. Such contests would be endorsed by Wespa and listed on its website.
The committee singled out “established and approved international tourneys like the Africa Scrabble Championship, the [Persian] Gulf Scrabble Championship, Thailand King’s Cup and the WSC.”
“Our committee could consider applications from tournament organisers to have their tournament classified as international.”
Matters like the rules, a timely notice of the event, software in use, the number of games and the selection of a tournament director – even one having passed a basic test for the job – still need to be dealt with.
The committee maintains Wespa should be an advisor for future WSCs though eventually assuming full responsibility for the organisational running of the championship.
