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Tournaments committee:

Chair: Chief Toke Aka (Nigeria)
Bob Jackman
Albert Hahn (Canada).

SOWPODS International Tournaments to be Internationally Rated

UPCOMING EVENTS SUMMARY

Name of Event	Top prize	Dates	Location	Contact	Entry status
2008 Texas SOWPODS Challenge [Details below]	$1000US	14th & 15th June 2008	Texas, USA	Geoff Thevenot	14 games, limited to 1st 40
Penang Open [Details below]	$1000US	20th to 22nd June 2008	Georgetown, Malaysia	Dr Adele Tan	Open
Thailand Kings Cup [Details below]	$6000US	26th to 29th June 2008	Bangkok, Thailand	Nuttakrit	Open
English Open Scrabble Tournament	2500GBP	8th to 10th August	Coventry	Len Moir
World Players Championship [Details below]	$10,000US	14th to 16th November	Dallas, Texas	Chris Cree	Open to all tournament players
Causeway Challenge & Open [Details below]	$5000US	3rd to 7th Dec 2008	Johor Bahru, Malaysia	Michael Tang	Invitational & Open
2009 British Open	3000GBP	5th to 9th January	Coventry	Len Moir	38 games

Texas Sowpods Challenge

Date:
Saturday and Sunday, June 14-15, 2008

Location:
Comfort Inn and Suites
7138 N Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75247, USA
Phone (214) 461-2677

Hotel room rate: $80 per night (request the group rate; participants 
are encouraged to stay at the hotel)

Games: 14 total (8 on Saturday, 6 on Sunday)
Play will begin at 9 am each day

Entry fee: $100 US. Please send check or money order to: Geoff 
Thevenot, 12166 Metric Blvd. #113, Austin, TX 78758. IMPORTANT: All 
entries must be received no later than May 15, 2008. Tournament 
participation is limited to the first 40 entries received. If I have 
not received 20 or more entries by May 15, 2008, this event will be 
canceled and all entry fees promptly refunded.

Prizes: Dependent on number of entries received, but first prize is 
guaranteed to be at least $1000 US. The complete payout structure 
will be posted just after the entry deadline of May 15.

Divisions: one open division; pairing system TBD

Who may play?: Anyone! Both North American players and players from 
around the world are welcome.

Rules and Lexicon: NSA rules will apply in all aspects except for 
the word authority and the challenge rule. The word authority will 
be the international list as used in the 2007 WSC in Mumbai.

The penalty for an incorrect challenge will be 5 points per word 
wrongly challenged, unless BOTH players agree before the game that 
the North American penalty of loss of turn for an incorrect 
challenge (also known as double challenge) will be used. The players 
will indicate this by each writing the word "DOUBLE" and initialing 
beside it on the tally slip for the game, before the game has begun.

Software self-lookups will be used. The challenge computers will use 
the most current version of Zyzzyva for all adjudications.

Director: TBD (if you think you might be interested in directing or 
otherwise helping with the tournament, by all means email me)

Rating: This is not an NSA tournament, so it will not be rated by 
the NSA. However, it will be rated by Bob Jackman for his 
international ratings list.

If you are interested in participating in this event, I encourage 
you to join the Texas SOWPODS Challenge discussion group at the 
following address, if you haven't already done so:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/texassowpodschallenge

If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me at 
gwthevenot at gmail.com. Let's have a great tournament!

Geoff Thevenot

ICT Penang Open Scrabble Tournament 2008 20-22 Jun 2008

Venue: City Bayview Hotel, Jalan Farquhar, Georgetown, Penang

Dictionary: New Collin's Scrabble Dictionary (CSD)

Challenge Rule: WSC 5-point penalty challenge

Rounds: 20 games, KOTH (no repeat for first 16, repeat for last 4)

Entry Fee: 

a.. Non-Malaysians RM150

b.. Malaysians RM100

c.. RM20 surcharge for late entries received after 12 June 2008

Contacts:

a.. Dr Adele Tan adele@hlwe.com

b.. Dr Ng Chee Eng ngce@hlwe.com

c.. Ms Jackie Cheah joellim@streamyx.com

Schedule:

DAY 1

FRIDAY 20 JUN

4 GAMES
1400-1500 Registration

1500-1800 Game 1 - 3

1900-2030 Opening Ceremony Dinner

2100-2200 Game 4

DAY 2

SATURDAY 21 JUN

11 GAMES
0730-0830 Breakfast

0830-1230 Game 5 - 8

1230-1400 Lunch

1400-1900 Game 9 - 13

1900-2030 Dinner

2030-2230 Game 14 - 15

DAY 3

SUNDAY 22 JUN

5 GAMES
0730-0830 Breakfast
0830-1230 Game 16-19
1230-1400 Lunch
1400-1500 Game 20
1530-1630 Prize Presentation & Closing


Prizes:

Champion USD1000

1st Runner-Up RM1000 
2nd Runner-Up RM750 
3rd Runner-Up RM600 
4th Runner-Up RM500 
5th Runner-Up RM400 
6th Runner-Up RM300 
7th Runner-Up RM250 
8th Runner-Up RM200 
9th Runner-Up RM150 

Accommodation:

a.. Twin sharing with breakfast for 2 - RM180.00 nett

b.. For students: Triple sharing with breakfast for 3 - RM210.00 nett

c.. Contact: Wendy Koay wendy.koay@bayviewhotels.com HP no: 6-016-4871207

Tour Packages:

Tour packages can be arranged direct with Holiday Tours and Travel Sdn. Bhd. 

Interested parties may contact Wendy Chan (e-mail: wendy.chan_pen@holidaytours.com.my Tel No: 6-04-2288803)

GENERAL DETAILS

23rd BRAND'S THAILAND INTERNATIONAL CROSSWORD GAME KING'S CUP 2008

Date


June 26th – 29th, 2008 
Venue


June 26th – 27th at 1st floor, Siam Discovery Center Complex, 
& June 28th – 29th at 5th floor, Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon Shopping Complex 
(Both venues are adjacent to each other)

Division
Open Division, open to all without restrictions 
Prizes


- Champion: HM King's Cup + USD 6,000 + Gift Set 
- 2nd place-getter : 75,000 Baht + Gift Set 
- 3rd place-getter : 40,000 Baht + Gift Set 
- 4th place-getter : 20,000 Baht + Gift Set 
- 5th place-getter : 10,000 Baht + Gift Set 
- 6th place-getter : 7,000 Baht + Gift Set 
- 7th place-getter : 5,000 Baht + Gift Set 
- 8th place-getter : 4,000 Baht + Gift Set 
- 9th place-getter : 3,000 Baht + Gift Set 
- 10th place-getter : 2,000 Baht + Gift Set 
Bonus Prize


Each player (except the winner and the 2nd place-getter) will receive 50 Baht for every winning game on June 26-27
and receive 100 Baht for every winning game on June 28-29.
***This means that everyone has a chance to win prize money.*** 
Super Bonus Prize 
If a player wins every game he played on any particular day, he will receive five times the Bonus Prize he would
normally receive on that day instead of the normal Bonus Prize. 
New!!! 'Handicap Result Prize'
Each player will be given special game points based upon their ratings. Players with the higher rating will get
less special game points than those who are rated lower. The player who finishes 27 rounds and has his final game
points plus special game points the most will get the 'Handicap Result Winner Prize' – Trophy and 10,000 Baht cash,
the 1st runner-up in this system will get 'Handicap Result 1st Runner-up Prize' of 5,000 Baht, the 2nd runner-up in
this system will get 'Handicap Result 2nd Runner-up Prize' of 2,500 Baht  This means that everyone has the chance to
win these prizes equally 

::::::: NOTE ::::::: 
- The above prizes will be given only to the players who have played all 27 rounds completely.
- The Winner and the 1st Runner-up of the tournament are not legible for the Bonus Prize as well as the Super Bonus Prize.
- The Winner, the 1st Runner-up and the 2nd Runner-up of the regular tournament system are not legible for Handicap
Result Prize.  
- The prizes will be awarded at the end of the tournament.
- Everyone who receives the total prize money of over 1,000 Baht during the tournament is subject to paying a 5%
withholding tax. 
Entry Fee
USD120 (including Reception Party & 2 days Coffee Break) For those who has confirmed and sent in their application
forms by May 26, 2008. 
** Those who send in their application forms between May 27-June 12, 2008, must pay another additional fee of USD10. 
*** The application fee can be paid upon Bangkok arrival. 
Words Source
SOWPODS2007* (OWL2+CSW).
List of all 2 & 3-letter words and their inflected forms provided for each player to look at during the game. Single
Challenge applied. 
Challenge Rule
Free challenge, a player does not lose his turn when he challenges the acceptable word(s). Self-checking method, a
player and his/her opponent will take a look at challenged word(s) at computer provided. 

Game Timing 
Each player is allowed 25 MINUTES per game. 

Maximum Difference


In each game, a player is allowed to win/lose not more than a maximum point spread of +/- 350. If there is any player
win/lose more than maximum point spread of +/- 350, (s)he should record in Master
score card and tally sheet with only +/- 350 point spread. 
Format
- 27 games in total.
- Game 1-24 will base on Swiss pairing system. 
- Game 25-27 will base on King-of-the-Hill pairing system. Then after game 27, the top two players play the final.
- The two finalists go to final with special rule: They have to play two games. If one of them wins both games, then
that player will be the winner. But if they tie with a win and a loss, the third game will be played. The winner, in
this case, is the one who scores the most when combining scores from three games. 
Remark: The Gibson's rule will be applied, in case, there is a player who has won enough games to guarantee 1st place or
a seat in the finals, no matter how many games s/he loses thereafter.  
Accommodation
==The Pathumwan Princess Hotel (4.5 stars hotel) offers the rate of 3,100++ Baht/ night for a single room and 3,400++
Baht / night for a twin or double room. 
The Pathumwan Princess Hotel is located in MBK Center. Its address is 444 Phayathai Rd., Wangmai, Pathumwan, 
Bangkok 10330 Tel:(662)216-3700 
Note: The above rates include American breakfast, free use of fitness center, etc. 

==Siam@Siam Boutique Hotel (4.5 stars hotel) offers the rate of 3,350++ Baht/ night for a single room and 3,550++
Baht / night for a twin or double room. 
Siam@Siam Boutique Hotel is the latest hotel in town. It is about 7 minutes walk beyond the Reno Hotel. Its address is
865 Rama 1 Road, Wang Mai, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330, 
Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2217 3000, www.siamatsiam.com
Note: The above rates include American Breakfast

==Asia Hotel (3 stars, 10 minute walking) offers the rate of 2,100 Baht net / night for a single room and 2,300 Baht
net / night for a twin or double room. 
Asia Hotel is located on 296 Phayathai Road, Bangkok 10400, connecting to BTS Ratchathewi Station Tel:(662) 215-0808
Note: The above rates include American Breakfast. 

==The Reno Hotel ( 2.5 stars, 5-minute walking) offers the rate of 1,180 Baht net per night for a twin-sharing room
with TV and safe. 
The Reno Hotel is located on 40 Rama 1 Rd., Soi Kasemsan 1, Bangkok 10330. Tel:(662) 215-0026-7, (662) 612-3096-7
Note: The above rates include American breakfast. Rooms are limited based on first come first serve 

:::::Remark:::::
The reservation can be done through us. (contact Mr.Nuttakrit) 

Schedule
Thursday, June 26, 11.15-18.00, at 1st floor, Siam Discovery Center (2 minutes walking from Siam Paragon)
Registration / Opening Remark / Round 1-5 / Reception Party (18.30-22.30 )
Friday, June 27, 11.30-18.30, at 1st floor, Siam Discovery Center (2 minutes walking from Siam Paragon)
Round 6-12
Saturday, June 28, 8.30-19.30, at 5th floor, Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon 
Grand Opening Ceremony / Round 13-20
Sunday, June 29, 8.45-19.00, at 5th floor, Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon
Round 21-27 / Final Round / Closing Ceremony 

For Application and Inquiry, contact


Mr.Nuttakrit by Email: info@thaicrossword.com or Telephone (662) 6819971-3 or Fax (662) 6819974 
How to apply 
Send us your info about the below topics as well as your recent 1-inch photograph (2 copies) at the above-mentioned
address. (you may send them via snail mail, email or fax as your choices) For the photographs, you may attach with
your email. 

Name:
-- Age:
-- Nationality:
-- Occupation:
-- Address:
-- Telephone Number: (please indicate your city's code)
-- Email:
-- Past records in any tournament:
About the Venue
- Siam Paragon Shopping Complex: 
The largest shopping complex in South East Asia, located in the heart of Bangkok covering 21 acres of land. Siam
Paragon effectively enhances Bangkok as a world-class destination for a supreme shopping and entertainment experience.
With the area of approximately 7,000 sq.m., the Royal Paragon Hall has a capacity for over 10,000 attendants. This will
surely give us privacy and convenience for our biggest annual tournament. 

I am pleased to announce the 2008 World Players Championship - a 
SOWPODS event - to be held November 14-16, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza 
Suites Dallas Park Central in Dallas, Texas, USA.

As many of you know, Hasbro has decided against sponsoring a World 
Championship and Mattel has been graciously doing so on a biannual 
basis.
Many wish to have an annual major event. This WPC is to serve as a 
world class event to give our game's globe trotters a chance to come 
back to North America, to induce our top North American players back 
into the world 
scene and to afford to anyone who has wished to play in, but in prior 
years could not qualify for a major international event the 
opportunity to compete with the very best in the world .

The particulars have yet to be finally determined, but the following 
decisions/parameters have been made/set:

1.) Thursday evening - November 13, 2008 - Reception/Dinner/Meet The 
Players.

2.) Friday through Sunday - 21-24 games.

3.) Entry Fee - $250 (including opening dinner). This will afford the 
opportunity to have a top prize of $10,000 and a generous prize pool 
predicated upon 100 entrants.

4.) Qualifications - The event is OPEN to anyone who has played in a 
sanctioned event in their home country and is a current member of 
their country's game association.

5.) Hotel - The Crowne Plaza Suites Dallas Park Central has newly 
remodeled suites and will offer players the incredible rate of $89.00 
per night. Please visit www.dal-crowne.crowneplaza.com

5.) The Dream Team of direction will be here - John Chew, Sherrie 
Saint John, Bryan Pepper, Mary Rhoades. I anticipate the Dream 
Annotators to be here as well - Dee Segrest and Kate Watson.

6.) World Wide Web broadcast.

I am pleased to announce that the 7th Causeway Scrabble Challenge will be held from 3rd to 7th December 2008
at Zon Regency Hotel, Johor Bahru.  A total of 45 games will be played over the 5-day period.  The following
10 teams will be invited: 
 
1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Malaysia
4. New Zealand
5. Nigeria
6. Singapore
7. Thailand
8. UK
9. USA
10. International
 
Qualification:
 
The top 5 players from each country, according to their respective country rating rankings, will be invited.
The top rated player from The Philippines, India and The Gulf shall be invited to Team International.  The
remaining 2 placings shall be at the sole discretion of the Organiser where only players with at least 1900
International rating may be invited. The cut-off date for ratings is 30 September 2008 but the respective
Scrabble Association can opt to have an earlier cut-off date for ratings.
 
Format of play:
 
The format is 1 FULL Round robin where players from the same team do not play against each other and they will
play against players from ALL the other 9 teams ONCE. 
 
Schedule of play:
 
Wednesday, 3rd December 2008 (9 Games)
 
7.30am to 8.30am:     Breakfast
8.30am to 12.30pm:   Game 1 - 4
12.30pm to 2.00pm:   Lunch
2.00pm to 7.00pm:     Game 5 - 9
7.00pm to 8.00pm:     Dinner
 
Thursday, 4th December 2008 (10 Games)
 
7.30 am to 8.30am:    Breakfast
8.30am to 12.30pm:   Game 10 - 13
12.30pm to 1.30pm:   Lunch
1.30pm to 7.30pm:     Game 14 - 19
7.30pm to 8.30pm:     Dinner
 
Friday, 5th December 2008 (10 Games)
 
7.30am to 8.30am:     Breakfast
8.30am to 12.30pm:   Game 20 - 23
12.30pm to 1.30pm:   Lunch
1.30pm to 7.30pm:     Game 24 - 29
7.30pm to 8.30pm:     Dinner
 
Saturday, 6th December 2008 (10 Games)
 
7.30am to 8.30am:     Breakfast
8.30am to 12.30pm:   Game 30 - 33
12.30pm to 1.30pm:   Lunch
1.30pm to 7.30pm:     Game 34 - 39
7.30pm to 8.30pm:     Dinner
 
Sunday. 7th December 2008 (6 games)
 
7.30am to 8.30am:     Breakfast
8.30am to 12.30pm:   Game 40 - 43
12.30pm to 1.30pm:   Lunch
1.30pm to 3.30pm:     Game 44 - 45
3.30pm to 4.00pm:     Prize giving ceremony
 
 
Prize Money:
 
The prize money for the Individual placing is as follows:
 
Champion: US$10,000
1st runner up: US$5,000
2nd runner up: US$2,500
4th placing: US$1,000
5th placing: US$700
6th placing: US$600
7th placing: US$500
8th placing: US$400
9th placing: US$300
10th placing: US$200
 
Registration Fees: US$150
 
Dictionary: Collins 2007
 
Time of Play: 25 minutes per player
 
Challenge rules: 5 points penalty per word challenge
 
Open Section:
 
The Open section of 7th Causeway Scrabble Challenge will be held from 4th to 7th December 2008.  A total of 33
games will be played over 4 days.
 
Qualification criteria:
 
Only players with SOWPODS International ratings can apply to participate in the Open section.  Players who qualify
for Master section are NOT allowed to play in the Open section should they turn down their invitation to the Master event. 
 
Format of Play:
 
Swiss pairing with no repeat on each day.  The pairing will be reset at the beginning of each day where 1st will play
2nd and etc, there will be no-repeat Swiss pairing from Day 1 to Day 3.  The final 6 games on Day 4 shall be King-Of-The-Hill
with repeats. 
 
Schedule of Play:
 
Thursday, 4th December 2008 (9 games)
 
7.30am to 8.30am       Breakfast
8.30am to 12.30pm     Game 1 to 4
12.30pm to 2.00pm     Lunch
2.00pm to 7.00pm       Game 5 to 9
7.00pm to 8.00pm       Dinner
 
Friday, 5th December 2008 (9 games)
 
7.30am to 8.30am       Breakfast 
8.30am to 12.30pm     Game 10 to 13
12.30pm to 2.00pm     Lunch
2.00pm to 7.00pm       Game 14 to 18 
 
Saturday, 6th December 2008 (9 games)
 
7.30am to 8.30am      Breakfast
8.30am to 12.30pm    Game 19 to 22
12.30pm to 2.00pm    Lunch
2.00pm to 7.00pm      Game 23 to 27
 
Sunday, 7th December 2008 (6 games)
 
7.30am to 8.30am      Breakfast
8.30am to 12.30pm    Game 28 to 31
12.30pm to 1.30pm    Lunch
1.30pm to 3.30pm      Game 32 to 33
 
Registration Fees:  RM120
 
Prize Money:
 
Champion:       RM5,000
1st runner up:  RM2,500
2nd runner up: RM1,000
4th placing:     RM800
5th placing:     RM700
6th placing:     RM600
7th placing:     RM500
8th placing:     RM400
9th placing:     RM300
10th placing:   RM200
 
Special Prizes:
 
Senior (50 years old and above)
 
Best Finish :       RM500
2nd Best Finish:  RM300
3rd Best Finish:   RM200
 
Youth (18 years old and below)
 
Best Finish:        RM500
2nd Best Finish:  RM300
3rd Best Finish:   RM200
 
Closing Date for Registration:  31st October 2008 
 
Lucky Draws:
 
3 Economy class Return air-tickets from ANYWHERE in the world to Causeway Scrabble Challenge 2009.  If the lucky
winners are from Malaysia and Singapore, he or she can choose to go to either Penang Open 2009 or King's Cup 2009
in Bangkok.  The tickets are non-transferable and it is valid for only 1 year.
 
Recommended arrival time:
 
Players are recommended to arrive in Singapore from 9am to 5pm should they choose to enter via Singapore.  This is
to avoid the massive traffic jam during the peak hours at the Causeway linking Singapore to Johor Bahru. 
 
The hotel packages at Zon Regency hotel will be announced in due course.
 
Please send your registration to alchemist9189@gmail.com or you can contact me at +65 9189 9189.
 
 
Michael Tang
Organising Chairman