Announcing the 2023 Champions Cup
Throughout the first few years of the CoCo's existence, we've been honored to see many of the best players in not just the United States and Canada, but the whole Scrabble world join us and compete in our events. From major tournaments like the 2022 Word Cup to regional get-togethers in Portland, Austin, upstate New York, and more, it's been consistently borne out - elite-level competition is one of the CoCo's hallmarks. So we figured: Why not lean all the way into that?
That's the idea behind the Champions Cup, a new CoCo event coming up in late April 2023 that we're excited to announce today. This elite tournament will feature top Scrabble players at every single board, every single round. All entrants must be 1850-plus caliber players to qualify.
(Editor’s note: This post was amended on March 12. The original cutoff for Champions Cup qualification was a 1900 rating; this was changed to 1850 at the director's discretion.)
This tournament is the brainchild of Terry Kang, who's been an active CoCo player and director from the very beginning. Recently, Terry came to us with an idea - how about launching a premier-level CoCo event that's exclusive to only the very top players in the land? For those who have been around Scrabble a while and remember the good old days of elite qualification-only events - think Can-Am, BAT Premier, and the like - this event should offer a similar vibe. It's a high-level tournament for high-level players.
Here are the details...
The Champions Cup is scheduled for the weekend of April 29-30, and it will take place at Terry's residence in Slingerlands, N.Y. Slingerlands is about 15 minutes from the Albany airport, and easily accessible via train from New York or New Jersey.
To qualify for the Champions Cup, all entrants must have held a CoCo and/or WESPA rating of at least 1850 within the last 10 years. (Other elite players who lack an established CoCo or WESPA rating may be considered at the director's discretion.)
Registration will be limited to 18 players. Assuming a full field of 18, players will compete in a 17-game round robin, with 9 games on Saturday and 8 on Sunday.
The entry fee will be a juicy $250, which means hefty cash prizes for the top performers. Payouts will be guaranteed for the top four finishers.
In addition, players can expect all the usual amenities they've come to know and love at Terry's tournaments - tasty food included in the entry fee, and free lodging in her luxurious home.
Registration for the Champions Cup is open as of today! So head on over to our new tournament page, check out all the details, and - if you're qualified - sign up today. Come late April, you'll get your chance to test your mettle against the top Scrabblers around.