Collins Coalition

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Previewing a busy spring and summer of CoCo tournaments

We're almost a quarter of the way through 2024, and it's already been a heck of a year. We've seen players duke it out over the boards at New Orleans, Hood River, and many (OK, fine, two) other events so far this calendar year. And here's the beauty part - we're just getting started. There are many more exotic locales to visit, and much more tournament Scrabble to be played, as the year goes on.

If you're a Collins Scrabble player in North America, these are boom times. There are lots and lots of exciting events to play, all across the land. As we get into the spring and summer months of 2024, you'd best have your game face ready.

Here's a glimpse at everything the CoCo tournament calendar has to offer over the next six months...

A big tournament - and an eclipse! - in the Lone Star State

This is the third annual installment of Austin Tile X-Words (ATX), but there's a good chance it'll be the best one yet. How's that? For one thing, it comes on the same weekend as a total solar eclipse, and Austin just happens to be one of the best cities in America to view this once-in-a-generation phenomenon.

The weekend begins with 14 games of Scrabble across two days - and we've got a big, diverse field of 21 players (so far), including everyone from national champions to entirely new players. Then after the dust settles on the Scrabble action Sunday, any and all are encouraged to stick around for the eclipse on Monday. It's going to be a three-day weekend to remember, no doubt.

More Portland Pub action

Up in the Pacific Northwest, players have a lot to be excited about - including the ongoing Portland Pub Scrabble series, which debuted in January and is coming up on tournaments #3 and #4 in just a few weeks.

If you enjoy pub-crawling all over Portland and playing 1-day tournaments at various establishments, this is quite the year for you. Mark your calendars for the following nine (!!) dates in 2024: April 13, April 14, May 4, June 8, July 20, Aug. 23, Oct. 5, Nov. 2, Dec. 7. Cheers!

A star-studded Champions Cup

In late April, we've got an event featuring all world-class players, as far as the eye can see - it's the Champions Cup, and it's back for the second annual.

This event is open exclusively to players with peak ratings of 1850 or more - which means it's one of the most competitive Scrabble tournaments on the planet. Every single game will be hotly contested, and in the end, one champion among champions will rise above the rest. This event is not for the faint of heart.

Memorial Day, from coast to coast

Come Memorial Day weekend, the CoCo will run not one, but two weekend-long tournaments. On the East Coast, players can descend upon Potomac, Maryland for a 3-day event, and out West, we've got a 3-day tournament in Seattle.

No matter which side of the Mississippi you're on, there's a tournament for you. So make your plans now for a Scrabble-packed holiday weekend.

A championship event in Albuquerque

If you're looking for the biggest CSW event of the year in 2024, you should look no further than Albuquerque, New Mexico, which plays host to the upcoming Word Cup in late July. You can expect a strong field, a robust prize pool (including a guaranteed $10,000 for first place!), and 31 competitive games of Scrabble.

This is the big one. We've got 28 players signed up for Word Cup so far, and we're just now getting started. With four months to go until tournament time, we're expecting plenty more entrants to trickle in still.

If you're not on the player list yet, you'd best change that. This tournament is one you don't want to miss.

A high-stakes showdown in Colorado

Of course, if you're a true Scrabble sicko, then 31 games in one go isn't enough - you need your championship week to be even longer and more epic. We've got just the event for you - you can travel from ABQ directly to Glen Haven, Colorado, where the Bingman Stakes await the following weekend.

This is sure to be a big-money tournament - thanks to a juicy $1,000 director's donation to the prize pool, there will be robust prizes for the top finishers at this event. Plus plenty of food and drink, a hot tub, rousing Anagrams games, and a weekend of revelry! In other words, good times all around.

Of course, good times all around is what you should expect every time from a CoCo tournament. It's what we do best, time and time again. So if you're looking for a Scrabble tournament experience this spring or summer that's highly competitive while also offering endless fun, check out the CoCo tournament calendar today. You're bound to find at least one event - if not more - that's right for you.