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WESPA titles

WESPA has instituted a system of titles similar to that used in chess. These titles are earned through doing well in WESPA rated tournaments of sufficient prestige (based on length of tournament, size of field, calibre of players). Titles once earned are held forever unless revoked.

Australia is in the top 5 countries for such titles. We have
Three grandmasters: David Eldar, Chris May, Andrew Fisher
10 international masters Jakob Teitelbaum, Peter Kougi, Edward Okulicz, Cameron Farlow, Naween Fernando, Russell Honeybun, Anand Bharadwaj, Esther Perrins, Daniel Piechnick, Trevor Halsall
12 masters Richard Jeremy, Victor Tung, Mythili Rudra, David Vanzyl, John Spaan, Ryan Sutton, Adam Kretschmer, Bob Jackman, Rod Talbot, Nick Ivanovski, Trevor Tao, Tony Hunt

There are are several two day WESPA rated events in Australia which are opportunities to proceed to International Master or Master titles, including most State Championships. Three day events which might lead to Grandmaster titles are the Australian Championship and the New South Wales Championship. WESPA rated events are flagged on our calendar

Data on titles are derived from events since 2007 and are embedded in the rating.dat file for WESPA. The top five countries at this date are:

Nigeria 44 titles
GM 1 Wellington Jighere
IM 17 Jimoh Abdulmumin, Doko Oluwatimilehin, Eta Karo, Dennis Ikekeregor, Enoch Nwali, Samson Okosagah, Ayorinde Saidu, Okiemute Tega, Ezinore George, Godwin Victor, Olatunde Oduwole, Nsikak Etim, John Aiyedun, Prince Omosefe, Emmanuel Umujose, Oshevire Avwenagha, Moses Peter
M 26 Rex Ogbakpa, David Ojih, Raymond Gbaraba, Quickpen Ben, Igali Precious, Cyril Umebiye, Noble Onoshevwe, Tuoyo Mayuku, Adebola Samuel, Anthony Ikolo, Olaiya Kabir, Chinedu Thorpe, Etuwa Larry, Anthony Odok, Opeyemi Oloro, Adeyemi Adeosun, Emmanuel Ofidi, Segun Durojaiye, Olaribigbe Hakeem, Jacob Ryan, Osikhena Ojior, Ewruje James, Salau Samson, Sunday Oshodi, Adekoyejo Adegbesan, Bright Idahosa
USA 37 titles
GM 3 Jesse Day, David Wiegand, Austin Shin
IM 16 Will Anderson, Ben Schoenbrun, Joshua Castellano, Sam Rosin, David Koenig, Conrad Bassett-Bouch, Evans Clinchy, Matthew O'Connor, Chris Lipe, Geoff Thevenot, Rasheed Balogun, Nathan Benedict, Jason Keller, Rob Robinsky, John O'Laughlin, Peter Armstrong
M 18 Alec Sjoholm, Brian Bowman, Erickson Smith, Stefan Rau, Winter, Matthew Bernardina, Bradley Whitmarsh, Sam Kantimathi, Jason Katz-Brown, Robert Linn, David Whitley, Marty Gabriel, Puneet Sharma, Tim Weiss, Becky Dyer, James Kramer, Mohammad Sulaiman, Stefan Kac
Thailand 35 titles
GM 4 Komol Panyasoponlert, Thacha Koowirat, Chollapat Itthiaree, Napat Vatjaranuratho
IM 13 Panupol Sujjayakorn, Nattapat Nak-in, Jakkrit Klaphajone, Nopparuj Tipkaew, Pichai Limprasert, Chaiyottha Manachai, Akegapun Erbprasarts, Atiruth Sakdiyakorn, Nuti Suri, Apirat Choomai, Puttapong Moonsarn, Pakorn Nemitrmansuk, Akkarapol Kwhansak
M 18 Tarin Pairor, Charnwit Sukhu, Worasit Suksaensam, Gerry Carter, Weera Saengsit, Taewan Sutthasin, Thitipol Barameemuan, Soramet Mettaviharee, Natthakorn Siriwatt, Natthanon Limthongka, Pesol Kosalakood, Marut Siriwangso, Manop Phiphat, Wittayawut Waiprom, Wanchana Jirapitikul, Preedee Khongthanara, Sinatarn Pattanasuwa, Daniel Srichawla
England 28 titles
GM 4 Brett Smitheram, Harshan Lamabadusuri, Mark Nyman, Lewis Mackay
IM 8 Craig Beevers, Phil Robertshaw, Mikki Nicholson, David Webb, Jason Carney, Elie Dangoor, John Ashmore, Wayne Kelly
M 16 Calum Edwards, Jack Moran, Natalie Zolty, Wale Fashina, Craig Solomons, Gary Oliver, Graham Haigh, Samuel Crispin, Terry Kirk, Jared Robinson, Joel Davey, Colin Northmore, Nick Deller, Bob Violett, Femi Awowade, Chris Vicary
Australia 25 titles
GM 3 David Eldar, Chris May, Andrew Fisher
IM 10 Jakob Teitelbaum, Peter Kougi, Edward Okulicz, Cameron Farlow, Naween Fernando, Russell Honeybun, Anand Bharadwaj, Esther Perrins, Daniel Piechnick, Trevor Halsall
M 12 Richard Jeremy, Victor Tung, Mythili Rudra, David Vanzyl, John Spaan, Ryan Sutton, Adam Kretschmer, Bob Jackman, Rod Talbot, Nick Ivanovski, Trevor Tao, Tony Hunt

WESPAC

WESPAC (essentially the World Scrabble Championship) was held in Ghana. Many players from around the world played over four days and then the top two (Adam Logan and Nigel Richards) fought it out as the best of seven. Adam Logan from Canada won, making him one of only three who have won the title more than once (the other two being Nigel Richards and David Eldar). Australia was represented by Russell Honeybun, Karen Richards, Paul Richards and Kashi Thiris.

Australia has sent a team every time the WSC (or equivalent) since the first WSC in London in 1991.

Five Australians at the WSC 1991
Paul Cleary, Glenys Lawrie, Alistair Kane, John Holgate, Barry Harridge
Andrew Fisher also played, but he represented England then.


See Results (WESPA)

ACT Championship

The ACT Championship has been won by John Spaan. Top three :

1 15 1775 John Spaan
2 14 1495 John Hamilton
3 11 1600 Ronnie Bennett
See Results

Tasmanian Championship

The Tasmanian Championship has been won by Stephen Mooney-Pursell. Jon Ford-King and Martin Rose came second and third. See Results

The Youth surge

Nathan Tang
Nathan Tang gained 443 rating points over a year

Scrabble NSW has a yearly award, the Joan Rosenthal Trophy, for the NSW member who gains the most rating points in one year. This year it was won by Nathan Tang. And he also won it in 2024. Young eager players can gauge their progress by rating gains.

The three day event was also planned to include Scrabble coaching from two top experts and motivaters. Australian Youth Scrabble coach, Karen Richards, travelled from Queensland to coach the more-experienced youth, mostly those from interstate (Qld, ACT, Vic) - players who then competed honorably in the three-day open NSW Championship. Technically, this is the most difficult event in Australia for anyone rated under 1300.

Age category winners were Nathan Tang (under 18) and Ollie Klistorner (under 14)

Oliver Klistorner and Nathan Tang
Ollie and Nathan

On Saturday, in parallel with Day 1 of NSW Champs, John Hamilton (Australian Youth Scrabble Coordinator) worked with a bunch of young beginners, some of whom then competed against adults in the one-day Open event of Sunday. It was exciting to have some brand-new talent involved. Some of these came to Scrabble via MENSA. We will be working more closely with MENSA in future: Ollie (age 9) and Karen are leading a session for Primary School students at the Australian MENSA conference on 11/12 October.

Scrabble NSW/CASPA hope to make this Youth Coaching an annual event, being a school holiday period. Contact Karen or John to reserve a place for your child.

Events

Selective events

These events are invitational, based on rating.

2026

Australian Masters
& State Challenge
Trans Tasman
Youth Trans Tasman
World Youth

April in Canberra

ACT Parliament House
The major event of the Australian Scrabble year is the Australian Championship and Plate at Easter. In 2026 this will be in Canberra. And so there are other related activities before and after.

2026 Australian Women's Championship

This will be WESPA rated and the venue is Eastlake Football Club, 3 Oxley St, Griffith ACT. Susan MacGillivray is the key contact.

More details including payment and entries to date.

Mindsport Mini

A five round tournament starting at 1pm, and like other Mindsport events, having a special focus on youth, but with a side tournament for bigger kids up to 100 years old. This is organised by Karen Richards and will be held at the Ibis Styles.

CASPA AGM

Good Friday is when representatives of states come together to discuss business. See the minutes of the 2025 AGM.

Australian Championship and Plate

The Championship section is for players rated 1300 upwards, and the Plate is for players rated below 1300. the venue is Eastlake Football Club in Griffith. 24 rounds over three days. There will be a presentation dinner on Monday night.
More details including payment

Mindsport Afterthought

A seven round tournament starting at 9am for those under 18 only oganised by Karen Richards.
All these events are listed on the National Calendar

Causeway Challenge

Miracle Grand Hotel
Bangkok

Many players, and especially Australians have enjoyed past Causeway Challenge events organised superbly by Michael Tang. Each event was bigger and better and in 2026 it will be not in Malaysia but in Bangkok (where players have also enjoyed exciting tournaments). Michael aims to have 500 players in five divisions playing 36 rounds over 4 days. There will be 70 000 USD in prizes given out (top 10 in each of the five divisions).

Many Australian players have already registered. Michael expects quite a few more to register. Find out more at the event website

2026 Australasian Open

An announcement from Scrabble New Zealand.
Join us in lovely Mt. Eden, Auckland for the debut of a brand new international open tournament! We guarantee that the winner's purse will top 1000NZD.
Venue:
Mt Eden Village Centre 449 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Auckland
Dates and Times:
20-21 June, 2026: Report at 8:40am for a 9am start both days. We expect to wrap up, including the prize ceremony, by 5:30pm on Sunday at the latest.
Format:
15 games - 8 Saturday, 7 Sunday. One grade. Swiss pairing system with KOTH for the last 2 rounds.
Rules:
Scrabble New Zealand Constitution and Rules of Play Lexicon: CSW24
Rating:
This tournament will be rated by Scrabble New Zealand and WESPA
Early Registration:
Players that pay their entry fee before 20 April 2026 will be eligible to win back $60 in a lottery draw. Capacity is limited, so register early to guarantee your spot!
Entry:
Payment of NZ $115 entry fee is payable by 13 June 2026
International Players pay your NZ $115 entry fee here via Wise: https://wise.com/pay/me/christophert3852
Download Wise to create an account if you don't have one: https://wise.com/invite/dic/christophert3852
Cash on the Day may be accepted as a last resort - please enquire if you are having difficulty with payment.
Registration:
Notify Tournament Convenor Chris Tallman, SNZ Secretary: chrishtallman@gmail.com with your entry details: Full Name of Entrant and whether you are bringing a board and/or a clock. For international entrants, please also indicate your Home Scrabble Organisation and Current WESPA rating

2026 Trans Tasman

The Trans Tasman is a biennial event where an Australian team plays a New Zealand team. In 2026 12 Australians will play 12 New Zealand players over 24 games and this will be hosted in Australia, in Queensland.

For the first time there will be a Youth Trans Tasman alongside the adult event. Nine young Australians will play three New Zealand players over three days. There will be 22 rounds in all which is a double round robin of all 12 players, where the games of Australia vs New Zealand will count for team tallies.

See selection processes for Trans Tasman and Youth Trans Tasman