Scrabble Australia
The Trans Tasman 2008
Contenders

The event

Every two years, Australia and New Zealand compete in the Trans-Tasman event, pitting Australia's top twelve players against New Zealand's top twelve. In 2008, the competition is in Sydney over three days (Sat Nov 27 to Monday Nov 29).

Qualification criteria

1. A player must be a financial member of ASPA for the entire qualifying period.
2. A player must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Temporary visa holders are not eligible.
3. The method of ranking candidates is by the three peak statistic (the Q statistic) described below.
4. A player who is ranked top of their state may be selected ahead of other candidates if his or her national rank is 24th or better.
5. The State of Representation is the State that the player was representing in the majority of rated games played during the qualifying period. Any anomalies concerning what amounts to a majority of games will be resolved by CASPA.

The three peaks Q statistic

The primary criterion for ranking candidates is the Q statistic calculated like this:

1. The qualification period is July 1 2007 to June 30 2008 inclusive.
2. Subperiods are July to Oct 2007, Nov 2007 to Feb 2008 and Mar 2008 to June 2008.
3. The qualifying statistic is Q = (P1 + P2 + 2 x P3)/4 , which is a weighted average of peak ratings in three subperiods.
4. If you play no rated games recognised by ASPA in a subperiod, your peak is zero in that subperiod.
5. You must have played at least 60 games rated by ASPA in the qualifying period before the last peak.
6. Players may appeal to CASPA for a special dispensation in exceptional circumstances.
7. In the event of any unforeseen issue the decision of CASPA is final.

The secondary criterion is number of rated games within the qualification period. If two players have the same Q statistic, the one with the greater number of rated games in the qualification period is ranked higher.

Dispensation

CASPA has reviewed the individual case of Chris May as he will play zero rated games in Australia in the first subperiod. Due to the circumstance where he has during this subperiod actively played 75 rated games under a recognised rating system (as at 25 Sept 2007 he is ranked 5th in the UK), CASPA has determined that special dispensation be given to Chris and that he be recognised as having qualified in the first subperiod, with the following provisos -

1. His peak for the first period is 1965, his last recorded rating before he left.
2. His 75 rated games in the UK are not shown in his tally.
3. He is still obliged to play 60 games rated by CASPA before his last peak.

The contenders

The table below shows the notional team as at 12.05.2008 plus 12 more who are almost in.
Note that Joanne Craig would qualify for the Australian Team, but will in fact be playing for New Zealand.

More details revealed as you move your mouse over the table.
Q stat has been extrapolated while periods are incomplete.
Top of state is marked as †