Selecting Australia's Causeway Scrabble Challenge team for 2010
The Causeway Challenge is a highly esteemed international Scrabble tournament organised by Michael Tang and
held in Johor Bahru on the Malaysian side of
the causeway between Malaysia and Singapore. In 2010, the event will be held from Dec 1 to 5, and is a contest over 45 rounds.
There will be three sections, Premier, Masters and Open. More details of the event are available at causewayscrabble.com
The premier section consists of ten international teams
of five players. Australia's best five players are chosen by ratings as described below.
The qualifying period is the twelve month span from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.
Eligibility: You must be be an Australian citizen or permanent resident on 30 June 2010, and
be a financial member of ASPA on 30 June 2010.
- The method of ranking candidates is by the three peak statistic (the Q statistic) described below.
- Players may appeal to CASPA for a special dispensation in exceptional circumstances.
- In the event of any unforeseen issue the decision of CASPA is final.
The three peaks Q statistic
The primary criterion for ranking candidates is the Q statistic calculated like this:
- The qualification period is July 1 2009 to June 30 2010 inclusive.
- Subperiods are July to Oct 2009, Nov 2009 to Feb 2010 and Mar 2010 to June 2010.
- A multiday tournament which spans two periods will be treated for peak
and game count as occurring on the first day.
- The qualifying statistic is Q = (P1 + P2 + 2 x P3)/4 , which is a weighted average of peak ratings in
three subperiods.
- If you play no games rated by ASPA in a period, your peak in that period is
equal to the rating before that period minus 200.
This applies to one period only and not the final period.
- You must have played at least 60 games rated by ASPA in the qualifying period before the last peak.
If two players have the same Q statistic,
the one with the greater number of games in the qualification period is ranked higher.
Etiquette for acceptance
Once the selection process is finished, it is incumbent on team members to
accept their places within a reasonable amount of time.
With regard to competitions where international travel has to be organised,
plus allowing for time for more focussed study,
it would be preferable for team members to accept their places by at least three months prior to the event.
Any issues that may prevent a member from playing in the event should be discussed with CASPA as soon as reasonably possible after they arise.
Such discussion may include negotiating with the reserve team members as to their ability to replace the team member.
While subperiods are incomplete the qualifying statistic is extrapolated.
Joanne Craig (Q = 1945.5) will be playing for New Zealand in the Causeway Challenge.
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