| 1. |
STARTING THE GAME |
| 1.1 |
It is the responsibility of both players to determine before
commencing play that there are 100 correct tiles. There can
be no appeal if an incorrect number or incorrect distribution
is discovered later. |
| 1.2 |
The pre-tournament information or announcement will specify
how the first player in each game will be decided. This may
be by drawing tiles, use of a computer program or another method
as determined by the tournament organizer. |
| 1.3 |
Balanced starts: either a computer program or record card
of starts is used to determine who shall start each game, with
the objective being for players to have roughly the same number
of starts. This system is referred to as "balanced starts".
When a record card is used, the player who has had fewer starts
plays first. If both players have an equal number of starts,
tiles are drawn (see Rule 1.4) to determine who plays first. |
| 1.4 |
Drawing tiles: for each game, each player draws a tile from
the bag and paces it face up on the table. The player with the
letter closest to the start of the alphabet goes first. A blank
is considered to come before an "A". If both tiles are
the same, the players will each draw again until there is a
decision. The player who is to go second returns the tiles to
the bag and shuffles the tiles, ready for the game to begin.
No tiles shall be returned to the bag until a decision is reached. |
| 1.5 |
When the first player has seen his first tile, the clock may
be started. |
| 2 |
TIME |
| 2.1 |
Each player has 25 minutes in which to complete all his moves. |
| 2.2 |
If one player is not present on time, the opponent may start
that person's clock after the announcement by the TD to do so.
If both players are absent, the TD will start one clock. When
the first player arrives, each player has half the elapsed time
deducted, and the second player's clock is set running. |
| 2.3 |
Overtime penalty: Each player who goes overtime will at the
end of his game deduct from his total score ten points for each
minute or part thereof by which he has exceed his allotted 25
minutes. A digital clock is not in overtime until -0.01 is shown. |
| 3 |
SCORING |
| 3.1 |
It is the responsibility of each player to check his opponent's
plays and scores. A player should keep score and running total
for both himself and his opponent. If your opponent is not doing
this, ask them to do so. If they continue to not record scores
and totals, you may call for the TD. Players ,may use their
own score sheets. |
| 3.2 |
An error in the score for a move or cumulative score may be
corrected at any time before the result slip has been signed
by both players. If both players' tallies at the end of a game
do not match, a recount may be allowed only at the discretion
of the Tournament Director. |
| 3.3 |
Players may, by mutual agreement, suspend the timing of both
time clocks while resolving a discrepancy. |
| 4 |
EQUIPMENT |
| 4.1 |
Players may NOT use their own clocks, boards, tiles and racks.
The organizers will provide all the necessary equipment including
SamTimers. |
| 5 |
TILE TRACKING |
| 5.1 |
You are permitted to tile track at any time during the game.
|
| 5.2 |
Players may use their own tile tracking sheets. |
| 6 |
DRAWING TILES |
| 6.1 |
You must hold the tile bag so that the rim of the bag is at
eye level while drawing tiles, so that no tiles in the bag can
be seen. Remove tiles in full view of your opponent. |
| 6.2 |
Your may not put your hand back into the bag while you still
have tiles in that hand. All drawn tiles must be placed on the
rack or table before drawing more. |
| 7 |
OVERDRAWING OF TILES |
| 7.1 |
If, before any newly drawn tiles are been placed on the rack,
Player A discovers that he has N excess tile, Player A must
place all the newly drawn tiles face down on the table and invite
Player B to remove N tiles randomly which are then returned
to the bag unseen by either player. |
| 7.2 |
If Player A notices that he has overdrawn after he has placed
at least one of the newly drawn tiles on his rack, he must place
all his tiles on the rack on the table face down and invite
Player B to remove N+1 excess tile(s) at random. Player B may
inspect these tiles, return 1 tile of B's choice to A, and the
rest to the bag. Both players may view the tiles which are being
returned. |
| 7.3 |
If Player B notices that Player A has too many tiles, before
any have been placed on Player A's rack, A must place the newly
drawn tiles face down on the table. Player B may randomly select
N+1 tiles, return one tile of B's choice to A, and the rest
to the bag. Both players may inspect the tiles which are being
returned. |
| 7.4 |
If Player B notices that Player A has too many tiles after
new tile(s) have been placed on Player A's rack, B may inspect
all of A's tiles, remove N tiles of B's choice and return these
tiles to the bag. Both players may see which tiles are being
returned to the bag. |
| 7.5 |
If overdrawing of tiles is discovered after a play has been
made and fresh tiles have been drawn, then play will continue
as normal. |
| 7.6 |
If you have too few tiles, you must draw the rest from whatever
tiles are in the bag at that stage, even if your opponent has
drawn tiles already. |
| 8 |
END OF TURN |
| 8.1 |
Your turn is deemed to have ended when you |
| 8.1.1 |
activate your opponent's clock; or |
| 8.1.2 |
After placing your play on the board, you announce the score
and proceed to put your hand into the bag as if to draw replacement
tiles, unless you first declare that you are "checking the number
of tiles". Opponent's clock need not be activated if number
of tiles remaining are being checked; or |
| 8.1.3 |
or when you announce "CHANGE and proceed to exchange tiles. |
| 8.2 |
During your turn, you may i) turn a revolving board; ii) straighten
letters on the board; iii) check for tiles remaining in the
bag. You may not do these after your turn has ended. |
| 9 |
PLAYING A BLANK |
| 9.1 |
Blank tiles may be nominated to be any letter. A player playing
the blank must state at the time it is played what letter it
represents. After his turn has ended the blank will represent
the specified letter for the duration of the game unless the
play is successfully challenged by his opponent. Both players
must note on their score sheets the letter the blanks represent
and ensure that these records are in agreement before play proceeds
further |
| 10 |
EXCHANGING TILES |
| 10.1 |
You may use your turn to change one or more tiles with the
bag provided there are at least 7 tiles in the bag. You will
score zero for that turn. You may change tiles as many times
as you wish during the game. |
| 10.2 |
Procedure: On deciding to change tiles: i) declare your intention
to exchange tiles, ii) state how many tiles are being exchanged,
iii) place face down on the table the number of tiles you are
changing, iv) activate your opponent's clock, v) draw the appropriate
number of replacement tiles from the bag and place them face
down on the table, vi) place the unwanted tiles in the bag and
the new tiles on your rack. |
| 11 |
PASSING |
| 11.1 |
You may opt to pass your turn and score zero for that turn.
In this case you should declare "PASS" and activate your
opponent's clock without playing any tiles onto the board. |
| 12 |
CHALLENGES |
| 12.1 |
If not more than 15 seconds have elapsed from the end of your
opponent's turn, or if you have already "held your opponent
as described below, you may challenge any or all word(s) played
by your opponent in his turn. |
| 12.2 |
Hold procedure: A player contemplating a challenge may call
"HOLD" not more than 15 seconds after his opponent's
turn has ended. This applies even if his opponent has drawn
replacement tiles. If HOLD is called before the held player's
rack is fully replenished, that player may continue to replenish
his rack only after the play is acceptanced or in any case one
minute (or as nearly as can be determined from the clock) from
the end of his turn. During this time, the challenger's clock
is left activated until a final decision is made by him whether
to accept or challenge his opponent. Acceptance of a play after
a hold is called should be signified clearly by announcing,
"ACCEPTED" and is irrevocable. |
| 12.3 |
The player being challenged may opt to replenish his rack
once one minute has elapsed from the end of his turn. He can
then draw fresh tiles but he must keep them separate from the
tiles left over from his previous play. He should ideally place
the fresh tiles on the table and not inspect them until the
hold or challenge is resolved. However should he have seen his
fresh tiles, AND the his play is successfully challenged, both
players are allowed to look at the tiles before the tiles are
returned to the bag. |
| 12.4 |
Challenge procedure: On deciding to challenge whether or not
hold has been called, the challenger should declare "CHALLENGE
and neutralize the clock at which point the challenge becomes
irrevocable. The challenger must write clearly on a Challenge
Slip (CS) the words formed by the challenged player during the
turn just concluded which he challenges. Not all the words have
to be challenged. The challenged player may verify the accuracy
of the completed CS. The CS should be handed to the tournament
word judges for a ruling. The challenger may continue to see
and shuffle his tiles. When the ruling is returned, both players
must see it. Either player may query the decision and ask that
the slip be returned for a second adjudication . Subsequent
adjudications may only be done at the discretion of the tournament
director. A brief note indicating in which authority the word
can be found is permitted. |
| 12.5 |
The word judges will only rule as to whether the challenge
is successful or unsuccessful. If all the words challenged are
deemed acceptable (i.e. included in the specified word authorities)
the challenge is UNSUCCESSFUL. Otherwise the challenge is SUCCESSFUL
and the challenged player must withdraw his play from the board
and return any replenishment tiles to the bag before reactivating
his opponent's clock. |
| 12.6 |
Where the challenge is UNSUCCESSFUL 5 points for each word
challenged is added to the turn score of the challenged player. |
| 12.7 |
If any word on the challenge slip does not correspond to words
made on the board that turn, the challenge slip may be resubmitted
with the correctly recorded words. |
| 12.8 |
The word judges must rule only as to whether the challenge
as a whole is successful or unsuccessful, and in cases where
more than one word is challenged they must not indicate whether
any particular word is acceptable. |
| 13 |
ENDING THE GAME |
| 13.1 |
A game ends and the clocks should be neutralized when |
| 13.1.1 |
One of the played all his tiles AND the bag is empty; OR |
| 13.1.2 |
There have been 6 successive scoreless turns, i.e.3 passes
and/or exchanges and/or successfully challenged plays from each
player; OR |
| 13.1.3 |
The tournament director has declared an end to the round. |
| 13.2 |
After the game has ended, the player who has consumed all
his tiles adds to his score TWICE the total tile value of his
opponent's remaining tiles. If both players have tiles left
on their racks, each player should deduct from his score the
total tile value of his residual tiles. |
| 14 |
OTHERS |
| 14.1 |
Players must not consult any word list, or any other forms
of reference during the game except where specifically permitted
by the rules of the tournament. |
| 14.2 |
The references for acceptability of a word are Chambers'
Official Scrabble Words ("OSW") 4th ed, Merriam Webster's
Official Scrabble Players Dictionary ("OSPD") corrected
2nd edition and the OSPD Supplementary Word List, The Chambers
Dictionary 1998 edition, and Merriam Webster's 10th New Collegiate
Dictionary. The Committee of the 7th World Scrabble Championship
may issue revisions and amendments to the allowable references
from time to time. Adjudication aids such as computer programs
may be used. |
| 14.3 |
Mobile phone disturbances: Players are to ensure that their
phone is switched into SILENT mode so as not to disturb other
players. You may not answer phone calls during play. |
| 14.4 |
Players may not discuss with or distract (ea.g. hum, grunt,
sing, mutter) their opponents during play. |
| 14.5 |
Emergency Breaks: A player may leave and later return to a
game in progress if emergency circumstances warrant and under
the supervision of the Tournament Director. The player may leave
the table only after he has ended his turn and activated his
opponent's clock without replenishing his rack. He may replenish
his rack upon returning. |
| 14.6 |
The TD may declare a game forfeited in cases where a player
has abandoned a game or committed a flagrant breach of the rules.
The World Scrabble Championship Technical Committee may impose
a suitable penalty for the player. |
| 14.7 |
These Rules cannot be expected to cover every eventuality
and players are expected to exercise common sense and courtesy
in observance of these Rules. All matters in doubt or dispute
should be referred to the Tournament Director who has the option
to refer to the World Scrabble Championship Technical Committee.
The decision will then be final. |