Causeway Scrabble Challenge 2009

Background

The Causeway Scrabble Challenge was conceived in 2002 as a challenge between the top 10 players from Singapore versus the top 10 players from Malaysia. The causeway referred to is the narrow causeway between Malaysia and Singapore. The venue for the event is the Zon Regency Hotel, a rather large hotel in Johor Bahru in Malaysia which looks over this causeway. In 2009, as in 2008, the premier section consists of ten teams of five where each team member plays 45 rounds against all 45 players from the other teams. This section is strictly invitational and represents the cream of world Scrabble.

Tournament organiser Michael Tang has tweaked the lineup to ensure that it really represents the acme. The historic rivals Malaysia and Singapore have now been merged into one team, the Causeway team, making room for a team from Canada. The teams are thus Australia, New Zealand, Causeway, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Nigeria plus two invited teams of international players hand picked by Michael as representing outstanding players in the world scene.

Last year the open section enjoyed the longest tournament many have ever played, 33 games over 4 days. At the end of the tournament, Michael asked players if they enjoyed such a long tournament, and would they like to have even more games. The answer to both questions was a resounding yes, so this year the open section will have 45 games over 5 days, matching the premier section's timetable.

Increased prize money

Last year the mayor of Johor Bahru presented the premier winner, David Eldar from Australia, with a very large cheque for 10,000 US dollars. This year the prize money is doubled.

Prize money in the open section is also doubled.