Information for Players

If there is anything that you would like to know about the event that is not listed below, please contact us at info@worldplayerschampionship.com, and we'll be happy to answer your question and update this page.

Online Registration

Online registration is required, together with an entry fee of USD 270.

Qualification

The World Players Championship is open to any player who is a current member of their country’s game association, and who has played in a tournament sanctioned by that association. No minimum rating or ranking is required.

Late Arrivals

If you will be unable to arrive in time for the reception and dinner on Thursday evening, please (1) let us know so that the caterers will know you won't be joining us, (2) tell us when and how you plan on arriving so we will know if your flight is delayed, and (3) phone Wilma Vialle at her room at the event hotel after your arrival to confirm that you will be in the first round pairings. If it is more convenient, you can also send a text message to John Chew at +1 416 876 7675, or e-mail info@worldplayerschampionship.com.

Dallas

Dallas, Texas has a metroplitan population of 6.1 million and is the fourth-largest city in the United States. It has a “humid subtropical climate” with mild winters (daytime highs around 15–20°C and nighttime lows around 0–10°C), but with substantial variability according to local weather patterns, and players are strongly encouraged to check the long-term weather forecast but allow for errors of a day or two in the predicted weather.

Here is a map showing places that may be of interest to visiting players. Please send additional suggestions to John Chew at jjchew@math.utoronto.ca.

Accommodation

We strongly encourage players to stay at the event hotel, the Crowne Plaza Suites Dallas Park Central. Our group code is "WPC", which will entitle you to the group rate of $89/night as long as you book by October 12th. Please be sure to note your confirmation number, as you will be asked for it in the online registration form. To book a room at this rate, you must phone the hotel directly at +1 972 233 7600, ask for extension number 2, and say that you are booking a room for the World Players Championship.

All guest rooms at the Crowne Plaza are actually two-room suites. The living area has a couch, refrigerator, wet bar and microwave oven. The bedroom has either a king-size bed or two double beds. A maximum of four guests may stay in one suite, and the charge is $89 per night for the suite regardless of the number of guests.

The tournament budget assumes that the hotel will provide the playing room in exchange for a reasonable number of guest rooms occupied; in case this does not happen, a $50 facility/commuter fee will be applied to players staying at other hotels.

Apart from the dinner on Thursday evening, you are responsible for your own meals. There is a link to a list of local restaurants at left. If you know of any others that you would like us to add, please let us know.

Transportation

All activities will take place at the Crowne Plaza Suites Dallas Park Central at 7800 Alpha Road, Dallas, TX, 75240. The hotel offers a free shuttle within a radius of five miles (8 km). Please arrive in time for the reception and dinner on Thursday evening.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is 22 miles (35 km) or 40 minutes by car west of the hotel; shuttle service costs about $18, taxi $40, both prices one-way. Dallas Love Field Airport is 17 miles (27 km) or 20 minutes by car southwest of the hotel; shuttle service costs about $16, taxi $30, both prices one-way. Yellow Checker Shuttle (see coupon) and SuperShuttle offer online reservations and some discounts.

The nearest Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) station (Forest Lane) is within the hotel’s free shuttle radius, and according to the DART web site it should take about 90 minutes to take a DART bus, TRE train and DART red line train from DFW to Forest Lane station, for a total fare of $5.

Dallas Amtrak Station is 12 mi (20 km) or 40 minutes by car south of the hotel.

Visas

You are responsible for obtaining any required visa, should be aware that visas are not automatically granted for citizens of some countries, and that it sometimes takes a long time for a visa to be issued.

If you need an invitation letter for visa or fundraising purposes, and your ability to participate in the WPC is contingent on your success in obtaining a visa and funds, please register for the event online and indicate that you will pay later offline rather than immediately online. After you have done so, please e-mail us at info@worldplayerschampionship.com and tell us where and how you would like the letter sent to you. When you are sure you can attend, if you would like to pay online by major credit card or PayPal, you can contact us again for instructions for doing so.

Rules

The WPC will be played according to WESPA rules, possibly with minor additions or corrections posted on this web site. Unsuccessful challenges will be charged a 5 point penalty for each word challenged that is found to be in the Collins (SOWPODS) word list.

Equipment

Please bring all necessary equipment, including game board, racks, professional tiles, tile bag and game timer.

Web Coverage

Live web coverage comparable to a World or National Championship will be provided at this web site by John Chew and Sherrie Saint John. Players will be asked to provide reference photographs and consent to their appearance in the publication online of event photographs and annotated games.

If we have a photograph on file for you, you should see it in the detailed roster. If you have a photograph that you prefer, you can e-mail it to John Chew at jjchew@math.utoronto.ca. If you would like us to take a photograph of you, please let us know at the opening reception.

Contact Us

If you’ve read this page and the FAQ and still have questions, please e-mail us at info@worldplayerschampionship.com. You can also reach organizer Chris Cree directly at ccree@earthlink.net and webmaster John Chew at jjchew@math.utoronto.ca.