• 5 to 9 Dec, 2018
  • G Hotel Gurney, Penang, Malaysia
  • alchemist9189@gmail.com

  • The Alchemist Cup was held in G Hotel Gurney, Penang, Malaysia from 5th till 9th December 2018.
  • A total of 45 games were played over 5 days.
  • This is an elite invitational event. Ten teams of five players per team will play a schedule where each player plays the 45 players from teams other than their own.
The event organiser is Michael Tang. A team event in the same format as the Alchemist Cup was a feature in some of the Causeway Challenges organised by Michael.
Michael's vision for the Alchemist Cup is that it will be an ongoing tradition held every even year during the first week of December, thus alternating with the WESPA Championship.
First place : Australia
Second place : United States
Third place : Rest of World
First individual : Ganesh Asirvatham
Second individual : Nigel Richards
Third individual : Thacha Koowirat
  • The teams are as follows, with WESPA rating as at 28 Oct
    1. Nigeria : mean rating 2065
      • Ayorinde Saidu (2098)
      • Eta Karo (2096)
      • Moses Peter (2090)
      • Nsikan Etim (2040)
      • Olatunde Oduwole (2002)
    2. USA : mean rating 2048
      • Conrad Bassett-Bouchard (2141)
      • David Wiegand (2140)
      • Evans Clinchy (2062)
      • Jesse Day (2043)
      • Will Anderson (1857)
    3. Australia : mean rating 2043
      • David Eldar (2150)
      • Chris May (2084)
      • Edward Okulicz (2033)
      • Andrew Fisher (1999)
      • Naween Fernando (1949)
    4. New Zealand : mean rating 1971
      • Nigel Richards (2297)
      • Alastair Richards (2106)
      • Howard Warner (1892)
      • Lyres Freeth (1788)
      • Joanne Craig (1772)
    5. Thailand : mean rating 1962
      • Panupol Sujjayakorn (2065)
      • Chollapat Itthiaree (1999)
      • Akkarapol Kwhansak (1959)
      • Thacha Koowirat (1941)
      • Jakkrit Klaphajone (1846)
    6. Rest of the World : mean rating 1960
      • Adam Logan: Canada (2131)
      • Lewis Mackay: UK (2105)
      • Austin Shin: UK (2000)
      • Esther Perrins: Australia (1801)
      • Theresa Brousson: Malta (1766)
    7. Singapore : mean rating 1896
      • Hubert Wee (1953)
      • Toh Weibin (1941)
      • Marlon Prudencio (1885)
      • Ricky Purnomo (1860)
      • Jeremy Khoo (1841)
    8. Malaysia : mean rating 1886
      • Ganesh Asirvatham (2324)
      • Vannitha Balasingam (1860)
      • Khoo Beng Way (1821)
      • Andrew Chang (1741)
      • Kong Chock Heng (1687)
    9. Rest of Asia : mean rating 1785
      • Lakshan Wanniarachchi: Sri Lanka (1853)
      • Waseem Khatri: Pakistan (1846)
      • Goutham Jayaraman: India (1837)
      • Moiz Ullah Baig: Pakistan (1800)
      • Sohaib Sanaullah: Pakistan (1590)
    10. East Africa : mean rating 1785
      • Allan Oyende: Kenya (1936)
      • Gitonga Nderitu: Kenya (1865)
      • Edgar Odongkara: Uganda (1791)
      • Stanley Njoroge: Kenya (1755)
      • Martins Mutahi: Kenya (1578)

    Qualifications for the seven countries are determined by the local Scrabble Association. The other three teams are invited based on WESPA ratings.
    • Prize structure:
    In each round, the five players of one team play the five players of another team in some seeding order. Whichever team wins the set of five games in a round gains one round point. If two teams are tied on 2.5 wins in a round, the team with greater spread wins that round. Rankings are based on total round points.
    If two teams have the same total round points, they are ranked by sum of individual wins and then by sum of spreads.
    You can see how it works using teams from the 2010 Causeway Teams
    • Teams
      • Champion team: USD 10000
      • Second team: USD 5000
      • Third team: USD 3000
    • Individual prize for those not in the top 3 teams:
      • First: USD1000
      • Second: USD 600
      • Third: USD 400
    • Wow prize
      • High Game: USD 100
      • High Word: USD 100

    Tournament Registration fee: USD 300

    Tournament venue: G Hotel Gurney, Penang, Malaysia http://ghotel.com.my

    Hotel Package: Check in Tuesday 4th Dec and check out Sunday 9th Dec (5 nights, 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches).
    Double occupancy: RM 1695 nett or USD410 nett per person
    Single occupancy: RM 2900 nett or USD700 nett per person

    Organiser
    Michael Tang
    Commentator
    Jesse Matthews
    Commentator
    Jason Katz-Brown
    Streaming Wizard
    Kumar Elijah
    Webmaster
    Barry Harridge