Q: What is the All India School Scrabble Championship 2026?

The All India School Scrabble Championship 2026 (AISSC 2026) is a national inter-school Scrabble competition organised by the Scrabble Association of India (SAI).

It is structured as a three-phase program — School Level, Regional Level, and National Finals — and is open to students of Classes 5–8 across India. This is the inaugural edition of what SAI intends to make an annual national championship.

Q: Who is eligible to participate?

Students currently enrolled in Classes 5 to 8 in any school in India are eligible.

School Type: All school types are welcome — private, government, international, and others. The school can be of any board (CBSE, ICSE, IB/IGCSE, State Board).

SAI Rating: Students who have a SAI rating are also eligible to participate. Students with a SAI Rating of 1200+ get a direct ticket to the National Finals owing to their proven excellence.

Q: My school isn’t participating. Can my child still take part?

Yes. Students who wish to participate but whose school has not enrolled may register directly through the centralised SAI registration form or through the local city club. They will compete under the same rules as school-registered participants.

Q: What are the competition divisions?

AISSC 2026 has two separate divisions, split by grade:

•     Junior Division: Grade 5–6

•     Senior Division: Grade 7–8

The two divisions run as separate competitions. Students play only against others in their own division, with separate pairings, standings, qualification to the Finals, and prizes.

If the number of participants in one of the divisions is fewer than 8, the tournament organiser may decide to combine both divisions into a single playing division — but winners will still be announced separately for the Junior and Senior Divisions.

 

Q: What prizes are awarded per division at the Regional level?

Each division (Junior: Grade 5–6, Senior: Grade 7–8) will have:

•     1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies/medals

•     2 consolation prizes (depending on the size of the field)

Each division has its own Regional Champion. The exact form of prizes — trophies, medals, certificates, or a combination — is at the discretion of the local organiser.

Q: What are the three phases of AISSC 2026?

The championship runs in three sequential phases:

Phase	Name	Timeline	Description
Phase 1	School Level	May – Aug 2026	School enrolment and optional qualification quiz
Phase 2	Regional / City Level	Jun – Oct 2026	One-day in-person Scrabble tournaments across 8–10 cities
Phase 3	National Finals	Nov – Dec 2026	Top qualifiers from all regions compete in the national finals

 

Q: What is the path from Regionals to Nationals?

The top 1–2 players from each division (Junior: Grade 5–6, Senior: Grade 7–8) at each Regional round qualify for the National Finals. This means roughly 2–4 qualifiers per city, depending on field size within each division. Final slot allocations per division will be communicated by SAI before each Regional round.

In addition, any student with a SAI Rating of 1200+ receives a direct ticket to the National Finals, independent of Regional results.

Q: What are the confirmed Regional venues and dates?

City	Venue	Date
Chennai	e-Hotel, Royapettah	26 June 2026
Vadodara	Bal Bhavan	12 July 2026
Bangalore	Chaman Bhartiya School	25 July 2026
Kottayam	Kottayam Public Library	19 September 2026
Delhi	Shiv Nadar School	20 September 2026
Mumbai	Jamnabai Narsee School	18 October 2026
Hyderabad	Delhi Public School	31 October 2026
Pune, Goa, Kolkata	[Venue TBC]	[Date TBC]

Q: How do students register?

Two registration pathways exist:

•     School-led registration: The School Coordinator collects entries from students and submits them in bulk via the centralised SAI registration form or through the local city club’s own registration process.

•     Individual registration: Students whose schools are not participating may register directly via the centralised form or through the local club.

Regardless of the pathway used, all participant data must be shared with SAI for central database maintenance.

Q: What is the registration fee?

Entry fees are set by each regional organiser within the SAI-recommended range of Rs. 200–500. Payment collection method (online/UPI/cash at venue) is at the local organiser’s discretion.

Q: Is there a fee to participate in the National Finals?

No. There is no entry fee for the National Finals. A part of the travel and accommodation expenses will be reimbursed by Scrabble Association of India. Exact details will be shared with the finalists later.

Q: What are the Scrabble Workshops?

Workshops are preparatory sessions for students held between May and August 2026. They are designed to introduce students to competitive Scrabble rules, basic strategy, and fair play before the Regional tournament. Workshops are optional but strongly recommended, particularly for first-time competitive players.

Q: What does a workshop agenda look like?

A standard workshop covers:

•     Welcome and introduction to Scrabble as a competitive mind sport

•     Rules of competitive Scrabble: tile placement, scoring, blanks, challenges

•     Time management during a game (use of clocks / time limits)

•     Basic strategy: two-letter words, high-value tiles, bonus squares

•     Fair play and sportsmanship

•     Practice game(s) between participants

Q: What take-home materials will students receive?

Each participant receives:

•     A two-letter word (2-LW) cheat sheet

•     A three-letter word (3-LW) cheat sheet

•     Puzzles/Exercises for practise

Q: How can my child prepare on their own?

Scrabble Association of India recommends:

•     Watching the video repository on SAI’s official website

•     Studying the two-letter and three-letter word cheat sheets distributed at workshops

•     Using the Collins Scrabble dictionary, available online and via apps

•     Playing practise games with family or friends using a standard Scrabble set

•     Practising on online Scrabble platforms like woogles.io for limited time with parents’ permission

Q: Is there a Qualification Quiz?

A short qualification quiz (15–20 questions) covering vocabulary and Scrabble knowledge may be administered at the school level as part of Phase 1. This is optional and at the discretion of the local club or school.

•     Format: Multiple choice / short answer

•     Administration: Online (preferred, for easier correction) or printed paper

•     Provided by: SAI will supply the quiz in both printed and digital formats. Schools can execute with the local club’s support.

Q: What is the overall format of a Regional round?

Each Regional round is a one-day, Swiss-paired Scrabble tournament.

The two divisions — Junior (Grade 5–6) and Senior (Grade 7–8) — play as separate draws, each with its own pairings and standings. Within each division, the preferred format is:

•     3–5 full competitive Scrabble games (Swiss pairing), followed by

•     1 Duplicate Scrabble round among the top-ranked players in that division after the full games.

An alternative format of 5 full games (no Duplicate round) may be used if logistically necessary. The format will be confirmed and communicated to participants before the tournament day.

All games must be played individually and not in teams/pairs.

Q: What is the pairing system?

Round 1 is paired randomly. From Round 2 onwards, the Swiss pairing or the King of the Hill (KOTH) pairing is used. In Swiss pairing, players are matched against opponents with similar win-loss records after each round. In KOTH pairing, the top-ranked player plays the second-ranked, etc. Pairing is done separately within each division.

Q: What is Duplicate Scrabble, and why is it used in the final round?

In Duplicate Scrabble, all players at the top tables receive identical tile draws and must find the best possible play from those tiles. This format eliminates the luck of the tile draw and is an excellent measure of pure vocabulary and strategic ability. It is used in the final Regional round of each division to distinguish the top performers more cleanly.

 

Q: What word list (lexicon) is used?

The official word list for AISSC 2026 is CSW24 (Collins Scrabble Words 2024). All valid words must appear in CSW24 to be accepted.

Q: What is the challenge rule?

AISSC 2026 uses the 5-point challenge rule:

•     If a player challenges a word and the word is valid: the player who played the word gets 5 extra points per word challenged.

•     If a player challenges a word and the word is invalid: the word is removed from the board and the player who played it loses their turn. No points are deducted from the challenger.

Q: What time controls are used?

The preferred format uses scrabble clocks (one per board) with a set time allocation per player per game. The time allocation can be 20–25 minutes. Overtime allowed shall range from 3-5 minutes.

If clocks cannot be arranged, the following alternatives apply:

•     A total time limit of 40–50 minutes is set per game, with floor volunteers monitoring slow play and nudging players.

•     A move cap of 10–12 moves per player, or a time limit — whichever comes later — may be applied.

Q: How is the winner determined?

Final standings within each division are determined by:

•     1st tie-breaker: Total wins

•     2nd tie-breaker: Cumulative spread (total point difference across all games)

Q: What happens if a registered player does not show up?

If a registered player does not arrive by the start of Round 1, they are marked as a no-show and withdrawn from the draw. Late arrivals after Round 1 has begun can be entered into the tournament for subsequent rounds.

Q: Who are the key volunteer roles, and what are their responsibilities?

Role	Responsibilities
Tournament Director (TD)	Overall authority for the event. Manages pairings, resolves disputes, communicates decisions. Must be SAI-certified (or be certified before the event — contact SAI to confirm status).
Word Judge / Floor Arbiter	Adjudicates word challenges using the CSW24 verification tool (laptop or approved app). Monitors gameplay for rule violations, slow play, and fair conduct. One judge per 8–10 boards is recommended.
Registration Desk	Manages check-in, verifies school ID and age documentation, distributes scoresheets and materials, handles late arrivals and queries.
Scoresheet Collector	Collects and verifies scoresheets after each round, enters scores into the system, flags discrepancies to the TD.

 

Multiple roles can be played by a single person. Based on the overall participation, the local club can decide on the number of volunteers needed.

Q: What equipment must organisers arrange?

The local club is responsible for arranging all tournament equipment. SAI can be contacted for guidance or support if needed. Required equipment includes:

•     Scrabble boards (1 per pair of players — plan for all participants playing simultaneously)

•     Tile sets (1 complete set per board; keep 1–2 spare sets)

•     Score tracking sheets (standardised format — SAI will provide a template)

•     Scrabble clocks (1 per board, if available)

•     Laptops / devices with CSW24 word check tool for word adjudication (minimum 1 per 20 boards)

•     First aid kit (see Safety section below)

Q: What is the score entry process?

SAI will provide a standardised scoresheet template. Local clubs should print sufficient copies. After each round, both players sign the scoresheet and submit it to the Scoresheet Collector. Scores are entered into the central pairing system (Woogles). Any discrepancy must be flagged to the TD immediately before the next round starts.

Q: What pairing/results software should be used?

Woogles will be used to run the tournament.

Q: What is the bathroom break policy?

Students may use the bathroom only between games (not during a game). If a student has an urgent need during a game, they must:

•     Inform the Tournament Director or a floor arbiter immediately.

•     Leave all electronic devices on the table — no devices may be taken to the bathroom.

•     Be accompanied to the bathroom by a designated volunteer, who will wait outside.

The student’s clock continues to run during an unscheduled mid-game break. The TD may grant a brief clock pause only in verified medical emergencies.

Q: What is the electronics policy?

No electronic devices are permitted on the playing table during games. Mobile phones must be switched off or kept on silent and stored in bags. Violation will result in a warning on the first offence and a game forfeit on the second offence, at the TD’s discretion.

 

 

Q: What are the child safeguarding and safety requirements at the venue?

Organisers will ensure the following before the tournament:

•     A basic first aid kit on-site (bandages, antiseptic, basic medicines).

•     All volunteers working directly with children will be briefed on the SAI Code of Conduct and child safeguarding principles (no one-on-one closed-door interaction with a student, escalation protocol for any concern).

•     Parents/chaperones must remain in the designated waiting area and may not enter the playing hall during the round, unless they are designated volunteers for the event.

•     A lost-and-found station at the registration desk.

Q: How should disputes and protests be handled?

All in-game disputes must first be referred to the floor arbiter, then to the Tournament Director if unresolved. The TD’s decision is final.

Q: Where and when are the National Finals?

The National Finals are tentatively scheduled to take place in Bengaluru in November 2026. The exact venue and date will be confirmed by SAI in due course.

Q: What is the format of the National Finals?

The National Finals are a one-day, Swiss-paired tournament played as two separate divisions — Junior (Grade 5–6) and Senior (Grade 7–8). Each division plays 6 rounds of Scrabble, with 25 minutes per player per game, with an overtime of 5 minutes. There is no Duplicate round at the Finals.

Final standings in each division are determined by total wins, followed by cumulative spread.

Q: How are National Finals qualifiers determined?

The top 1–2 players from each division (Junior: Grade 5–6, Senior: Grade 7–8) at each Regional round qualify, giving roughly 2–4 qualifiers per city. In addition, any student with a SAI Rating of 1200+ qualifies directly. SAI will communicate the exact per-division allocation to each city organiser after registration closes for that region.

Q: What awards are presented at the National Finals?

Podium awards are presented separately in each division (Junior: Grade 5–6, Senior: Grade 7–8):

•     Division Champion — Trophy + Certificate

•     Division Runner-Up — Trophy + Certificate

•     3rd Place — Trophy + Certificate

The following awards are presented across the Finals:

•     Top 10 (per division) — Merit Certificates

•     Best Female Player — Trophy + Certificate

•     All participants — Participation Certificate

Q: What is the Code of Conduct for participants and organisers?

All participants, coaches, chaperones, and volunteers are expected to uphold the following standards at all AISSC 2026 events:

•     Treat all opponents, officials, and volunteers with respect at all times.

•     No bullying, harassment, or discriminatory language — verbal, written, or physical.

•     Maintain silence and composure during games. Disrupting other players is grounds for a penalty.

•     Accept the Tournament Director’s decisions graciously. Disputes must be raised through the formal protest process, not through arguments on the floor.

•     Any student found cheating (e.g., consulting a device, pre-arranged word lists) will be disqualified from the event.

•     Volunteers and organisers must not coach or assist any participant during rounds.

Serious violations may result in disqualification and a ban from future SAI events. SAI’s decision on conduct matters is final.

Q: What data is collected from participants, and how is it stored?

SAI collects the following participant data for championship administration:

•     Full name, date of birth, school name, grade

•     Parent/guardian name and contact details (phone and email)

•     City/region of participation

This data is used solely for tournament administration, results publication, and certificate generation. It is stored securely by SAI and is not shared with third parties without consent. Participants or parents may request data deletion by writing to indianscrabble@gmail.com.

Q: What should students bring on the day of the tournament?

•     Valid school ID card (mandatory for check-in and age verification)

•     Pen or pencil for scoresheets

•     A writing pad or clipboard to keep scoresheets on

•     Water bottle

Q: What is the dress code?

Students should come in their school uniforms for both the Regional and the National level tournament.

Q: What does the day look like for a participant?

A typical Regional round schedule:

•     8:30 AM — Registration and check-in opens

•     9:15 AM — Players’ briefing and rules explanation by TD

•     9:30 AM — Round 1 begins

•     Rounds 2–3 follow before lunch (with short breaks between rounds)

•     Approx. 12:30 PM — Lunch break

•     Rounds 4–5 after lunch

•     Approx. 3:30 PM — Duplicate round (top players in each division)

•     Approx. 4:30 PM — Results, prizes, and valedictory

•     5:00 PM — Approximate close