WESPA Summit Cup, 2026.
Featuring the world’s top 24 players and 4 invited wild card players, qualified exclusively through the WESPA Year-to-Date rankings.
YTD RankingEligibility Criteria
- Top 24 Scrabble players on the YTD rankings as of September 30, 2026.
- Four (4) wild card entries (to be invited at the discretion of WESPA Committee)
- Qualifiers must NOT be serving any ban or observing any disciplinary conditions.
- Qualifiers must be paid-up members of registered WESPA member nations.
Any player ranked in the top 24 who is ineligible or unavailable will forfeit their place to the next eligible player on the WESPA Year-to-Date (YTD) rankings. All participants must sign an undertaking to comply with the championship’s code of conduct and regulations.
Registration Fee
The registration fee for the WESPA Summit Cup, 2026 is USD 295 per player and includes:
- Championship entry levy.
- Tea breaks & Lunch.
- Branded event shirt.
- Awards gala dinner ticket.
- Entry into a raffle draw for free registration in 2027.
Timeline
- Qualifying Period
- October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026.
- Registration Deadline
- October 31st, 2026.
- Arrival Date
- December 1st, 2026.
- Event Dates
- December 2nd - 5th, 2026.
- Award/Gala Night
- December 5th, 2026.
- Departure Date
- December 6th, 2026.
Cancellation Notice received on or before November 16th, 2026 will be refunded less 10%. Anything beyond that, no refund.
Schedule
| Date | AM Session | PM Session |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Dec 1st | Arrival of Players | Accreditation |
| Wed, Dec 2nd | Round 1 - 4 | Round 5 - 9 |
| Thu, Dec 3rd | Round 10 - 13 | Round 14 - 18 |
| Fri, Dec 4th | Round 19 - 22 | Round 23 - 27 |
| Fri, Dec 5th | Round 28 - 31 | Final (Best of 5) |
Format
- Number of Games
- 31 Rounds.
- knockout Stage
- Best of 5 Final.
- Pairing System
- Round Robin (RR) + 4 additional rounds.
- Lexicon
- CSW24.
- Championship software
- TSH.
- Ratings
- WESPA-rated.
- Live broadcast
- WESPA YouTube channel.
- Time Control
- 25 minutes/player.
Officials
- Officer 1
- Peter Thorpe
- Officer 2
- Wayne Kelly
Prizes
- Guaranteed star prize of USD 10,000 minimum + Trophy for the champion.
- Top 8/10 players to be awarded cash prizes.
- Spot and/or product prizes may be awarded.
Awards Ceremony & Travel Advisory
The Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner will take place on the evening of Saturday, 5 December. Players are encouraged to plan their departure for Sunday, 6 December.
Dress Code Policy
Players and officials must dress neatly and appropriately throughout the championship. Shorts/knickers and rubber sandals/slippers are not permitted in the playing arena.
The Award Gala Dinner requires strictly Business Casual/Formal attire. Inappropriately dressed players or officials will not be permitted into the ballroom.
Playing Equipment
WESPA will be responsible for providing the playing equipment required for the entire championship (Scrabble boards, clocks, racks, tiles, bags and other accessories).
Event Location
Official venue for the WESPA Summit Cup, 2026.
Corinthia Hotel,
St George’s Bay, Malta.
Visas
WESPA will be readily available to provide necessary assistance and information to players to ensure procurement of visas to Malta.
Visa required nationals needing invitation letter should send a request to WESPA via info@wespa.org. Players are advised to send in visa application 2-3 months in advance.
Accommodation (Discounted)
Discounted accommodation is available at the Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay for stays from 28 November to 9 December 2026.
- Single Occupancy: EUR90 per night
- Double Occupancy: EUR110 per night
Use "WESPA" promo code when making reservation or click on the button below.
Summit Cup 2026 Qualifying Leaderboard
The following players are currently leading the WESPA Summit Cup 2026 qualifying standings.
Join players from around the world at the WESPA Open Championship 2026.
Limited time to secure your place.
Frequently asked Questions
Start here for quick answers about the WESPA Summit Cup. For more information, please contact the organizers.
info@wespa.org