How to watch, who to watch out for and everything else you need to know.
What’s all this then?
It’s the sporting event of the weekend as some of New Zealand’s best Scrabblers go head-to-head over three days of intense competition in the most prestigious tournament on the NZ Scrabble calendar.
Where do we watch?
Right here! Or wherever you normally watch YouTube.
Streams start at 9.30am NZT each morning, and you can dip in and out during the day or watch back at your leisure. Not a Scrabble expert already? That’s OK – commentary from internationally renowned Scrabblers like Canada’s Josh Sokol and Australia’s Anand Bharadwaj will make you feel like one.
Who’s playing?
It’s a veritable who’s-who of New Zealand Scrabble personalities. Wellingtonian Dylan Early is back to defend the title he won last year, clinched with a mindblowing win over number one rated Wairarapan word wrangler (and 13-time Masters champion) Howard Warner. Other heavy hitters include Canadian expat Chris Tallman, whose tile shuffling speed has to be seen to be believed, and Lewis Hawkins of Christchurch, who holds the record for youngest Masters competitor, having made his debut in 2017 at the age of 12.
Anyone who watched the 2023 documentary Every Word Counts on The Spinoff will remember Lawson Su, whose collection of self-designed Scrabble T-shirts seems to grow with every tournament, and Laura Griffiths, who hasn’t stopped climbing the ratings since our cameras captured her winning the C grade at the 2023 Nationals. Spinoff readers may also recognise Nick Ascroft, who penned an excellent diary of a poet for the site last year.
What’s the format?
It’s a 23-game single round robin, meaning everybody plays everybody else once and whoever has the most wins at the end of it wins the Masters shield. If players are tied on wins, it’s decided by spread (total points scored minus total points scored against them by their opponents).
How do I play in the Masters?
Entry to the Masters is by invitation only, limited to the top 24 available rated players in the country. To become a rated Scrabble player you need to get a few tournament games under your belt. Pretty much every other tournament on the NZ Scrabble calendar is open to all comers, though it’s highly recommended you join a local club and learn the ropes there first.
Where can I watch more Scrabble?
LetsPlayScrabble is the best place to go to watch livestreamed games from other parts of the world, while Will Anderson is for my money the best Scrabble YouTuber. And while you’re at it, give Scrabble New Zealand a follow too.
