From the very beginning in late 2019, when we first set out to establish the Collins Coalition as a legitimate Scrabble players' association, we had lofty ambitions. We wanted to move Scrabble toward a better future - and that future was built on big tournaments, with big prestige and big prize money, where Collins play took center stage. That's what we've wanted from day one.

And in 2023, we're taking big steps to make that vision a reality.

Today, we're excited to announce the inaugural North American Collins Championship (NACC), brought to you by the CoCo. This 4-day event will take place between Nov. 10 and Nov. 13 in downtown Seattle, Washington, and it will be the premier Collins-only championship Scrabble event in North America in 2023. All players are invited to join us over Veterans Day weekend and compete for the title of North American Collins Champion.

Here's the lowdown on this new flagship CoCo event:

• This event will be directed by Evans Clinchy, Jennifer Clinchy, David Whitley, and Becky Dyer.

• The tournament will feature two divisions, with a rating cutoff of 1600. All players with a peak rating of 1600 or higher between Oct. 31, 2022 and Oct. 31, 2023 must play in Division 1; all others will have the option to compete in Division 2 instead.

• This event will consist of 24 preliminary rounds - 8 each day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. At the end of 24 rounds, the top 4 players in each division will advance to a "Final Four" single elimination playoff. The Final Four will take place on Monday and will feature best-of-3 semifinal matches followed by a best-of-3 final match for the championship.

• For players who fall short of qualifying for the Final Four, an optional "Afterword" event will take place on Monday. This 6-game tournament is free to enter for all players who compete in the Main Event.

• Generous place and performance prizes will be awarded for both divisions.

• Capacity for this event will be limited to 90 players. 

We're delighted to host this event at the Crowne Plaza Seattle-Downtown, an IHG Hotel. We conducted an extensive search in late 2022 to find a tournament venue that was an attractive destination for travelers, both domestically and internationally, while also being convenient and affordable for our player base. We're thrilled to have found the Crowne Plaza, which is located in the heart of downtown Seattle, just a stone's throw from tourist attractions like the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. It's also easily accessible via public transit.

On behalf of the whole CoCo team, I can't tell you how excited we are to kick off the first-ever NACC. Our organization has always striven to promote Collins play at the highest level, and this - a truly Collins-only major championship - is the moment we've all been waiting for.

This tournament is officially open for registration now. So head over to the NACC event page, check out all the details for yourself and, if you're so inclined, sign up today! This is your chance to become the first North American Collins Champion.