Previewing the CoCo's 2022 live tournament slate
These are uncertain times, both for Scrabble and for the world. Tournaments are slowly reopening, and as they do, players everywhere are trying to figure out where they'll play, when they'll play, and who they'll play with next. Meanwhile, make no mistake - a global pandemic continues on. Everything is fraught with risk. Everything is uncertain.
Cautiously, we at the CoCo are braving forward. Having all of our directors and players fully vaccinated is crucial (though these days, it brings no guarantees), and we're making sure players are taking other proper precautions as well. Live events are a challenge right now, but we're still going to do what we can to offer people chances to play the game they love.
With that said, 2021 was a successful year, all things considered. We reopened our doors in September, and we went on to hold four live tournaments. We welcomed in 36 different players, playing a total of 444 games.
And that's just the beginning.
We've got bigger and better plans for 2022.
So if you're looking at your calendar, trying to figure out when and where you want to play Scrabble next, I would very much encourage you to check out the upcoming events we have planned. Here's a rundown of what's confirmed so far, as well as a teaser of what might be coming soon...
Hood River, OR (Feb. 19-21). This was the first live CoCo tournament ever, and it's a personal favorite for myself and Jennifer. We ran the first Hood River Open back in 2018, and we're now gearing up for the fourth one. It's a great opportunity to gather 20 Scrabblers together in a cozy lodge in the mountains. Players enjoy copious food and drink, lots of after-hours fun, and one of the most competitive Scrabble fields that North America has to offer. We can't wait.
San Diego, CA (March 12-13). This weekend event, brought to you by first-time CoCo directors Puneet Sharma and David Whitley, should be a blast. It'll be held in the trendy Del Mar neighborhood - just minutes from the beach, yet also right in the middle of hustling and bustling San Diego. Puneet works in the area, and he's excited to host Scrabblers in his neck of the woods and show them around. If you're interested in a great tournament, plus the best tacos available this side of the Mexican border, plus several of the world's best craft breweries, I'd recommend coming.
Austin, TX (April 2-3). Two more new CoCo directors, Becky Dyer and James Curley, are local to the Austin area and are psyched to have the North American Collins community descend on their city in early April. This event is going to be held at a great venue, right in the heart of one of the coolest cities in America, and it's already shaping up to have a fantastic field. This is one you won't want to miss.
Boston, MA (April 23-24). I was born in Boston, and went to college at Tufts, just outside the city; in a few months' time, I'll be returning to my old stomping ground and hosting a Scrabble tournament on campus. Tufts is in a great location - there's a beautiful campus environment, but you're also just a few minutes from hopping on a train and enjoying downtown Boston. For players in the Northeast, or really anyone interested in visiting for the weekend, this should be a great event.
Madison, WI (June 4-5). Another new event from a first-time CoCo director! Peter Armstrong, who's originally from Madison, is excited to host a group of Collins players in his hometown this spring. His family has a beautiful lake house with a view of Lake Mendota, which is where he's holding this tournament in June. It should be a really enjoyable weekend.
Saint Louis, MO (June 25-26). This was one of our original CoCo events - we put it on the calendar way back in 2019, before the pandemic disrupted everything. Now, in 2022, it's actually happening. Randi "Dandi" Goldberg is poised to host Scrabblers in her neighborhood, which is in a really nice part of Saint Louis. I've visited before, loved it, and can't wait to go back. (Cool fact: Saint Louis is the chess capital of the world, and the tournament is very close to the city's chess club. You just might get to rub elbows with some of the world's top grandmasters.)
Those are the 6 tournaments we have on the calendar so far. And that's just the start! I can't share specific details just yet, but I can tell you we have plans in the works to sanction a host of other tournaments that should be exciting. We're working to set up shop in a few new cities (possibly New York, Washington D.C., and Minneapolis, plus a few others) as well as bring more events to our flagship locations that you know already (like Portland and Seattle). Plus, we're deep in discussions about a major championship event to take place this summer, and you just might hear an announcement soon. Stay tuned.
In short, it's an exciting time to be a Collins Scrabble player in North America. There's a whole world of opportunities opening up. So get excited! Get hyped. And also, you know, go get signed up to play a tournament.