Schedule

Saturday April 26

• 8:30 am  Players Check-in (Lobby, 1st flr)

• 9:00 am  Opening Remarks (Auditorium, 1st flr)

• 9:30 am  Players Arrive (4th flr)

• 9:45 am  Players Play 3 Rounds (ends approximately 1pm)

• 10:45 am Parent/Coach special programming, see below

• 1:00 pm  Lunch (on your own)

• 2:15 pm  Players Arrive (4th flr)

• 2:20 pm  Players Play 2 Rounds (ends approximately 5pm)

• 3:20 pm Parent/Coach special programming, see below

• 4:30 pm  High School Only: Play 1 Extra Round

Sunday April 27

• 8:30 am  Planet Word opens

• 8:45 am  Players Arrive (4th flr)

• 8:50 am  Players Play 3 Rounds (ends approximately 12pm)

• 10:00 am Parent/Coach special programming, see below

• 12:00 pm  Lunch (on your own)

• 12:00 pm  High School Only: Play 1 Extra Round, then lunch on your own

• 1:15 pm  Elementary/Middle Final (Watch in Auditorium, 1st flr)

• 2:30 pm  High School Final (Watch in Auditorium, 1st flr)

• 3:30 pm  Awards Ceremony (Auditorium, 1st flr)

Special Programming

While students are competing, parents, coaches, and guests are invited to enjoy a series of engaging presentations from some of the most fascinating minds in language, competition, and wordplay. 

Saturday — 10:45 a.m.

"A Century of Wordplay: Word Games and Competitions from 1925 to 2025"

Ben Zimmer — Auditorium (1st flr)

One hundred years ago, language lovers started playing with words in new ways. In 1925, the crossword craze hit its peak, as bookstores struggled to keep up with the demand for dictionaries and thesauruses from puzzle solvers. That same year, the first national spelling bee was held in Washington D.C., with students competing over mastery of the dictionary. Ever since, word-based pastimes from Scrabble to Wordle have turned the lexicon into a source of fun and competition.

Ben Zimmer is a linguist, lexicographer, and all-around word nut. He has served as a language columnist for the New York Times Magazine, Boston Globe, and Wall Street Journal. He is the recipient of the inaugural Linguistics Journalism Award from the Linguistic Society of America. As chair of the New Words Committee for the American Dialect Society, he oversees the society’s Word of the Year proceedings. He also serves as the first-ever Vocabulary Judge for the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Saturday — 3:20 p.m.

"The Scrabble Dictionary — and Other Dictionaries"

Stefan Fatsis in conversation with Ben Zimmer — Auditorium (1st flr)

In 1978, Merriam-Webster published the first edition of the Official Scrabble Players Dictionary—a collection of nearly 100,000 words to standardize tournament play and settle disputes at home. Debate over what words should be playable in the game hasn’t stopped since. Word Freak author Stefan Fatsis talks with Ben Zimmer about the controversial half-century of Scrabble lexicons and the broader subculture of the dictionary.

Stefan Fatsis is the author of the New York Times bestseller Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players. His new book, Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat to) the Modern Dictionary, will be published in October by Grove Atlantic. Stefan is also the author of A Few Seconds of Panic (about life in the NFL) and Wild and Outside (about minor league baseball). In a four-decade journalism career, he has written and talked for The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Slate, and many other outlets.

Copies of Word Freak will be available for purchase in the Planet Word gift shop. Stefan will be happy to sign books after the talk.

Sunday — 10:00 a.m.

"How to Play Scrabble Like a Pro"

Scott Appel & Eric Goldstein — Classroom A (2nd flr)

Think you’re good at Scrabble because you scored 300 points and crushed your cousin over winter break? Time for a reality check. Competitive Scrabble is fast, strategic, and unforgiving — more like chess or poker than a cozy family game.

In this interactive workshop, two of North America’s top players, Scott Appel and Eric Goldstein, will share tips, tricks, and tactics that can elevate your game instantly. From tile-tracking and rack-balancing to board vision and endgame strategy, you’ll get a crash course in what it takes to think like a Scrabble champ. Bring your curiosity — and maybe a notebook.

Event Format

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dates for the 2025 North American School Scrabble Championship?

April 26-27, 2025.

Where will the tournament take place?

The tournament will be held at Planet Word in Washington, D.C. The museum is located at 925 13th Street NW. Please plan to enter through the courtyard entrance located on K Street between 12th and 13th Streets NW. Please refer to the online map if you are not familiar with the area.

How do I register to play in the tournament?

Please fill out the appropriate registration form:  Elementary/Middle Registration Form  or, High School Registration Form  Please also fill out the media release form and send to info@letsplayscrabble.com

Where can I find the latest schedule?

Please check the schedule above for timing and updates. Please keep the start and end times in mind when making your travel plans.

Do I need to register in order to participate?

Yes, registration is required for all tournament players. See above for registration forms.

Who is eligible to participate?

The tournament is open to students in grades 3 through 12 competing in two divisions.

• Elementary/Middle School Division (grades 3-8): Players will compete in teams of two. The top two finishers will play a one-game championship final.

• High School Division (grades 9-12): One-on-one play. The top two finishers will play a one-game championship final.

Is there an entry fee to participate in the tournament?

Yes, there is an entry fee of $100 per team for the Elementary/Middle Division and $50 per player for the High School Division. You can make your payment on our payment website.

Is there a limit on the number of participants?

Due to space limitations, the event will be limited to around 100 participants. Therefore, early registration is encouraged.

What is the word source for the tournament?

The lexicon for the event is The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary Seventh Edition (2023) published by Merriam Webster Inc. 

Will my travel expenses be covered?

No, all players and families are responsible for their own travel-related costs.

Do I need a ticket to visit the Planet Word exhibits during the tournament?

Yes. Visitors need a timed pass to tour the exhibits. You can reserve a pass in advance. Also, the museum will provide walkup passes for parents and other tournament guests after check-in on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Players will receive passes to visit the exhibits during lunch on Saturday.

Will the tournament be available to watch online?

Yes. One game per round will be livestreamed. Some of the livestreamed games will be shown in the Friedman Family Auditorium for family and friends of the competitors. Scoreboard, standings, pairings, and other information will be updated during the event.

Are spectators permitted in the playing room?

No. The tournament will be held in the Mansard Room on the fourth floor. The playing room will be open to competitors and staff only. Parents, coaches, and other guests are welcome to gather in the Friedman Family Auditorium on the first floor to watch the livestream. There also will be a welcome area with Scrabble boards and tournament information in Classroom A on the second floor.

During the short breaks between games, players can meet with friends and family in the auditorium or on the rooftop terrace adjacent to the Mansard Room. We do ask that anyone on the terrace or entering and exiting the fourth-floor elevators please be respectful of games in progress and keep their voices down.

Who do I contact with additional questions?

Please email questions to info@letsplayscrabble.com or call/text: 315-481-8541

Hasbro, Scrabble, the associated logo, the design of the associated Scrabble brand game board, and the distinctive letter tile designs are trademarks of Hasbro in the US and Canada. © 2025 Hasbro. TM & ® denote U.S. Trademarks.