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Word Cup 2025 – St. Louis, MO

Early Bird – August 1, 2025 | Main Event – August 2-6, 2025

Register for WOW
Register for CSW

Championship Play

Word Cup is a 31-game championship event co-sponsored by the Word Game Players’ Organization and the Collins Coalition. Competition space and lodging are located at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel.

Event Dates

  • Early Bird – Friday, August 1st, 2025 (5 games)
  • Main Event – Saturday, August 2nd-Wednesday, August 6th (31 games)

Special Features

  • $40,000 from the Carter Chapman Shreve Family Foundation will be added to the prize pool
  • Social activities will be provided, such as a reception, tours of St. Louis, hosted dinners, a trivia contest, etc.

Entry Fees

  • Early Bird (5 games): $30
  • Main Event (31 games): $175 through July 8, 2025, $225 thereafter
  • Youth (under 18): $15 Early Bird, $85 Main Event
  • Free Word Cup 2025 t-shirt will be provided to those who have registered and paid by June 1, 2025
  • Pay through PayPal, Venmo, Square, or check
  • (Square accepts payments using Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, CashApp, JCB, ApplePay, or GooglePay)
  • Mail checks to: WGPO c/o Jan Cardia / 92 Sweet Pine Trail / Ponte Vedra, FL 32081
  • Tournament registration deadline is July 25, 2025
  • Deadline exceptions may be made to even out a division
  • Full refund will be provided through July 30, 2025

Lexicons

Learn about the differences between the lexicons here.

I’m Ready to Sign Up

I’m Not Quite Ready

To be added to the “tentative” list, please email us at wordcup2025@wordgameplayers.org.

Volunteering

It takes a Scrabble village to put on a Scrabble tournament! If you have any free time before/after/during the event, your 1-2 hours of service would be deeply appreciated! As a bonus, you will be exempt from Commuter Fees, if owed. Volunteer HERE.

T-shirts

Players who register and pay by June 1st will receive a free Word Cup 2025 commemorative t-shirt! You can choose your size preference on the registration form. A small number of t-shirts will be available for purchase at the tournament.

Newbies

Players who are new to competitive Scrabble are welcome, but they are highly encouraged to first participate in a smaller tournament. This is to make sure you understand the rules and appreciate the stamina that will be required to play 31 games over the course of five days.

Daily Schedule

EARLY BIRD

Fri, 8/1 – Early Bird

  • 11:15AM-11:45AM – Registration and Setup
  • 11:45AM-12PM – Announcements
  • 12PM-5PM – Rounds 1-5

MAIN EVENT

Fri, 8/1 – Registration for Main Event

  • 12PM-9PM – Registration

Sat, 8/2 – Main Event Day 1

  • 7:45AM-8:30AM – Registration
  • 8:00AM-9:00AM – Setup
  • 9:00AM-9:10AM – Welcome, Orientation, Ground Rules
  • 9:10AM-12:10PM – Rounds 1-3
  • 12:10PM-2:00PM – Lunch
  • 2:00PM-6:00PM – Rounds 4-7
  • 8:00PM – Social Event TBD

Sun, 8/3 – Main Event Day 2

  • 8:00AM-9:00AM – Setup
  • 9:00AM-9:10AM – Announcements
  • 9:10AM-12:10PM – Rounds 8-10
  • 12:10PM-2:00PM – Lunch
  • 2:00PM-6:00PM – Rounds 11-14
  • 6:30PM – Reception
  • 8:00PM – Trivia

Mon, 8/4 – Main Event Day 3

  • 8:00AM-9:00AM – Setup
  • 9:00AM-9:10AM – Announcements
  • 9:10AM-12:10PM – Rounds 15-17
  • 12:10PM-2:00PM – Lunch
  • 2:00PM-6:00PM – Rounds 18-21
  • 8:00PM – Social Event TBD

Tue, 8/5 – Main Event Day 4

  • 8:00AM-9AM – Setup
  • 9:00AM-9:10AM – Announcements
  • 9:10AM-12:10PM – Rounds 22-24
  • 12:10PM-2:00PM – Lunch
  • 2:00PM-6:00PM – Rounds 25-28
  • 8:00PM – Social Event TBD

Wed, 8/6 – Main Event Day 5

  • 8:00AM-9:00AM – Setup
  • 9:00AM-9:10AM – Announcements
  • 9:10AM-12:10PM – Rounds 29-31
  • 1:00PM-2:00PM – Awards Ceremony

Hotel

Location

St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
1820 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 231-1234

The hotel is located in a 100-year-old restored train station with a lobby that boasts a six-story, barrel-vaulted ceiling and beautiful architectural details. A heated outdoor pool is on the premises. It’s a 4-diamond AAA hotel with a 4/5 rating on Trip Advisor.

Cost

  • Starting at $150 per night + taxes
  • $40/night for self-park, $50/night for valet (and lower-cost parking available nearby)
  • Hotel registration deadline for the tournament rate is July 11, 2025
  • $50 Commuter Fee will be charged if not staying at the hotel (waived in exchange for a 1-2 hour slot of volunteer service)
  • Contact us to request help with finding a roommate

Features

Things to See and Do in St. Louis

How to Get From the Airport to the Hotel

  • Metro St. Louis – 7 minute walk, 30 minute train, 6 minute walk (total 43 minutes) – $2.50 each way
  • Taxi/Uber/Lyft – 20-40 minute drive – about $40 each way
  • rental car – 20-40 minute drive
Reserve Hotel Online

For phone reservations, call (314) 802-3446 and provide our code “WC25 “

Divisions

WOW

All players will be placed into divisions and seeded based on their peak rating for any WGPO tournament ending between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025. This includes both WOW and CSW events. For those who have not played a WGPO tournament during this time frame, their peak WGPO rating will be based on their current WGPO rating(s).

  • Division 1 (open to all players)
  • Division 2 (open to players with peak WGPO rating <1700)
  • Division 3 (open to players with peak WGPO rating <1450)
  • Division 4 (open to players with a peak WGPO rating <1200)

Directors may also consider ratings from other organizations for players without a WGPO rating in peak window or with significantly different ratings. Directors reserve the right to place a player into a more appropriate division due to ratings or parity considerations.

CSW

Click here to register for the 2025 Word Cup Collins Division.

COVID Info

No masks required; please don’t attend if you are exhibiting symptoms prior to event. Full refunds will be provided if cancelling due to illness.

Questions?