The ABSP welcomes players of all levels of ability and our tournaments are structured with several divisions to avoid the inexperienced having to face the experts. We commemorate the best rating improvement each year with a Most Improved Player plaque, and the UK's Highest Rated Player trophy is also awarded at the end of every year. Those who reach the very highest levels can also earn the lifetime award of Expert or Grandmaster titles through consistently
high rating performance over a period of time.
Originally, each player's annual January 1st rating counted towards titles qualification. However, following a change to the rating system, we now register the unweighted rating for all games played during the calendar year. Players must play at least 30 games during the year to have a rating registered for titles purposes. Expert status can be gained in any of the following
ways:
- Three 180+ ratings in a five year period
- Five 170+ ratings in a five year period
- A five year average of 175+
Grandmaster status is gained in a similar way, but with levels 10 points higher:
- Three 190+ ratings in a five year period
- Five 180+ ratings in a five year period
- A five year average of 185+
At the start of 2008, Femi Awowade and Ed Martin achieved Grandmaster status. Expert titles were awarded to
Gary Oliver, Adam Philpotts and Jared Robinson.
The annual unweighted ratings data shows the ratings
registered for Titles purposes.
The Most Improved Player award is given to the player who has a full rating at the start of the calendar year, plays at least 30 games throughout that year and improves their rating the most.
There is also an award given to the Highest Rated Player on January 1st of each year, provided that they have played at least 30 games during the previous year.
Grandmaster status has been awarded to:
- David Acton
- Paul Allan
- Phil Appleby
- Femi Awowade
- Russell Byers
- Andrew Cook
- Andrew Davis
- Di Dennis
- Pete Finley (RIP 2006)
- Andrew Fisher
- Helen Gipson
- John Grayson
- Stewart Holden
- Terry Kirk
- Harshan Lamabadusuriya
- Ed Martin
- Philip Nelkon
- Mark Nyman
- Andrew Perry
- Allan Saldanha
- Neil Scott
- Allan Simmons
- Evan Simpson
- Brett Smitheram
- Clive Spate
- Brian Sugar
- David Webb
- Gareth Williams
Expert status has been awarded to: (click name for Scrabble Wiki article):
- Nick Ball
- Craig Beevers
- Joyce Cansfield
- Elie Dangoor
- Penny Downer
- Richard Evans
- Martin Fowkes
- Darryl Francis
- Simon Gillam
- Helen Grayson
- Dick Green
- Barry Grossman
- George Gruner
- Ash Haji
- Chris Hawkins
- Wayne Kelly
- Karl Khoshnaw (RIP 2006)
- Lewis Mackay
- Jackie McLeod
- Hartley Moorhouse
- Ruth Morgan-Thomas
- Gary Oliver
- Adam Philpotts
- Gary Polhill
- Diane Pratesi
- Robert Richland
- Jared Robinson
- Andrew Roughton
- Austin Shin
- Sandie Simonis
- Noel Turner
- Bob Violett
- Alec Webb
- Mike Willis
The Most Improved Player award is a large trophy engraved with plaques containing
the names of all previous winners. Each year's winner and improvement :
- 2007 +24 Calum Edwards
- 2006 +26 Rael Hayman
- 2005 +36 Jason Goddard
- 2004 +42 Graham Bonham
- 2003 +31 Chrystal Rose
- 2002 +27 Heather Burnet
- 2001 +33 Peter Ashurst
- 2000 +19 David Shenkin
- 1999 +25 Helen Polhill
- 1998 +25 Christina French
- 1997 +27 Kate Surtees
- 1996 +23 Chris Finlay
- 1995 +26 Rob Dowse
- 1994 +34 Trevor Bently
- 1993 +26 Karl Khoshnaw and Ruth Rose
- 1992 +36 Mary Broadhead
- 1991 +40 Ray Wells
- 1990 +22 Ken Heaton
- 1989 +28 Maureen Rayson
The Highest Rated Player trophy is awarded annually to the player with the highest ABSP rating at the end of that calendar year. The winners (rating in brackets):
- 2007 (199) Lewis Mackay
- 2006 (202) Brett Smitheram
- 2005 (201) Harshan Lamabadusuriya
- 2004 (203) Adam Logan
- 2003 (200) Phil Appleby
- 2002 (205) Mark Nyman
- 2001 (206) David Webb
- 2000 (200) Brett Smitheram and David Webb
- 1999 (198) Mark Nyman and Brett Smitheram
- 1998 (202) Andrew Fisher
- 1997 (201) Phil Appleby
- 1996 (205) Allan Saldanha
- 1995 (199) Clive Spate
- 1994 (199) Clive Spate
- 1993 (201) Andrew Fisher
- 1992 (202) Russell Byers
- 1991 (196) Clive Spate
- 1990 (200) Pete Finley
- 1989 (198) Allan Simmons
- 1988 (198) Phil Appleby and Mark Nyman
- 1987 (202) Allan Simmons
Most Rated Games
- 2007 Mike Whiteoak (450 games)
- 2006 Mike Whiteoak (410 games)
- 2005 Maureen Rayson (259 games)
Only ABSP members can win the ABSP trophies for Most Improved Player and Highest Rated Player.
