Selection Information
Overview:
The WCF has three GC world championships scheduled for late 2024 and early 2025, two of which are slated to be held in the USA:
- 2024 WCF GC World Championship
- 2025 WCF GC World Team Championship Tier 1, February 17-23 at Launceston, Tasmania
- 2025 WCF Under-21 GC World Championship (date TBC, Feb/Mar)
Selection criteria:
Players must have an active World Ranking (at least 10 ranking games in the prior 12 months) on the Allocation Date (for an individual world championship) or other deadline set by the USCA (for a team event). A player without an active ranking on that date will not be eligible to receive a Membership place or selection to a team event. However, a player whose ranking becomes active after that date but before the event’s Cut-off Date may still be eligible for a replacement ranking place or Qualifying place.
The USCA GC Selection Committee gives the most weight to recent performances in major events, particularly in matches against highly-ranked opponents. The 2023 and 2024 national championships will be key selection events for the 2024 GCWC and 2025 GCWTC. So will the 2024 GC Eights, as the timetable allows.
Selection timetable:
The exact selection timetable depends on the WCF, but for an individual world championship the Allocation Date is usually 5 to 7 months before the start of the event, and the Closing Date by which the USCA and other national associations must nominate their Membership places is about a month later. So for the 2024 GCWC, the first cut of Ranking places may be as early as March, and the Closing date as early as April.
For an overseas team championship the USCA generally selects the team 8-9 months ahead of the event. For the 2025 GCWTC we will wait until after the GC Eights (April 10-14, Sarasota CCC) before making selections.
Qualifying tournaments and extra Membership places:
The country hosting an individual world championship is given extra Membership places. The main world championships also reserve at least 4 places for top finishers in a Qualifying Tournament. So the 2024 GCWC and 2025 U21GCWC are excellent opportunities for eligible players.
For more information:
Contact Jeff Soo, Chairman, USCA GC Selection Committee (jeff@ipsedixit.net)