World’s top Scrabble seniors to play in Christchurch

World’s top Scrabble seniors to play in Christchurch

Big-time Scrabble is coming to New Zealand. From November 18 to 23, Christchurch will host the 5th World Seniors Championship plus a warm-up event.

Around 100 players from 12 different countries have entered. They include international stars such as the Philippines’ Odette Carmina Rio, long considered the best female player in the world; Englishman Femi Awowade; and Mohammad Sulaiman, who has represented both Canada and UAE.

The field will include five former winners of the biennial Trans-Tasman Challenge between the top Australian and New Zealand players. One of them is Wellington’s Howard Warner, who is also a two-time World Seniors champion.

First up is an ‘early bird’ event – 14 games over two days – open to players of all ages. This will be followed by the 24-game main event, over three days.

It will be the first time New Zealand has hosted a full international Scrabble tournament. Both events will be held at the Christchurch Bridge Club, in Nova Place, central Christchurch. The public is welcome to drop by – to absorb some of the atmosphere and see how the game is played at the highest level.

Legend Richards headlines World Champs
In the week before the World Seniors Champs, seven New Zealanders will be competing in the full World Scrabble Championship, in Nairobi, Kenya. They include current world No. 1 Nigel Richards, originally from Christchurch but now resident in Kuala Lumpur. Richards, a three-time World Champion as well as a two-time winner of the French World Scrabble Championship, is widely regarded as the greatest competitive Scrabbler of all time.

Also competing in Kenya will be current New Zealand national champion Joanne Craig, a Kiwi who lives in Sydney; and Warner, competing in his 10th World Championship in a row. The line-up is completed by Lawson Sue, Anderina McLean and Valerie Mills of Auckland; and Murray Rogers of Motueka.

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