Staff Writer
MORE than 40 Scrabble players from across the globe are spelling it out at the first international championships in Cape Town.
On Wednesday, it was very quiet during the round robin. The players took their time, deliberating over each tile, considering which one would score them the most points.
The tournament kicked off at the Cape Town Garden Court, off Nelson Mandela Boulevard.
Zubeida Brey, of Cape Town, had a bitter-sweet day. Even though she had lost five games and won two, she was very excited because “squirter” translated into 194 points.
The chairperson of Western Province and South African Scrabble, Gerald Davids, said they were extremely honoured to have seven of the world’s top 10 players participating in this event.
Davids said it was rare to have so many of top players competing at a championship.
SA Scrabble champion Dylan Early and reigning world champion Wellington Jighere, of Nigeria, and the number one and two top players in the world, Nigel Richards of Malaysia and Thailand’s Komol Panyasophenlert, are all taking part.
Jighere said it was his second time in Cape Town. He finished 18th at an African championship in 2014.
He says he is hoping to do much better. “I am hoping to have a bit more fun this time around,” he said.
The tournament ends on Sunday.