Providence, R.I. -- Jim Geary was down by 20 points with seven
letters left to play Monday, the second day of the National Scrabble
Tournament.
He formed the word "zerk," (a grease fitting), using a letter on the
board, leaving him with A, O, G, S, and an opponent certain of victory.
But then [right!] Geary saw his opening. He added his letters to "bi" to
spell "biogas" (fuel from organic waste), and triumphed by 10 points.
About 600 competitors from around the world are vying for prestige and
prizes of up to $25,000 at the Scrabble tournament, held every other year
since 1978. The National Scrabble Association chose Providence this
year because of its proximity to the headquarters of teh game's maker,
Hasbro Inc., in Pawtucket.
"I came in really tired and I played these two really exciting games and
now I'm all wired," Geary said. "It's like a drug when you're really thinking
hard."
The tournament is broken down to 31 50-minute matches, in six different
skill divisions, with no elimination. At the end of five days, whoever has
won by the largest cumulative point spreads wins their division [not exactly].
Technicians at six computers keep track of the standings, and a
Scrabble Association reporter posts results and commentary on the Internet
for the game aficionados unable to make the tournament.
On Monday, the massive Rhode Island Convention Center ballroom was
quiet except for the clicking of tiny plastic tiles on gameboards.
Unlike the standard wooden tiles of the retail game, the letters
printed on the tournament game pieces are flush with the chit, so less scrupulous
players cannot resort to "brailing" [sic] or feeling in the bag for a blank
wildcard.
The silence was periodically broken by a competitor shouting
"challenge," which sent judges like Marsha Peshkin scurrying, with
Official Tournament and Club Word List books in hand.
"It's a lot easier from this side when you're standing looking at the
racks than when you're sitting there and it's your turn," said Peshkin, of
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., who was judging for the first time after eight
years of competition.
Peshkin said this year's tournament attracted about 200 more people
than the last, a change she attributes mainly to the burgeoning popularity of
the game on the Internet and the success of a program promoting Scrabble as
a learning tool in schools.
Last Modified 8/24/00
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