Date:11/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/11/stories/2007011113320200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

War of words is round the corner

Special Correspondent

International scrabble tournament starts in Bangalore tomorrow

There will be participants from 12 countries

As many as 24 games, each of 50 minutes duration, will be held

Bangalore: This game needs a wide vocabulary and good spelling skills rather than muscle power, quick reflexes or agility.

The Karnataka State Scrabble Association, in partnership with iGATE Global Solutions, is organising the Third International Scrabble Tournament here from January 12 to 14.

It will be held at the tech company's corporate headquarters in Whitefield.

"Word Experts" from 12 countries, including India, will compete for the prize money that will be over Rs. 2 lakh.

Top players

Over 30 players from the U.K., Thailand, Australia, Nigeria and several South Asian and West Asian countries have confirmed their participation in the tournament. The top players will include Pakorn Nemitramansuk of Bangkok, ranked world number 2, and Helen Gipson, a Grand Master from the U.K.

As many as 32 Indian players have qualified for the international tournament after a gruelling "war of words" in the qualifying rounds held in Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

They and Varisht Hingorani, last year's champion, will match their word skills with scrabble players from across the globe. As many as 24 games, each of 50 minutes duration, will be held over three days. The word source will be the Official Scrabble Words International, the approved dictionary reference source for world scrabble championships. "The very fact that grandmasters of the game, including the world no. 2, are participating shows that this tournament is becoming popular in other countries and it promises to be an exciting and keenly contested event,'' says Rex D'Souza, president, Karnataka State Scrabble Association.

IGATE has been actively associated with competitive scrabble in India, starting with a National Open Tournament held in Bangalore in 2003, besides the two internationals held here in 2005 and 2006.

Mind sport

Scrabble is considered a "mind sport" that promotes logical thinking and analytical abilities.

The game was developed in the U.S. during the Great Depression of the 1930s and is now one of the most popular word games in the world. As a family game, it offers great relaxation to stressed-out people. It has over the years evolved into a highly competitive sport, now played all over the world. Time to brush up your spelling skills?