World champion in word duel at scrabble contest

Nigel Richards, the scrabble world champion and a ten-time winner of King’s Cup, took part in the 10th edition of the four-day international scrabble tournament here on Friday. 

Over 100 players from across the world are competing with one another to book their spot in the top list of the mind game, putting to best use their logical and analytical abilities. 

More than 40 international players from over 17 countries have been vying with each other for the top spot and the total prize money of Rs nine lakh. 

This edition has drawn players from the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Nigeria, and West Asia. Richards is a New Zealander. 

The game has been scheduled into three divisions — Premier, Open and Newbie — in a gruelling 35-game competition. Finals will be held on January 12, along with inter-corporate and inter-collegiate versions of the scrabble contest. 

IT firm iGATE Corporation is hosting the tournament at its Bangalore campus, in association with the Karnataka State Scrabble Association. 

Developed in the US during the Great Depression in 1930s, scrabble is now one of the world’s most popular board games. 

This family game is believed to be a relaxant for stressed out people and has over the years evolved into a highly competitive mind sport event played all over the world.