International tournaments on MSC calendar

May is the international month on Malta’s competitive scrabble calendar.

This year, the Malta Scrabble Club (MSC) has again teamed up with CentreStar to organise a two-act show of the game at its best, comprising the third European Open Scrabble Champion-ship between tomorrow and Monday, and the fourth Malta International Scrabble Open (May 13-15), with a total of 56 games to be played.

The two tournaments will take place at the Suncrest Hotel in Qawra and both will be streamed live on the internet. They are being sponsored by the Kunsill Malti għall-iSport, the Malta Tourism Authority, Vascas and Intercomp.

The field consists of over 70 players, hailing from 12 different countries.

Englishman Mikki Nicholson, ranked sixth in the world, is favourite to win both titles.

However, a number of other contenders, including Nigerian master Chinedu Okwelogu, Maltese ace Theresa Brousson, newly-crowned national champion for the sixth time in a row, and Scotswoman Helen Gipson will be battling hard to top the rankings.

David Delicata, runner-up national champion, will be looking to take home a strong performance ahead of this year’s World Championships.

Motivation will not be lacking also for Nicky Vella Laurenti, who pulled off third place in this year’s Tetley National League.

The winning trio of the second division, made up of champion Mario Seychell, runner-up Frans Farrugia and third-placed Josep-hine Mayo, and that of the third division, with Marlene Calleja, Carmen Stafrace and Laura Borg, will also be trying to shine on the international stage.