The Malta International Scrabble Open (MISO), held recently at the Qawra Palace Hotel, was a tale of three tournaments whose organisation and outcomes are united by a common thread.

Organised by the Malta Scrabble Club, with the support of the technical and tournament director John Chew and the assistance of SportMalta, Malta Tourism Authority and Intercomp, the champion of the three-day Main Event was none other than top seed and defending champion David Webb, of England.

His compatriot and near namesake, Alec Webb, claimed victory in the concluding two-day Supplement, where Leslie Charles, of Trinidad, the champion of the opening one-day Early Bird, was the runner-up.

These parallel fortunes were even more marked in Division B, where Ireland’s Eileen Meghen claimed the top prize both in the Main Event and Supplement, after placing second in the Early Bird.

Also from Ireland, Brid O’Brien was runner-up in the Main Event and Supplement.

For the rest, two Scotsmen, Simon Gillam and Vincent Boyle, were third in the Early Bird and Supplement respectively. Runner-up in the Main Event was Evan Cohen, of Israel. Jayne MacKenzie, of Northern Ireland, placed third in the Early Bird and Peter Thorpe, of England, was Division B champion in the Early Bird.

Some laurels went to the local participants as David Delicata made up for his narrow defeat in the National Championship at the hands of new champion Charles Micallef by placing third in the Main Event.

Josephine Mayo was third in the ‘B’ Supplement to give an international sheen to her title of Division B national champion, while Dominic Borg placed third in the Early Bird.

In all, there were 70 participants from 13 different countries taking part in the Open.