Iskandar Malaysia World Festival of Scrabble

17 November 2009

Three international scrabble tournaments will take place at The Zon Regency Hotel here between Nov 26 and Dec 10.

The Johor Government, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) and Mattel Inc will jointly host the tournaments.

State Tourism and Domestic Trade Committee chairman Hoo Seong Chang said the 10th World Scrabble Championship (WSC) would be the first event and was scheduled for Nov 26.

“This event is scrabble’s equivalent of football’s World Cup,” he said, adding that about 120 top players from around the world would vie for the coveted world-champion title.

Hoo said that Irda would sponsor RM105,000 for the tournaments.

He was speaking to reporters during a press conference at The Zon Shopping Mall here to announce the events.

A total of 27 games would be played during the four-day tournament, he added.

“Malaysia’s WSC representatives are A. Ganesh, Suanne Ong, Vannitha Balasingam, Henry Yeo, Alex Tan and Michael Tang,” he said.

The champion will wiin US$15,000 (RM50,510).

Hoo also said the Eighth Causeway Scrabble Challenge (World Scrabble Team Event) would be held from Dec 2 to 6.

“This year, there will be 50 top players from around the world participating in the Masters Division and over 150 players in the Open Division,” he said.

He said the Masters Division winner would receive US$20,000 (RM67,337) while the Open Division chammpion would get US$10,000 (RM33,680).

“Rounding up the series of scrabble competitions is the Fourth World Youth Scrabble Championship from Dec 8 to 10,” he said.

Eighty people were set to take part this year in this competition for players aged below 18 years, he said.

“These teenagers will be coming from various countries,” said Hoo, adding that Malaysia’s Suanne Ong from Penang was a top favourite to win the title.