A collective Scrabble 'bingo'

In keeping with the penchant typical of local Scrabble players for an unhesitating stab at a bonus word, better known as bingo, the Malta Scrabblers Club has this time round bingoed in a collective sense.

The word played reads 'novelty', of which the points and dividends are yet to be entirely reaped and counted.

Novelty within the only local official Scrabble organisation has come in various ways and forms. Chief among these is the club's recent physical move to its new premises at the Malta Union Club, Sliema.

On the competitive front, a new, though not at all surprising phenomenon, is the growing ascendancy of Theresa Camilleri. She clinched victory in all of the four one-day tournaments so far this year.

Thanks to this excellent run, Camilleri has managed to dethrone champion David Delicata from the apex of the rankings. She will represent Malta in the forthcoming World Championships in lieu of Delicata. He was forced to forfeit the privilege he earned by virtue of a fifth National League title for personal reasons.

'Novelty' was the order of the day also in a totally unprecedented form of play launched in June - Interactive Team Scrabble.

The peculiar dynamic of play, which saw the three members of each team rotating around three different boards, added a new and genuine team spirit to what is usually a highly individualistic activity.

Finally, 'novelty' received its confirmation in July when this year's Summer League, sponsored by Island Beverages Company Ltd, got underway. The competition attracted 32 participants and comes to a close on September 23.

Preparations are already underway for another confirmation of the new, namely a repeat of last year's event in which the games of the final were shown live on screen via a CCTV system, courtesy of Alberta, at the Golden Tulip Vivaldi Hotel.