If you know that zloty and zaire are acceptable words in Scrabble (and even if you don't), you might consider entering a Scrabble tournament in Sechelt on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. at Capilano College with games starting at 10. Entry fees (cash only) are $10 for singles (experienced or novice) and $30 for three-person teams. Each player or team will play at least three games, and all the entry fees will be distributed as prizes. Contestants should bring their own Scrabble games (and the Official Scrabble Players' Dictionary, Third Edition, if they have one).
"There will not be a Scrabble for Literacy fund-raising tournament on the Coast this year, although there may be one in 2005," said organizer Vern Giesbrecht. "The Nov. 20 tournament will provide a chance for Scrabble enthusiasts to compete at the level they choose and possibly take home some of the prize money."
Two teams that have played in previous Scrabble for Literacy tournaments have already announced their intentions of playing: The Mooseketeers (they'll sport new costumes, according to Dorothy Parsons) and Good to Go. Several single players have also pre-registered. For the first time, there will be a separate category for novice players, those who love to play but feel hesitant about competing against more experienced players.
Giesbrecht stressed that potential competitors should contact him at 604-886-7226 before the tournament date. "To run the tournament efficiently, I need to know ahead of time who's going to play, so I can assign players to the proper category and make the draw in advance," he said.
Last fall's Scrabble for Literacy raised $1,000 for literacy projects at Capilano College and Sechelt Public Library. Entry fees for this tournament are considerably lower because it is not a fund-raising venture. The value of prizes for the winners will depend on the number of entrants.
Incidentally, zloty and zaire are currencies in Poland and Zaire, respectively.
