“This is my top thing to do,” said Steinke, the youngest competitor in the tournament. “I’ve always had a competitive spirit. This is a competitive game.”
Players — ages 10 to 80 — journeyed to Dayton from points across the United States, Canada, England, Thailand and Malaysia to attend what is considered the most prestigious SCRABBLE tournament in the world, said John D. Williams, executive director of the National SCRABBLE Association and a player of the game for more than 20 years.
Past tournaments have been in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and Atlanta. The tournament runs through Wednesday, with a grand prize award of $10,000.
The reigning champion, Nigel Richards of Malaysia, is defending his crown here in Dayton.
“People here represent the cream of the crop,” Williams said.
It’s a game that can be learned in minutes, but getting good can take a lifetime. Some call it a game of strategy or a game of math. For others, it’s all about a fascination with words or just plain fun.
Stephen Winston, 13, of North Salem, N.Y., was introduced to the game at age 4.
“My parents are word freaks,” Winston said. “When I first started playing, I could only spell three letter words — cat, fat. They were the only words I knew.”
Lois Greene, former director of the Dayton Convention Center who retired in July 2008, attended the tournament as a competitor this year. In 2007, she helped to bring another SCRABBLE event to Dayton called a Players Championship.
“I think it helped to have someone who actually played SCRABBLE that also was involved with the venue,” Greene said. “To have the national tournament here in Dayton is very exciting.”
Greene joined the Dayton SCRABBLE Club in 1997, but said she has enjoyed the game since childhood.
“They say reading, puzzles and word games keep your mind active,” Greene said. “I’m a game player, an avid reader. I like books and as I read I pick up words. They just pop out on the page.”
Dayton Convention Center Director Bart Shaw said the tournament should generate about $300,000 in economic impact in Dayton during a time of year that is usually slow for the convention industry.
Public admission is free, but there is limited access to competition areas. For more information visit the National SCRABBLE Players Association website: http://scrabbleplayers.org/.
The Dayton SCRABBLE Club is recruiting new members. The club meets at Panera Bread, 1203 Brown Street in Dayton, on Mondays at 5 p.m. and Saturdays at noon.
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