From the Editor

Thanks so much to the many readers who greeted the first NASPA Tournament SCRABBLE Newsletter with such overwhelming support! And thanks, too, to all those who contribute to the Newsletter, especially Ted Gest, who coordinated all of the Nationals pieces; Robin Pollock Daniel, proofreader extraordinaire; and the ever-amazing Aaron Daly, who turns typed copy into an interactive adventure.

This issue of the Newsletter covers the first NASPA National SCRABBLE Championship, held in Dayton, OH August 1-5. You’ll find profiles of each of the division winners, plus Stefan Fatsis’s fascinating portrait of Division 1 runner-up Nigel Richards—an outtake from Word Freak [click the box marked "Bingo Lanes"].

There is also information for players interested in SCRABBLE travel — plus results from the 24th annual King’s Cup in Thailand, the world’s largest SCRABBLE tournament, and the Albany Fourth of July Tournament, perhaps the world’s most enjoyable tournament. Mike Baron, author of The SCRABBLE Wordbook, provides valuable SCRABBLE tips for newcomers, and expert player Mike Early describes his fulfilling experience mentoring a younger player.

Emails to the editor appear for the first time, and popular features such as The Tile Bag, The Wordsmith, and the Word Trivia Quiz return. Readers will find links to SCRABBLE resources, plus learn how to download annotated games onto cross-tables.com and follow the play of games already on the site.

Next month we take a look at benefit SCRABBLE tournaments, both rated and unrated, and explore ways SCRABBLE can be used to “give back.”

We continue to look to readers to submit club and member news, plus any SCRABBLE news stories. Also, if you have an idea for an article or would like to write a story, please contact me at CorneliaSGuest@gmail.com.

--Cornelia Guest

All contributors to the Newsletter are volunteers, so we encourage advertisers to support us. We also welcome donations! Write to CorneliaSGuest@gmail.com for details.