Fun and games until someone loses an ‘i’
The winners of the 2023 Cork Scrabble Tournament might just celebrate with a night out on the 'tiles' this weekend.
A record number of 49 players turned up from Ireland and beyond to this year’s event which took place at The Address Hotel last Saturday and Sunday.
The event saw several top-rated players competing not only for the top tournament prizes, but also for selection onto the Irish national team, which will be going on to represent the country at the World Scrabble Championships in Las Vegas this coming June.
Hosted by Cork Scrabble Club, the tournament attracted visitors from Great Britain and Germany, as well as players from many parts of Ireland.
Unfortunately, none of the Cork players were amongst the winners, however, Mallow player Ber McInerny put in a good word (or 2) for Leeside and shocked the room by beating one of the very top-rated players.
At the prize-giving ceremony a special award was given to Finbarr Long, who has recently stepped down after many years as organiser of the Cork tournament, as well as being one of the founders of the Cork Scrabble Club and a stalwart supporter of competitive Scrabble in Ireland.
Participants played 14 games over the 2 days, with cash prizes for winners in each of 2 divisions.
The advanced players were placed in the Group A, while less experienced and novice players were in Group B, thus giving all players a chance to succeed, as well as giving newcomers an opportunity to try tournament-level Scrabble, in some cases for their first time.
The Group A winners were Andy Goodwin in 3rd, Liam Donnelly in 2nd, and Lukeman Owolabi in 1st. In Group B, the winners were John Winick in 3rd, Aileesh Harpur in 2nd, and Eoin Jackson finished in 1st.
The best performing new player was Nadine Carroll, who won 7 of her 14 games at her very first tournament.
Typically, 4 to 5 weekend-long scrabble tournaments are held in Ireland each year. These include long-established and well-attended annual meetings in Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Dunmore East, Waterford, and Wexford.
Tournaments are normally hosted and organised by local clubs with support and coordination from the All-Ireland Scrabble Association (AISA), an umbrella body for Scrabble clubs in the Republic and in Northern Ireland.
The Cork Scrabble Club has been in existence for almost 30 years and currently meets on the first Monday of each month at Cork City Library on Grand Parade, and 3 Thursdays per month at Glanmire Library in Riverstown.