Wordsmiths square off at Scrabble Challenge

These half dozen words were among hundreds played Saturday afternoon during the 3rd Annual Scrabble Challenge. Held at the Traverse Area District Library and sponsored by the library's Friends group, the fundraiser for the Grand Traverse Area Literacy Council drew 24 players.

Pitting their wits and luck against each other, players vied for the top cumulative score over three games. Brian Kelley of Traverse City racked up 600 points to top the heap and take home a $500 gift certificate from Federico's Design Jewelers.

"Luck, lots of luck," said Kelley of his secret to winning, noting that two very good games followed his first mediocre one. "The key is luck and a little bit of vocabulary, I guess."

Kelley started playing Scrabble at a young age, absorbing the rules and strategies while facing off with his grandma, parents and sister.

The Scrabble Challenge is held every other year as a modest fundraiser for the Literacy Council.

The first event was held during the National Cherry Festival and drew 50 players to the Traverse City Senior Center. Two years ago only a dozen turned up at the Knights of Columbus Hall venue so organizers were pleased that this year's library setting boosted attendance.

"Even though we don't make a lot of money, it's good visibility on both of our parts," said Ruth Bay, co-chair of the event with Katy Thornton and Denise Everett.

The Scrabble Challenge featured three, 20-minute rounds with ten-minute breaks in between. A moderator announces seven-, five- and two-minute warnings; this year Ron Jolly filled the bill. Players were grouped at tables of four with one table sporting just two players.

"We're all trying to be quick seems to be to everyone's advantage to play quicker so we can get more points," said Kelley. "But we're all in it for fun and we go around the table and no one really seems serious they're aren't any guns drawn or any fights."

No fights, but some challenges did crop up here and there. When a player disputed an opponent's word, Bill Engle judge for the day consulted "The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, 4th Edition" before making a ruling.

One challenge negated Hilda Charles' play of "quiter." Charles, a Scrabble veteran playing in the annual Challenge for the third time, was philosophical about the ruling after trying out what she hoped was a word. She knew the point was to play the letters drawn somehow.

"It depends on the letters, you sometimes get a lot of vowels or a lot of consonants sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't," she said. "You have to remember your rules, your English rules."

Dorothy Vogel of Traverse City was also playing in her third Challenge and is a regular Scrabble player at the monthly gathering at Horizon Books. While high scores are possible with four players, that number also lowers the availability of bonus squares that double or triple a word or letter's scoring.

"It's satisfying when you can play on one of the special squares if they're still open when it's your turn," she said.

For more information about the Grand Traverse Area Literacy Council, call 922-4574 or see www.gtalc.org.

Photos

Dorothy Vogel of Traverse City makes her move during a game Saturday afternoon at the 3rd Annual Scrabble Challenge. Held at the Traverse Area District Library and drawing 24 players, the librarys Friends group sponsored the event as a fundraiser for the Grand Traverse Area Literacy Council. Special to the Grand Traverse Herald