Scrabble players compete in world champs

The three South Africans who competed in the Scrabble World Championship in Goa, India, are Harry Wiggins, Jarrod Page and Howard Rayner.

Gardens resident Jarrod Page, 31, recently returned home from the Scrabble World Championship in Goa, India.

Mr Page, who formerly played Scrabble at a Pinelands Scrabble club, represented South Africa alongside Howard Rayner, from Johannesburg, and Harry Wiggens, from Pretoria, in the tournament from Wednesday October 16 to Sunday October 20.

Team South Africa found the going tough and finished 24 out of 31 countries, with Nigeria finishing as the strongest team in the competition, while Nigel Stevens, from New Zealand, won the singles-title event.

Mr Page said they had competed for five days straight, and fatigue had set in.

“It’s great representing South Africa, and I have a lot of great relationships with a lot of the players while being in a very competitive environment.”

Mr Page said Africa had put in a strong showing at the tournament with teams from Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone.

Mr Page started playing Scrabble in 1998.

He participated in the Causeway Scrabble Tournament in Malaysia in 2011; a world championship in Perth, Australia in 2015, and the African championship in Cape Town in the same year.

Those wanting to up their Scrabble game can find clubs in Pinelands, Thornton and Retreat or visit the International Scrabble Club at www.isc.ro

Mr Page works as an attorney.