May is the international month on Malta’s competitive Scrabble calendar.

This year the Malta Scrabble Club has again teamed up with CentreStar to organise a two-act show of Scrabble at its best, comprising the third European Open Scrabble Championship (6 to 9 May) and the 4th Malta International Scrabble Open (from 13 to 15 May), with a total of 56 games to be played over seven days.

The two tournaments will take place at the Seashells Suncrest Hotel in Qawra and will both be streamed live on the internet. They are being sponsored by the Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport, the Malta Tourism Authority, Vascas Jewellers and Intercomp.

The field consists of over 70 players hailing from 12 different countries.

The Englishman Mikki Nicholson, ranked 6th in the world, is the favourite on paper to win both titles. However, a number of other contestants, including the Nigerian master Chinedu Okwelogu, Maltese ace Theresa Brousson, newly crowned national champion for the sixth time in a row, and the wily Scotswoman Helen Gipson, will be battling hard to top the final rankings.

David Delicata, runner-up national champion, will be looking to take home a strong performance ahead of this year’s World Scrabble Championships.

Motivation will not be lacking also for Nicky Vella Laurenti, who pulled off third place in this year’s Tetley National League.

The winning trio of the second division, made up of champion Mario Seychell, runner-up Frans Farrugia and third-placed Josephine Mayo, and that of the third division, with Marlene Calleja, Carmen Stafrace and Laura Borg, will also be trying to shine on the international stage.

More information can be found on the Club’s website www.scrabblemalta.com