Thailand "dream team" one of the favorites at "World Cup of Scrabble"

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Thailand "dream team" one of the favorites at "World Cup of Scrabble"

 

File photo

 

Thailand is in with a strong chance to be named world champions in an unusual "sport" - Scrabble. 

 

This week a strong Thai team will be taking part in an international event in Penang, Malaysia that features many of the planet's best players of Scrabble, the world's most popular word game. 

 

The Alchemist Cup is the brainchild of Scrabble promoter and businessman Michael Tang. It is a team even featuring some of the foremost Scrabble playing nations and regions in the world. 

 

Thailand is rated fifth most likely to bring home the US 10,000 dolar first prize. 

 

The Thai team is made up of Panupol Sujjayakorn, Chollapat Itthiaree, Akkarapol Khwansak, Thacha Koowirat and Jakkrit Klaphajone.

 

Panupol stunned the Scrabble world in 2003 when he became world champion as a teenager. He was the first non-native English speaking winner since the competition began in 1991. Another Thai won in 2009.

 

Akkarapol runs an academy in Korat that teaches Scrabble. He is now promoting the game through franchises around the country and in Asia. He recently announced plans for an academy in Cebu in the Philippines. 

 

Jakkrit is a doctor from Chiang Mai specializing in prosthetic medicine. Along with the others he has a wealth of experience around the world playing Scrabble.

 

Other teams come from Nigeria, the top rated, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia. There are also teams from the Rest of the World, the Rest of Asia and east Africa. 

 

The New Zealand team contains Nigel Richards, the greatest player of all time. He is the current world champion in English and has also won the French language championships despite being unable to speak that language.

 

Competitors will play each other in a round robin of 45 games over five days starting Wednesday. 

 

Scrabble expert Gerry Carter who lives in Bangkok said: "The Thai team is very strong and has a good chance of winning what is effectively the "World Cup" of Scrabble.

 

"I am a native speaker of English and have represented Thailand before but I was not nearly good enough to make this dream team!"

 

Scrabble is considered to be a sport in Thailand. It has been played at the university games and receives patronage from the Thai Royal Family and sponsorship from big business like Brands and True. 

 

International competitions held in Bangkok attract contestants from all around the world. 

 

The Alchemist Cup runs from Wednesday to Sunday at the G Hotel Gurney in Penang. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-12-03

[marko kok prong]

What no Rooster in the Thai team.