The 17th edition of the Panagbenga Scrabble Tournament on March 9 and 10 at the Porta Vaga Mall here will be the second leg of the Philippine Qualifying Tournament for the World Scrabble Championship later this year.
This year’s staging of one of the longest-running scrabble tournaments in the country is expected to draw players from all over the Philippines, eager to earn points in the qualifier for one of the two slots in the World Scrabble Championship.
Former World Youth Scrabble Championship representative Mohammad Suma took the first qualifier leg held last weekend in Baclaran as he tries to earn more points to get a ticket to the world tourney to be staged in Goa, India in October.
William Caluza of the organizing Baguio Benguet World Builders Club said he was informed that the United Scrabble Association of the Philippines, Inc. has accorded the Baguio tournament the distinction of being a leg of the PQT.
Caluza, who reached a Baguio best ranking of fourth, said that the BBWBC is finalizing everything for the annual tournament that has become a regular fixture in the Panagbenga.
At least two national competitions are held here annually.
There will be two divisions of the event, the centerpiece open, which is also the qualifier, and the novice and students. A total of P25,000 in cash prizes are up for grabs in the tournament that actually started competitive Scrabble playing in 2003.
“We are looking forward to a two-day competition with the best players in the country and of course the students,” added Caluza, winner of 2008 edition of the event.