The 17th edition of the Panagbenga Scrabble Tournament on march 9-10 at the Porta Vaga Mall here will be the second leg of the Philippine Qualifying Tournament for the World Scrabble Championship later this year.
The 2019 staging of one of the longest running Scrabble tournaments is expected to draw players from all over the Philippines who are 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 Worlds that is expected to be staged in Goa, India on October.
William Caluza of the organizing Baguio Benguet World Builders Club said that he was informed over the weekend that the United Scrabble Association of the Philippines, Inc. has accorded the Baguio tournament the distinction as a leg of the PQT.
“I was informed during their meeting that they chose Baguio as a leg,” said the civil engineer, who will also serve as tournament director of the tournament.
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 here 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. **PML
