eize the day, with Scrabble!

With the 34th Malta National Scrabble Championship nearing its first month of competition, a day entirely free from the toils of work and Scrabble would seem like an enticing prospect. Not for Malta's Scrabble community for which playing Scrabble, even competitively, is an eminent form of rest and relaxation.

Thus while for most the 10th of February is the first public holiday of the year, for the members of this community it is eagerly anticipated as the date of the first one-day tournament of the year. Named after the theme of the holiday, the St Paul's Shipwreck One-Day Tournament will consist of seven rounds stretching from early morning to mid-afternoon. 

Will five time National Champion David Delicata be able to defend his victory of the tournament last year? Will ten time National Champion Theresa Brousson finally make her long awaited return to the game?

The reasons for looking forward to the second Friday of the second month of the new year are manifold and fascinating. 

(penned and published by Nicky Vella Laurenti)