Ehe art of calming and disarming the opponent

Though not exactly a champion, in a one-off encounter, she can get the better of the best players. But her uncanny ability lies not so much in beating her opponents as in winning them over with her mild-mannered and unaffectedly gentle bearing at the playing table, which puts even her most nervous and temperamental opponents at ease. 

 

This is Christine Strawbridge (seen in photo) according to her opponents, the majority of whom voted her overwhelmingly Sportsperson of the Year for 2017, the second recognition of this kind she has received from her fellow members of the Malta Scrabble Club

 

Reigning six-time National Champion and forthcoming Malta World Scrabble Championship rep David Delicata, himself a former recipient of this award, was runner-up to Strawbridge, his placing being a worthy reminder that being a champion and a sportsman go hand in hand. 

 

Dominic Borg and Moses Azzopardi came a joint third in the final classification of players whose opponents were won over, though not necessarily beaten, for their sportsmanlike qualities

 

(penned and published by Nicky Vella Laurenti)