Scrabble Word Cup 2023 this weekend in Albany
Local word wizards and board game buffs are in for some stiff competition this weekend as the Scrabble Word Cup makes its way to Albany.
The 2023 iteration of the event starts Friday and runs through Tuesday at the Albany Marriot with the competitions happening in the ballroom.
The event was brought to the Capital Region by the Albany County Sports Commission and Josh Greenway, an organizer for the event. Over $75,000 in prize money will be awarded throughout the cup.
The Word Cup will begin Friday night. Prior to that, there will be a series of early bird tournaments.
“It’s a way to bring in players who can’t commit to five days of playing Scrabble,” Greenway said.
Greenway got involved in the competitive Scrabble scene after reading the book “Word Freak,” which detailed the world of words. Many others get involved after the friends and family are no longer willing to play them — and lose.
“That’s about when they find us,” Greenway said.
Although it’s Albany’s first time hosting the Word Cup, the city isn’t new to Scrabble lovers. Albany typically hosts tournaments the weekends of July 4 and New Year’s.
The practicing amps up closer to the tournament, with players spending an increasing amount of time on word study. Of course, practicing involves a lot of playing Scrabble, but beyond that, players use flashcards to teach themselves new words. Some many haven’t even seen before.
“Finding out who wins is a big deal,” Greenway said. “Our players practice year-round for this.”
Tours are available for those wishing to get a peek behind the curtain. To schedule a tour, contact the organizers at etsplayscrabble.com The public can get involved through free tutorials and live streams on both Twitch and YouTube.
The weekend will also consist of social events like karaoke and trivia, to keep the competitors in good spirits, and allow them to mingle with their fellow wordsmiths.
“I don’t want to just run a Scrabble tournament,” Greenway said. “I want to give people the best weekend they’ve had all year.”
Reach reporter Ameara Ditsche at [email protected]. Keep up with her on Twitter @amearaisawriter.
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