SCRABBLE - The Last Word Newsletter

The Mad Scrabblersby Cornelia GuestT H E M A D S C R A B B L E R SAs was clearly demonstrated when Scrabulous ruledFacebook, there are many more SCRABBLE® playersout there than the members of NASPA and the NSAcombined (there were more than 2 million activeScrabulous users when it was shut down, with severalhundred thousand playing every day). With the demiseof Scrabulous, many of these players turned to theofficially sanctioned SCRABBLE® game on Facebook,offered by Entertainment Arts (EA).Six months ago, Martin LaGrow, a 39-year-old ITprogram coordinator from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, wastalking on the online SCRABBLE® discussion board withArt Moore and Brian Galebach about the possibility ofholding tournaments on the SCRABBLE® site. Within afew hours, Mad Scrabblers was created and held its firsttournament--with 8 players. Galebach was the winner of that inaugural tournament, and hecontinues to offer LaGrow regular suggestions for tournament formats. Art Moore does not play inMad Scrabbler’s tournaments, but noted: “Martin's tournaments have garnered a lot of interest andboard traffic. It was a great idea.”Since then the group has grown close to well over 200 players--most learning about Mad Scrabblersby word of mouth. “Just about everybody who has joined had at leastone friend already in the group,” said LaGrow, who has 114SCRABBLE® players among his Facebook friends. The most recenttournament, USA vs. Canada, had 96 players entered (Canada won: 35games to 30).LaGrow, father of five, has had help from two volunteer administrators,Cory Christopher Smith and Dani Baldwin. If the site continues to grow,more administrators may be added.The online SCRABBLE® game has appeal for many reasons, one ofwhich is that it can be played at any time one wants. Many of theplayers on the site have never played in a sanctioned tournaments, yet have skills that rivalseasoned experts. Smith is rated in the 2000s, LaGrow over 1600--but these are online ratings.They do not have NASPA ratings.LaGrow says he studies word lists and probability letter combinations, but notes, “I learn more byplaying good players, and I take notes when I get burned by a good hook.” Unlike in live games, allof the games in Mad Scrabbler tournaments are played in a “void” mode, where phonies are notpermitted. There is also no time limit to the games, which can sometimes be a problem when a32