HATFIELD — The Massachusetts Statewide Scrabble Championship is being held at Smith Academy, with the tournament running Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
Ben Greenwood, a middle school math teacher at the school, is the event organizer and director of the North American School Scrabble Championship.
Starting at 12:30 p.m., a demonstration game will be played by a three-time national champion on a giant, 36-square-foot board with oversized tiles, while another expert player will help participants understand the rules and learn strategies for scoring more points.
A limited number of playing spots will be available to unregistered players on a first-come, first-serve basis. People, though, are encouraged to register in advance by sending an email to FlorenceScrabbleClub@gmail.com with name, city or town, school name, email address and phone number.
Nationally-rated players are not eligible to play but are welcome to attend and players can play solo or join with another person and play as a team.
All players and teams will play three games, always against a single other player or team.
There will be cash prizes awarded for those 18 and over, while those under 18 can win gift certificates from various local businesses.
The event is sponsored by NASPA Games and the Hatfield Book Club.
