PROVIDENCE, R.I., May 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Students spellbound by the game of SCRABBLE(R) competed in the 2008 National School SCRABBLE Championship held this weekend in Providence at the Rhode Island Convention Center. After six rounds and countless strategic plays, returning champion Matt Silver, 14, of Westport, Conn. and his teammate Logan Rosen defeated Joey Krafchick, 13, of Roswell, Ga. and his teammate Dorian Hill, 13 of Tucker, Ga. in the Championship round today, claiming the title and a $5,000 grand prize. It's a fitting tribute to a game that's celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
"The National School SCRABBLE Championship brings students from all across the country together for the love of the game," said John D. Williams, Jr., executive director, National SCRABBLE Association. "These kids enjoy playing SCRABBLE because it is both challenging and fun."
During the Championship, 100 teams of students in grades five-to-eight from 23 states competed in six rounds of play on Friday and Saturday leading to the final match-up. The grand prize winners received a $5,000 cash prize. The second-place team was awarded $2,000 and the third place team walked away with $1,000. Once again, ESPN will telecast the Championship as kids head back to school in August 2008.
Among those competing in the National School SCRABBLE Championship were two teams from the Arizona Cactus-Pine Council Girl Scouts and two students from the Philadelphia ASAP Program, an organization providing after-school programs for kids of all ages.
More than one million students have played SCRABBLE in approximately 20,000 schools nationwide. This year, the National SCRABBLE Association and the Girl Scouts of the USA announced the availability of the first ever SCRABBLE game patch, "Words Rock." There are currently 27 Girl Scout SCRABBLE clubs representing 19 states, and two teams participated in the National School SCRABBLE Championship.
A family favorite since 1948, the board game is celebrating its Diamond Anniversary and is found in one out of every three homes in America, according to Hasbro, makers of the game in the United States and Canada. SCRABBLE is unique because it is a game of continuous winning moments. Unlike other games where players wait until the end of the game to find a winner, SCRABBLE provides a great sense of accomplishment throughout the entire process. Any time participants look at their tiles to find a word, they are immediately rewarded, which is why kids love to play the game.
"All of the participants demonstrated a tremendous amount of passion, enthusiasm and sportsmanship which make the Championship a fun event for everyone involved," said Jay Bruns, director of marketing for SCRABBLE, Hasbro Games. "This program is a testament to the unifying power that a fun game like SCRABBLE can have on people of all ages."
The National School SCRABBLE Championship is underwritten by Hasbro. For more information about the SCRABBLE game or other tournaments and clubs around the country, visit http://www.scrabbleassociation.com/.
About Hasbro
Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world. SCRABBLE, the distinctive game board and letter tiles and all associated logos are trademarks of Hasbro in the United States and Canada and are used with permission.
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