Courts offer exclusive sponsorship as National Scrabble Championships loom

Jun 01, 2013 Sports

As the executives of the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) continue to prepare for the National Scrabble Championships, slated for June 29-July 1, Courts (Guyana) Ltd has acquiesced to provide exclusive sponsorship and yesterday morning, several representatives of that organization including, Public Relations Officer, Kester Abraham and Marketing Manager, Pernel Cummings, convened at the Courts Main Street office and handed over a cheque of more than $250,000 to President of GASP, Leon Belony.
GASP Vice President, Abigail McDonald and Public Relations Officer (PRO), Moen Gafoor, were also present at the function.
“Scrabble is an educational game that involves families and since Courts regard the value of the family in the Guyanese society, we unhesitatingly agreed to come on board,” exhorted Mr. Abraham.

Leon Belony (3rd left) accepts the gift from Pernel Cummings in the company of Moen Gafoor (extreme left), Abigail McDonald (2nd left) and Kester Abraham (extreme right).

In response, Mr. Belony assured the PRO that his executives were truly grateful for the support. “And we trust that this is the beginning of a beautiful, productive and lasting relationship,” he concluded.
The nation’s top word formers will convene at the Bank of Guyana Sports Club to compete for honours during the three days whereupon, the two top players will engage in a 3 best of 5 competition to decide the national champion. Several of the highly ranked seeds have already earned automatic places for the nationals but the others will compete in a one day tournament at the Malteenoes Sports Club on June 9 next to earn qualification.
The automatic qualifiers are Abigail McDonald, Leon Belony, James Krakowsky, Moen Gafoor, Fredrick Collins, Colin Chichester, Orlando Michael, Yvonne Murray, Ruby Cummings, Wayne Cave, Devraj Deonarine, Maurice Munro, Julian Skeete, Anand Mohabir and Robert Williams.
Abigail McDonald had dethroned Fred Collins some two years ago and successfully defended against Leon Belony last year. During last year’s nationals both McDonald and Belony had amassed 17 games apiece but it was McDonald with a higher spread of 2013 as against Belony’s 1728 that topped the averages at that tournament. The two then proceeded to battle for the top prize with fortunes swaying like a pendulum, from one way to the other, before McDonald eventually prevailed by a mere 7 points to retain the accolade 3-2.
This year’s competition promises similar action especially since Collins will be back in the fray. Add Belony, Gafoor, James Krakowsky and Colin Chichester and McDonald will have her work cut out to retain the crown.