World Scrabble Championships, Prague, Czech Republic ...

World Scrabble Championships, Prague, Czech Republic …

Dec 01, 2013 Sports

‘Butterflies’ in her stomach but Abigail McDonald prepared to meet challenges head on

By Michael Benjamin
Two days after arriving in New York City, New York, National Scrabble Champion, Abigail McDonald boards another aircraft this morning for the final leg of her journey, Prague, Czech Republic, to participate in the World Scrabble Championships from this Wednesday, December 4 – 8 next.

Abigail McDonald

Naturally, McDonald is experiencing the proverbial ‘butterflies’ in her stomach and admitted that the tournament is extremely demanding even as she reminisced on her inaugural journey to these championships in Malaysia 2009. “I was swallowed up by the enormity of what I met. I didn’t envision the world of scrabble was as ‘ginormous’ as it was; I encountered players who earned a living through participation in the sport; people who were as eccentric as they come and people who, believe it or not, literally familiarized themselves with all the words in the dictionary,” McDonald said.
The local scrabble queen is quite cognizant of the challenges yet she retains a high level of confidence of doing well. She continued reminiscing on her inaugural participation at this level, “I saw tile-tracking and strategy at a new level, and sadly, before I even played a game, I was kind-of defeated. McDonald is a vegetarian and bemoaned the cuisine in Malaysia, while hoping for better fortunes in the host country, “It didn’t help being in a country where, despite its variety, the food smelt or tasted like fish, certainly not encouraging considering my food preference,” she mused. She also felt that the 12 hours time difference in Malaysia acted against her since she was forced to make stringent adjustments. But all that was five years ago and McDonald feels that her strategy is way better though she admits that she ‘has not been successful in ‘swallowing the dictionary.’
“I do know a whole lot more words than I did in 2009 and my strategy is way better,” she replied to a question posed. “I am not going to create a false impression either; what I do know is that I am going to the Czech Republic a lot more prepared with regards my diet, and I will not be remotely intimidated by any of the big names,” she confidently pronounced.
Pressed for a definitive assessment of her chances McDonald said, “I will do the best I can and let the chips fall where they may. Most of all, I will have loads of fun and I will not be swallowed up by the big stage at all; It’s not very often I say I am proud of myself, but today I will say just that since I have earned the right to rub shoulders with the best in the business irrespective of my final placement,” she concluded. Two other Caricom nationals, Barbadian, Orlet Bullock and Trinidadian, Leslie Stewart will also play in the tournament.
Among those local corporate institutions and individuals that supported the scrabble queen in her quest to win the coveted trophy are Unicomer Guyana Inc, Courts Furniture, Fly Jamaica Airlines, Kings Jewelry World, Farfan and Mendes Ltd, Starr Computers, Oasis Café, Akbar Auto Sales, Nexlink Communications,
Insurance Brokers Guyana Ltd, Republic Bank, Giftland Office Max, Southland International Inc and Star Party Rental.