Welcome

My connection to the game of Scrabble is probably not original, it traces through a grandparent. It was, at first, a learning tool and a smart way to compete and exercise my brain. I was never impressed with Scrabble Junior, always wanting to play in the big leagues.

It's amazing how much you love as a child you forget in your twenties. The twenties are a strange time, but through some random Web surfing I found a link to Internet Scrabble Club. With little to do, I downloaded the program onto an ancient laptop and won my first game. Had it not been for that win, I may have quit the game immediately and never every played again.

About 25 consecutive losses immediately following that initial victory taught me a lesson: We're not playing my grandmother's Scrabble. What on Earth does XI and XU mean? And how are people scoring 80 or more points on a single turn and I'm barely breaking 200 for the whole game?

Some searching revealed the world of competitive Scrabble and by my side for the next few months were my lists of two-, three-, and four-letter words. I dedicated myself to studying these lists and soon launched a revival as bron2k5. Soon, wins were piling up and I was hooked on Scrabble.

Partial obsession brings me to this point today. I can't find other people to play even though I know they exist. I have literally played thousands of games of online Scrabble. I've met some wonderful people.

I've threatened to become a "pro" player any day now. That time is coming. But I want to do more because living here in Pottsville doesn't afford me the opportunity to travel to another Scrabble club, the closest being in York or Philadelphia.

One of the rare pleasures of living in Pottsville is the proximity to all major cities, but we as Pottsvillians rarely take advantage. So I am hoping the creation of a Scrabble club here could draw competitors from a lot of areas not currently represented in Scrabble club circles.

Now just because I take the game as seriously as life doesn't mean this club will only be for the hard-core enthusiasts. I want to invite all levels of competition.

You will find all the links you'll need to be a registered player with National Scrabble Association.

I will let people tracking the creation of this club aware of points leading up to my eventually getting my official player status and exam to become an official tournament director.

Sincerely,
Joshua Sophy
Player Status: Amateur
Player Rating: N/A
On ISC.ro: Muckraker
On Scrabulous: Muckraker
Also playing on Facebook.