KARACHI: The local players generated much excitement at the Signature 30th Pakistan National Scrabble Championship being played at Lincoln Corner.

Eight-time national champion Waseem Khatri finally returned to form and climbed to the No. 1 spot in the event after 15 wins and a spread of 1,556.

Young Hassan Hadi also played superbly to retain his second spot. Hadi bagged 14 wins and a spread of 1,366.

Almost predictably Hadi’s identical twin Hammad Hadi had an almost identical record with 14 wins but he had to be happy with the third spot due to a lower spread. The twins have an uncanny knack of finishing right next to each other in most of the tournaments. Their 12-year-old younger brother Hasham Hadi was also in the top 10 at the end of the day.

M. Inayatullah, reached the top to later slip to the fourth position followed by Abdullah Abbasi, Daniyal Sanaullah, Moiz Baig, Mirza Taha and the defending champion Sohaib Sanaullah.

Another eight matches will be played on the final day which will decide the new national scrabble champion.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2018