OREGON MAN WINS 2009 NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP

August 15, 2009

The word is out. Dave Wiegand, 35, a mortgage underwriter from Portland, OR, spelled his way into first place at the 2009 National SCRABBLE Championship. Wiegand, now a two-time National Champion, won $10,000 and bragging rights among America's 10,000 SCRABBLE tournament players.

Wiegand finished 25-6 with a +1728 spread in a final match that featured words such as ACINI (a small saclike division of a gland), NIDATION (implanted in the uterus) and WAWL (to cry like a cat). 2008 National SCRABBLE Champion and current World SCRABBLE Champion Nigel Richards, 42, of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia finished second (25-6, +1593) and former World and National Champion Joel Wapnick, 63, of Montreal (22-9, +908) was third. 

Nearly 500 word wizards from 40 states and several countries played for five days at the Dayton Convention Center. Competitors ranged from ages 10-92.

Internet coverage including standings, play-along games, color commentary and photos is featured on www.scrabbleplayers.org. For all things SCRABBLE visit the National SCRABBLE Association’s website www.scrabble-assoc.com.

Below: David Wiegand, 35, of Portland, OR (right) makes a play in his 2009 National SCRABBLE Championship victory against Malaysia’s Nigel Richards, 42, current World and previous National SCRABBLE Champion. 500 word wizards aged 10-92 played for 5 days in Dayton, OH.

Photo Credit: Patricia Hocker, National SCRABBLE Association