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Players from across the world will descend on Devon next month for the 2018 World Scrabble Championship (WSC) - an event previously held in France, Australia, Malaysia, India and the USA.

The WSC is described as the second most-prestigious title in the competitive world of board games after chess.

Scrabble enthusiasts from more than 30 countries will compete to become World Scrabble Champion during eight days of competition at the Riviera International Conference Centre (RICC), Torquay.

The reigning World Scrabble Champion is David Eldar, from Australia, who won the title at the World Scrabble Championships in 2017.

The event, sponsored by Mattel, will run from October 20 to October 28.

Simon Jolly, Managing Director at the RICC said: “We are very excited and honoured to be welcoming the World Scrabble Championships to the Riviera International Conference Centre here on the English Riviera this October.

"It’s exciting to know that a ‘World Champion’ will be crowned under our roof!”

The event is being organised by TMA International and from October 20 to 22 will see 24 rounds held for the World Junior Scrabble Championships - open to players aged 21 and under.

Then from October 23 there will be two divisions with 35 games played over four days to find the next World Scrabble Champion.

The top eight players will battle through a weekend of Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals and a Grand Final on Sunday, October 28.

Throughout the week there will be beginners’ tournaments for children and adults of all ages, schools and families, to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Scrabble.

There is more information on the official WSC website and at the website for the RICC