NZ debuts as World Seniors Scrabble Championship host in November

Christchurch is to host this year's World Senior Scrabble Championship, the first time the event will be held in New Zealand. Photo / File

The World Seniors Scrabble Championship will be held in New Zealand for the first time.

The championship is in its fifth year, and open to players aged 55 and over.

Twelve countries will be participating in November, with about 100 players attending.

The Christchurch Bridge club will host the event, which will take place from November 18 to 23.

The first half of the tournament will be an early-bird event open to players of all ages. The Championship is from November 21.

The New Zealand Association of Scrabble Players said some of the world's biggest players will be attending, including five former winners of the biennial Trans-Tasman Challenge between top New Zealand and Australian players.

Kiwi Scrabble champions will also be competing in the full world Scrabble Championship in Nairobi, Kenya the week before the Christchurch event. The lineup includes former Christchurch player Nigel Richards and current New Zealand champion Joanne Craig.

In a statement released on Friday morning, The NZ Association of Scrabble Players described Richards as "greatest Scrabbler of all time".

Previous years have seen the competition held in Bangkok and Colombo.

More information on fees, prices and dates is available on the Championship website.