Group: Scrabble player caught cheating at US event

[August 15, 2012]  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- One of the top young Scrabble players in the country has been kicked out of the game's national championship tournament in Florida after organizers say he was caught hiding blank letter tiles.

National Scrabble Association executive director John D. Williams, Jr., said Tuesday that a male player was ejected from the 350-player event in Round 24 of the 28-round event.

Williams would not identify the player by name or age because he's a minor. There are four divisions and he was competing in Division 3.

Organizers said the cheating was spotted by a player at a nearby table, who noticed the ejected player conceal two blank tiles. When confronted by the tournament director, he admitted to it.

The tournament concludes Wednesday, with the winner receiving the $10,000 top prize.

[Associated Press; By KYLE HIGHTOWER]

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