Former Champion Leads Field of 400 Experts at 2010 National SCRABBLE® Championship After 20 Rounds in Dallas

DALLAS, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Nigel Richards, 43, former World and National SCRABBLE® Champion from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is in the lead after 20 rounds and three days of play at the National SCRABBLE® Championship (NSC). Over 400 SCRABBLE® players from 42 states and 4 countries are competing at the Hotel InterContinental Dallas.

Behind Richards' 16-4 record and +1256 point spread is Rafi Stern, 21, a college student from Seattle, WA with a 15-5 record and a +789 point spread.  Another former National and World Champion, Brian Cappelletto, 40, an options trader from Chicago, IL is in third with a record of 15-5 and a +755 point spread.

Some unusual words played today include:  KEX (a dry, hollow stalk), JAWAN (a soldier of India), AGOUTI (a burrowing rodent) and YAFF (to bark).

The NSC competition continues with seven rounds on Tuesday and the final three rounds on Wednesday to decide the 2010 National SCRABBLE® Champion. The $10,000 check will be awarded to the new champion at approximately 2:30 PM Wednesday. Live Internet coverage is featured on www.scrabbleplayers.org.  

About Hasbro:

Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable and play experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. © 2010 Hasbro, Inc. All rights reserved. SCRABBLE is a trademark of Hasbro in the U.S. and Canada.

SOURCE National SCRABBLE(R) Championship