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How Scrabble Championships led to 20 years of marriage How Scrabble Championships led to 20 years of marriage
(about 3 hours later)
Graham and Helen Harding have been married for more than 20 yearsGraham and Helen Harding have been married for more than 20 years
'A sparkle over the board': A Scrabble love story
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A married couple with a shared passion for the word game Scrabble have been reflecting on when love "sparkled over the board" more than 20 years ago.A married couple with a shared passion for the word game Scrabble have been reflecting on when love "sparkled over the board" more than 20 years ago.
Graham and Helen Harding were members of their local Scrabble clubs in Berkshire and Leicestershire in the 1990s and had met at tournaments.Graham and Helen Harding were members of their local Scrabble clubs in Berkshire and Leicestershire in the 1990s and had met at tournaments.
They said romance blossomed at a tournament in Sheffield in 2000 and they began a long-distance relationship before tying the knot in 2004.They said romance blossomed at a tournament in Sheffield in 2000 and they began a long-distance relationship before tying the knot in 2004.
The pair have been taking part in the UK Open Scrabble Championship in Reading.The pair have been taking part in the UK Open Scrabble Championship in Reading.
Graham and Helen Harding were married in 2004Graham and Helen Harding were married in 2004
Graham's family were Scrabble enthusiasts and he had played since he was a teenager in the mid-1970s.Graham's family were Scrabble enthusiasts and he had played since he was a teenager in the mid-1970s.
Meanwhile, Helen took up the game in her university years and had joined Leicester Scrabble club.Meanwhile, Helen took up the game in her university years and had joined Leicester Scrabble club.
In the 1990s, the pair had met at various Scrabble tournaments around the country, before facing each other at an event in Sheffield in 2000.In the 1990s, the pair had met at various Scrabble tournaments around the country, before facing each other at an event in Sheffield in 2000.
Now 68, Helen said: "We knew each other on and off for five years and we would stop and have a chat and then one year we saw something else and took it from there.Now 68, Helen said: "We knew each other on and off for five years and we would stop and have a chat and then one year we saw something else and took it from there.
"We both spent an awful lot of time driving up and down the M40," she added."We both spent an awful lot of time driving up and down the M40," she added.
Graham and Helen brought their board to their weddingGraham and Helen brought their board to their wedding
When they got married 20 years ago, Graham and Helen Harding even brought their Scrabble board to the wedding and had a Scrabble-themed cake.When they got married 20 years ago, Graham and Helen Harding even brought their Scrabble board to the wedding and had a Scrabble-themed cake.
Two decades on, the couple still play regularly.Two decades on, the couple still play regularly.
"The more words you know the more ammunition you've got, but there is only about 10% luck in it."The more words you know the more ammunition you've got, but there is only about 10% luck in it.
"The people who do well at it tend to be numbers people rather than words people because it is all about probabilities," said Helen."The people who do well at it tend to be numbers people rather than words people because it is all about probabilities," said Helen.
Graham, 62, said his best ever word in Scrabble was "grazings" which scored 221.Graham, 62, said his best ever word in Scrabble was "grazings" which scored 221.
"At the time it was the equal record holder in the UK," he said."At the time it was the equal record holder in the UK," he said.
Helen's best word in the UK Scrabble Championships was "anticked"Helen's best word in the UK Scrabble Championships was "anticked"
Asked who wins most often, Graham said the pair were "50-50".Asked who wins most often, Graham said the pair were "50-50".
"We play at our Scrabble club and in tournaments, but not really at home, but in the pandemic we did play one game a week," he said."We play at our Scrabble club and in tournaments, but not really at home, but in the pandemic we did play one game a week," he said.
They both said together that the secret of a marriage was "patience and understanding".They both said together that the secret of a marriage was "patience and understanding".
Helen and Graham Harding attended the UK Open Scrabble Championship in ReadingHelen and Graham Harding attended the UK Open Scrabble Championship in Reading
The couple played against each other at the UK Open Scrabble Championship taking place in Reading.The couple played against each other at the UK Open Scrabble Championship taking place in Reading.
It is the first time the UK Open has been held since the Covid pandemic.It is the first time the UK Open has been held since the Covid pandemic.
The tournament is using the updated Collins dictionary, external for the first time, which means words such as fav, bruv, fam, and unmute are applicable.The tournament is using the updated Collins dictionary, external for the first time, which means words such as fav, bruv, fam, and unmute are applicable.
"We played each other twice over the weekend and we each won a game."We played each other twice over the weekend and we each won a game.
"It was hard work, mentally, but it was good fun," said Helen."It was hard work, mentally, but it was good fun," said Helen.
The event comes to a close on Friday 10 January.The event comes to a close on Friday 10 January.
'A sparkle over the board': A Scrabble love story
Listen now on BBC Sounds
You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, external, X (Twitter), external, or Instagram, external.You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, external, X (Twitter), external, or Instagram, external.