(Akshay Bhandarkar from India representing United Arab Emirates shared his experience at WSC 2007.)
My WSC 07 - Day 1
I went into this WSC with lots of word study but feeling like I hadn't played enough live Scrabble with my last tournament being the Gulf Championship way back in June. Added to the mix was the new Collins dictionary with very few countries switching over early enough to play and learn Collins words. It was a special feeling to be playing in Mumbai, which is my hometown, and it was great catching up with everyone at the opening ceremony. There was the now customary suspense about the first round pairings with some interesting matchups.
Game 1 vs Jojo Delia (Malta)
Began with a rack of AHOOVUZ in reply to YEUK at G8a - played ZOUAV(E) for 19 keeping HO but (K)AZOO (38) leaving HUV sims better. Jojo gets SWINDLe (71) shortly after but I'm able to catch up with FIBRO (37) and AORTIC (37) hooking the A on to HOH for the CSW addition HOHA which drew a challenge. Nearly got punished for playing JINNI just above a triple line thinking that it couldn't be pluralised only to see Jojo play AIAS underneath it. After a few consonant heavy racks, drew the second blank to go out with SURGEnT (63+5) and win a,nerve-settling game 367-307.
Game 2 vs Steve Polatnick (USA)
Starting with AEINOTU exchanged OU and drew DT to play TAINTED the next turn. Both of us had a string of high scores - VINED (31), DENARY (37), MAFIC (47) & ALANINE (65) for Steve while I got down COZE (45) & TSoURIS (74) - before Steve took the lead again with sINCERE (79), 312-275 after 7 moves. I later drew the Q for a 62-point double-triple letter play which had been open for most of the game. The board was fairly blocked by now and we went into a close endgame which I managed to sneak 427-418.
Game 3 vs Indunil Amarasinghe (Sri Lanka)
Got off to a flowing start against Indunil whom I'd played several times on ISC with JAEGERs (86), mOIDE(R)ED (86+5) and PARVE (42) in the first 5 moves to go up by 135. Indunil could only manage WAX for 53 in reply and a late AEEEGSS through a P (1) (62+5) capped off a comfortable win 497-297.
Game 4 vs Cheah Siu Hean (Singapore)
A fast paced game against Cheah who gets OUTR(A)NCE on the second move sandwiched between my XERAFI(N)S (79+5) & V(E)rLIGTE (74). I was never ahead by more than 50 and a late play of (D)EmENTIA for 77 was countered by his nice (C)ANALISE hooking an S onto OBVERT (84+5) to leave the scores at 409-385 in my favour heading into the endgame. Cheah was able to score 30 with the J but I was always going to go out in two and won another close game 447-435.
Game 5 vs Nigel Richards (NZ)
I was rewarded for my 4 match streak with a game against Nigel on table 3 after lunch. He changed 3 on the first move and then played GARNERS (75) and the lovely EEHNORSW (2) double-double (90+5) back to back. I replied with dOWSING (83) and VID(E)OTEX (69) two moves later to catch up at 229-230 after 5 turns each. I blundered later with AEFJLRW playing FARL (34) and not spotting JARFUL (48) while Nigel raced ahead with BANDITO (78) and COZY (54). I could only narrow the spread with KYNDE (51) and had my first loss of the day 429-501.
Game 6 vs Rod Macneil (USA)
Rod bingo-ed twice with IRISAT(E)D (68) & (A)UREoLES (71) to take a 100-point lead in the first 6 moves while I struggled with vowel-heavy racks. I opened up a triple-triple with VIRTU leaving the V at A12 but chickened out of the nine-timer holding EELRRS? (3) choosing to play RESoL(V)ER (80) instead. I was only 28 behind at this stage but Rod played ADZ for 53 leaving me needing another bingo to win. With a penultimate rack of AEEMNTX I fished off the T with DINOTUVW unseen and drew the O to play out with AXONEME for 71 but still lost narrowly 384-387.
Game 7 vs Teresa Camillieri (Malta)
I got off to an early lead against Teresa with the low-probability STARNIE (68) on the 3rd turn and later added ABROSIA (88) & LAT(E)NESS (68) consecutively to build a comfortable lead which Teresa dented with WEANErs (71) but late plays of BATIK (58) & INCH (39) for me put the result beyond any doubt 492-340.
Game 8 vs Nathan Benedict (USA)
I drew a blank on the first turn against Nathan but struggled with racks of AAEEIS? EEIJPS? EEFOPS? ABEEES? AAEIIV? while Nathan built up a 60 point lead using the Z and the Q before I finally got AVArICE down for 66 followed immediately by DDEFGIR (4) for 83 which drew a challenge. GYELD (36) and SCRUM (48) rounded off a sequence of high scores which put me ahead by 89 before Nathan caught up with ANTINO(D)E (70) & SYREN (38) which I held for a while before letting go. My final rack HNOSTT? was enough to counter his AEEIITT and I played out to win 417-398.
I was quite pleased to end the day 6-2 and in 10th place but there was a lot to follow, including the infamous ZYGAE* play and matchups against the previous two World Champions.
Spoilers
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(1) SEE(P)AGES
(2) Nigel played HERO(N)SEw through the N of GARNERS
(3) RELi(V)ERS
(4) FRIDGED
WSC - Day 2
Game 9 vs Edward Okulicz (Australia)
I began with a string of decent scores including FLEXO (38), AREAD (26), GRIECE (24) (which I later hooked a D onto drawing a challenge) & GROK (28) countered by Edward's VIO(L)ERS (40) and JIN(K) (45) before he played (D)ESINENT (84) to open up a 40 point lead which he maintained going into the endgame when we found ourselves with a blank each on a fairly closed board. I played BOO(TEE) for 16 leaving myself with IRS?, emptying the bag with ADEIILOTW? unseen and drew DEW. Edward used up about 5 of his remaining 20 minutes (yes, he's that quick) to kill the opening and I could only manage WaIDE for 40 which sims best but wasn't enough to win. L 342-370
Game 10 vs Sherwin Rodrigues (India)
Sherwin got off to a flyer with MOTLIER (72), ANOEST(R)A (62) & XI (53) in his first 3 moves leaving me trailing by over a 100. I managed to catch up with VAP(O)RED (52), JURA (34) and a bingo of my own GESTAPO (87) before a string of high scores by each of us saw the scores level at 322 after 7 turns. I lucked out a couple of turns later when both blanks presented themselves on my rack after breaking up an unplayable LAUWINE and played SUBrENt (82) on the next turn to close out a satisfying win 489-429.
Game 11 vs Howard Warner (NZ)
Opened with MOLTEN leaving a second E after both of us exchanged. Howard had SOUTANE (64) & (A)LGERINE (72) in reply to my VENOM (35), WIZ (59) & KAW (46), 176-162 in his favour after 5 turns. I played DePAI(N)TS (76) followed by high scores for YGOE (49) & HUH (36) to build a 100 point lead before Howard caught up with CAGIEST (67). ReTIREE (76) with my penultimate rack put me ahead by a 100 again and managed to win 477-385.
Game 12 vs Gerry Carter (Thailand)
I started with AGAVE from AAGEIPV not spotting PAVAGE which is far superior. Each of us had some good scores before (B)EgRIMES (86) put me ahead by 77. Gerry narrowed the lead with UNLACES going into the endgame but was unlucky to draw a rack full of vowels allowing me to outscore him and win 405-340.
Game 13 vs Jighere Wellington (Nigeria)
This game was annotated for the WSC website - in hindsight I probably should have played more aggressively while holding the blank instead of letting Wellington dictate the direction of the game but it was still a pleasure to take him on at Table 1.
Game 14 vs Suanne Ong (Malaysia)
Suanne played a great game and was up by 120 after 7 turns with rETYING (76), EXO (58) & QUERIDA (94) despite my UNREINS (70) & JOV(I)AL (48). I came to within 30 after 11 turns with DAUNTE(R)S (74) & TARAIRe (66) back to back but Suanne controlled the endgame well to win 476-435.
Game 15 vs Michael Gongolo (Kenya)
Michael started off with JAGER for 42 and with AENOTZY, I played ZY(G)AE* for 40. The consequent challenge came back with a tick and we continued the game, Michael using the J for JUMBO down to the double for another 32. I had drawn CEEG to go with NOT and was in the process of laying down CO(R)EGENT when things started going pear-shaped.
The adjudicator who'd marked ZYGAE* acceptable had suddenly realised that a mistake had been made and alerted Wilma who neutralised our clock and went about making a ruling that seemed fair to her at the time - the word was to stay on the board *but* the 45 points that I'd scored were cancelled out. This seemed bizarre to me especially because it meant that Michael was now effectively a bingo lead ahead and I'd wasted my Z. I briefly considered forfeiting the game but decided that I'd worked too hard to let something like this ruin my tournament. Strangely, the incident only helped me to focus harder and we had a barnstormer of a game.
My next five moves yielded 303 - CO(R)EGENT (62), RESONA(T)E (87) hooking the S onto JUMBO, WIRRA (32), QIBLA (53) & LORIOtS (69). My lead was 144 at this stage before Michael came back and overtook me brilliantly with STANDEN (73), EPAULET (84) & SIRLOIN (80) in his next 4 moves. I scored a crucial 42 with PHUT creating WIRRA(H) and won a 5 point challenge, followed by H(E)AVED for 55 to win narrowly 458-444, each of us having played 10 moves.
Game 16 vs Ganesh Asirvatham (Malaysia)
The game was effectively over as a contest after Ganesh plonked down 3 bingos in the first 4 moves - MINIATE (74) to open, ENOLAsE (68) & (L)OGLINES - and later added the brilliant BOaTH(O)OK (67) for good measure. My attempts at balancing finally yielded TREASUR(E) (77) which still left me behind by 140+ before Ganesh took a chance with a fifth bingo - PERCENT(ER)*. I challenged and was relieved to see it come back disallowed as his missed turn allowed me to go out and narrow the spread to 102, my biggest loss of the tournament so far - 350-452.
So 4-4 for the day and the competition was really hotting up. I was happy to still be in the fray in 16th place with 10 wins and was hoping to finish strongly on day 3 after a disappointing finish in London where I'd won just 2 of my last 8. It didn't help that my first opponent for the next day was Jim Kramer who'd creamed me by 200 the last time we'd played in Kuala Lumpur.
WSC - Day 3
Finally got around to finishing this - thanks to those of you who've been reading and writing in.
Game 17 vs Jim Kramer (USA)
My nerves settled when I drew a natural HAPTENE to begin followed by JANTY for 67. Jim seemed to struggle with vowels initially while I built up a 100 point lead. He got to within 50 with R(E)TURNED but pUNISHE(D) for 76 later in the game was enough to win 457-308.
Game 18 vs Panupol Sujjayakorn (Thailand)
Several embarrassing mistakes for me in this game. Panupol began with JUSTLED for 96 and I had no choice but to change. He then played GYBER* which I held briefly but let go and then pluralised with DiAXOnS (91) with both blanks. Fortunately he seemed fairly sure of it and didn't challenge! The scores were neck and neck till I got mixed up between IGG and UGGED/UGGING and lost a turn with UGG*. Panupol took the lead with SUETIER (64) a couple of moves later and scored heavily towards the end of the game with PANZER (42), KNOW (35) & RICY (44) while I tried to get a bingo down with single pointer racks. I may have been able to narrow the spread to 60 odd but played a poor endgame to lose 350-458.
Game 19 vs Adam Logan (Canada)
I think we had the quickest game of round 19 - Adam had 3 bingos in the first 6 moves: AIRSTOP (83), TEDEScO (84) & GREENI(E)S to go up 289-148. I managed to catch up to within 40 with AEROSAT (76), XI (36) & PEBA (35) but couldn't counter the second blank with too many vowels at the end and lost 386-465.
Game 20 vs Marty Gabriel (USA)
11-8 now and memories of London were flooding back. I found out later that I missed a bingo with EIIKLNS through a D (1) on the first move. Fortunately it didn't cost me too much as we both fished for the first bingo - scores after 5 turns were only 78-66 to Marty. I finally bingo-ed with AURI(C)LES
(61) but FERNS (47) & PHLOX (51) put Marty ahead by 20 before I got down the high-scoring OuTGAZE (125+5). My last two moves yielded JOY (57) & lAMPOON(S) (67) to cap a morale-boosting win 500-296. Marty later realised that he had missed TRICARS towards the end of the game which might have made a difference.
Game 21 vs Jason Katz-Brown (USA)
An exciting game - ISOGONS (67) on his second move gave me the S I needed for ERINGOE(S). I followed up with (C)ATTaILS (70) but Jason wasn't far behind with ROOFY (45) & VAMPED (37). The turning point here was when I played BREDY* for 36 not knowing that BREDIES came from BREDIE. Jason held for a long while before eventually accepting the play and we continued our string of high scores including ZEE (50) & HAFT (39) for him and JA (35) & BRATTLE(S) (62) for me - the scores were nearly even at 300-296 after 7. Jason drew the second blank but was hampered by too many vowels and I was able to go out with ERASION (78) to win 468-383.
Game 22 vs Tim Adamson (USA)
My third straight US opponent and I needed to win at least 2 out of the 3 games left for a shot at the money. Tim had the first bingo with VEN(U)LOSE (74+5) but I was able to reply with STRUMAE on the triple pluralising YAUD (90+5). HOARY (51) & L(I)GATURe (68) put me ahead 317-198 after 6 turns each and turns 9, 10 & 11 produced RECISIO(N) (90), GOX (57) & DEClAWS (72) to cap my biggest win of the tournament - 592-297.
Game 23 vs Charnwit Sukhumrattanaporn (Thailand)
A close game against Charnwit - (K)INDLERS (78), EXHUME (42) & TESTRIL (69) by me were countered by AVOWER (32), ADAgIOS (87) and JEAN (57) and scores were level at 255 after 7. Both of us then struggled with vowel heavy racks and my efforts at turning over were rewarded with the second blank - PODGIEr for 76 was enough to win on a closed board. W 412-373
Game 24 vs Hubert Wee (Singapore)
The final game of the day for a shot at 4th place if Ganesh beat Joel on table 2 (he didn't eventually). Despite the motivation, I was feeling quite brain dead by now and missed the simple AB(O)ITEAU on move 1 responding to Hubert's WOOFED at D4a, playing BATEAU underneath the second O instead. I
was somehow rewarded for this with a hat trick of bingos 2 moves later - VISITEE (77), MeTICAL (88) & vELIGER (69) - and took a 278-144 lead after 5 turns. Hubert managed CURDIES(T) (76)a couple of moves later and stuck me with the Q in the endgame but it was never going to be enough. W 443-370.
I was quite pleased to end with a 5 win streak and my best ever finish. Well done to Ganesh and Nigel who both played brilliantly and commiserations to Wellington who missed out despite dominating for a large chunk of the tournament.
Cheers,
Akshay
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