After a long absence from a tournament Scrabble scene, five years to be exact, here I am joining the Philippine Scrabble Caravan now on its 6th leg which was held at Sikwate Tea Hub, Diliman, Quezon City on June 10-11, 2023 participated in by 15 word wizards including more Scrabble veterans as you can see in the photo.
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| Front from Left: Mohammed Suma, Ben Filio, Col. Antonio Malonzo, Robbie Onate, Maida Manaog, Abdul Suma. Standing Behind from Left: Larry Serrano, Chris Abordo, Emil Borboran, Alexis Joyosa, Yours Truly, Rodolfo Joson, Venice Narisma, Cedie Manzano |
Day 1
Round 1 vs Cedie Manzano
Early on, VETERAN won't fit but found an anagram, NERVATE forgetting the much safer AVENTRE. It was later extended to ENERVATE. In the endgame, I held the rack of EILOSTU but did not fit in the open P and R of PRIEF. So, I just settled for (Q)UILTS followed by O(Y)E after his ROO(M)Y.
Round 1 Scorecard: 0-1, -24 spread
Stats:
Final Score: 385-409 (spread: -24)
Final Score: 385-409 (spread: -24)
First Player: Opp
Counting Accuracy: 100% for both
?? - 0/2 (0%)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 1 (Opp- 2)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 1 (Opp- 2)
Tiles Used: 48 (Opp-50, Unused-2)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-0)
Lost Turn any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 131.80 in 14 moves
Round 2 vs. Mohammad Suma
At the foreground were Atty. Antonio Malonzo and Anna Mariz Ballesteros, while yours truly and Orak were seated at the next board.
The Q-stick cost me the game, losing it despite 3 bingos, LENIENT, oVE(R)WILY and (L)IONISES. Orak had 2 bingos, URBA(N)ISE a 4-timer and the beautiful STANYEL(S).
Round 2 Scorecard: 0-2, -69 spread
Stats:
Final Score: 406-451 (spread: -45)
First Player: Me
Counting Accuracy: 100% for both
?? - 2/2 together (100%)
SSSS - 2/4 (50%)
JQXZ - 3/4 (75%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 2)
SSSS - 2/4 (50%)
JQXZ - 3/4 (75%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 2)
Tiles Used: 49 (Opp-50, Unused-1)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-0)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 126.38 in 14 moves
Round 3 vs Mohammad Suma
A rematch with unchallenged phoney apiece. Orak calmly played his first move, STEELOL* with a poker face. Dunno what was this but I guessed it must be a new word so I let it go. But it turned out to be a phoney word when we verified after the game. (When I stopped playing, I was only using CSW15, and there were already two changes made in the lexicons after that.) After a few moves, I almost played YODlERs/ GOY* wherein the latter word was already removed in CSW21 lexicon. Could not think of a better scoring move due to long layoff at the game. Later, Orak created an opening by playing BAY/AWASH. Off course, I took that opportunity to score and played LEIF*/BAYE and he thought for some time then accepted my play. When he opened up the board with (C)UNEI, my LEPORINE went in choosing the more defensive move.
Round 3 Scorecard: 1-2, -12 spread
Stats:
Final Score: 440-383 (spread: +57)
First Player: Opp
Counting Accuracy: 100% for both
?? - 2/2 together again (100%)
SSSS - 2/4 (50%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 2 (Opp- 1)
SSSS - 2/4 (50%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 2 (Opp- 1)
Tiles Used: 51 (Opp-47, Unused-2)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-1)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-0)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 1 (Opp-1)
Equity Loss: 93.41 in 14 moves
Round 4 vs Col. Antonio Malonzo
Col. Malonzo took the ??SSSJQXZ with 4 bingos, ROSEATE, OCTANES, eNLARGE and (M)ERANTIs that got me pulverized! He got away with BEGUT*, lolz! At one point, I was holding the rack of EFINOVR looking for E elsewhere but no such luck, but the missed bingo on the G-floater could not be FOR(G)IVEN! Just realized after the game that (M)AINLINE scored better than ANILINE, my only bingo in this game.
Round 4 Scorecard: 1-3, -169 spread
Stats:
Final Score: 364-521 (spread: -157)
First Player: Opp
Counting Accuracy: 100%, Opp-99.81% (-1)
?? - 0/2 (0%)
SSSS - 1/4 (25%)
JQXZ - 0/4 (0%)
Bingos: 1 (Opp- 4)
SSSS - 1/4 (25%)
JQXZ - 0/4 (0%)
Bingos: 1 (Opp- 4)
Tiles Used: 45 (Opp-52, Unused-3)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-0)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-1)
Equity Loss: 101.76 in 13 moves
Round 5 vs. Ben Filio
Ben had 3 bingos, MUTINIED, ORGANISM and ALEVINS. I had only one bingo, DIETIsT. My last rack of AGHORST had no possible bingo at H-column or 15-row, so I just played OSAR 37 followed by (E)TH 31 just to narrow down the gap.
Round 5 Scorecard: 1-4, -236 spread
Stats:
Final Score: 391-458 (spread: -67)
First Player: Me
Counting Accuracy: 99.49% (-2), Opp-100%
?? - 1/2 (50%)
SSSS - 1/4 (25%)
JQXZ - 3/4 (75%)
Bingos: 1 (Opp- 3)
SSSS - 1/4 (25%)
JQXZ - 3/4 (75%)
Bingos: 1 (Opp- 3)
Tiles Used: 45 (Opp-54, Unused-1)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-0)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 176.823 in 13 moves
Round 6 vs. Anna Mariz Ballesteros
RETINAE, DiURNALS and TESTINGS were my 3 bingos.
Round 6 Scorecard: 2-4, +2 spread
Stats:
Final Score: 505-267 (spread: 238)
First Player: Me
Counting Accuracy: 99.41% (-3), Opp-100%
?? - 2/2 (100%)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 0)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 0)
Tiles Used: 63 (Opp-32, Unused-5)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-1)
Challenges Made: 1 (Opp-1)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-1)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-1)
Equity Loss: 123.05 in 14 moves
Round 7 vs. Emil Borboran
In this classic closed board, my play of ShEATHS was the turning point of the game. (Although, Quackle found a better play of STHEpA(NE)S on the 3rd row after analyzing at home.)
Round 7 Scorecard: 2-4, +149 spread
Stats:
Final Score: 457-310 (spread: +147)
First Player: Me
Counting Accuracy:100% for both
?? - 1/2 (50%)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 1/4 (25%)
Bingos: 2 (Opp- 0)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 1/4 (25%)
Bingos: 2 (Opp- 0)
Tiles Used: 57 (Opp-38, Unused-5)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-2)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 63.099 in 13 moves
Round 8 vs. Col. Antonio Malonzo
This time, I got away with CLAVERN*, but my next play of EXHUME/ FRITE* was challenged off. Anyway, I got DeWLAPS and AUNtIES (missing (T)AUrINES/ALEE/POAS which scored best). In the endgame, I almost blundered when I initially put BAYE/BI/YI/EA to block his QAT/QI. Good thing that I noticed it and changed my move to BAYE/BI/AA.
Round 8 Scorecard: 4-4, +193
Stats:
Final Score: 387-343 (spread: +44)
First Player: Opp
Counting Accuracy:100% for both
?? - 2/2 (100%)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 1/4 (25%)
Bingos: 2 (Opp- 0)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 1/4 (25%)
Bingos: 2 (Opp- 0)
Tiles Used: 47 (Opp-52, Unused-1)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-0)
Lost Turn if any: 1 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 1 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 111.27 in 12 moves
Standings after Day 1
Day 2
Round 9 vs. Robbie Onate
Our first match in this tourney gave me a superior edge with 3 bingos, MOPIEST, OUTFIRE and rESAWING, while he was late to be rESCUED in this game.
Round 9 Scorecard: 5-4, +306 spread
Stats:
Final Score: 494-381 (spread: +113)
First Player: Opp
Counting Accuracy: 99.60% (+2), Opp-100%
?? - 1/2 (50%)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 3/4 (75%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 1)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 3/4 (75%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 1)
Tiles Used: 51 (Opp-48, Unused-1)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-0)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 150.875 in 12 moves
Round 10 vs. Ben Filio
The table was too narrow wherein we could not write on it, so Ben used the other chair to record the scores.
It seemed that tile gods were coming my way as I laid down 3 bingos, TANNErY, CElIBATE and SPENDER. Ben got down CREATION in his reply to my first play.
Round 10 Scorecard: 6-4, +419 spread
Stats:
Final Score: 496-383 (spread: +113)
First Player: Me
Counting Accuracy: 99.80% (-1), Opp-100%
?? - 2/2 (100%)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 1/4 (25%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 1)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 1/4 (25%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 1)
Tiles Used: 56 (Opp-42, Unused-2)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-1)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-0)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 116.30 in 15 moves
Round 11 vs. Chris Abordo
Chris checking out the words he missed after the game.
Going back to the game, it was a good start for me drawing immediate DEFENSE, while Cris countered with I(N)TERROW. I challenged the word but it was ruled valid. I plucked down SPaRROW hooking the INTERROW with S for a whopping 107 points, but it was short lived as this was challenged off the board. Chris blocked the easiest spot next turn but I have another spot with R(E)POWeRS for 82+5. Later in the game, I had ?CEORTY on my rack but missed the 9-letter word thru DI. Anyhow, I managed to pluck down RECITEs afterwards to seal the game.
Round 11 scorecard: 7-4, +529
Stats:
Final Score: 503-393 (spread: +110)
First Player: Me
Counting Accuracy: 100% for both
?? - 2/2 (100%)
SSSS - 2/4 (50%)
JQXZ - 4/4 (100%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 2)
SSSS - 2/4 (50%)
JQXZ - 4/4 (100%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 2)
Tiles Used: 51 (Opp-46, Unused-3)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 1 (Opp-1)
Lost Turn if any: 1 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 1 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 110.88 in 14 moves
Round 12 vs. Maida Manaog
I was pleased to find the 6-letter overlap bingo after Maida's OSTEOMA, and played TEARING, but did not challenge her next play of TARPooN*. The game would have swang in my favor, because she would have tried to hook the TEARING with S the next play.
Round 12 scorecard: 7-5, +494
Stats:
Final Score: 375-410 (spread: -35)
First Player: Me
Counting Accuracy: 100% for both
?? - 0/2 (0%)
SSSS - 1/4 (25%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 1 (Opp- 2)
SSSS - 1/4 (25%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 1 (Opp- 2)
Tiles Used: 53 (Opp-46, Unused-1)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-1)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-1)
Equity Loss: 150.18 in 13 moves
Round 13 vs. Mohammad Suma
Orak had SPHERAL, BaGGIER and ENTITLE, while WEENIEST and SHADoWS for me. Missed a bingo holding the rack of ACIINOS.
Round 13 scorecard: 7-6, +381
Stats:
Final Score: 386-499 (spread: -113)
First Player: Me
Counting Accuracy: 100% for both
?? - 1/2 (50%)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 1/4 (25%)
Bingos: 2 (Opp- 3)
SSSS - 3/4 (75%)
JQXZ - 1/4 (25%)
Bingos: 2 (Opp- 3)
Tiles Used: 46 (Opp-53, Unused-1)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 2 (Opp-1)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 136.76 in 11 moves
Round 14 vs. Ben Filio
Ben's play of XO* at c9 which was challenged off the board that cost him the game. Sometimes, this happens when not rotating the board.
Round 14 scorecard: 8-6, +460
Stats:
Final Score: 441-362 (spread: +79)
First Player: Opp
Counting Accuracy: 97.78% (-10), Opp-100%
?? - 1/2 (50%)
SSSS - 1/4 (25%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 2 (Opp- 1)
SSSS - 1/4 (25%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 2 (Opp- 1)
Tiles Used: 51 (Opp-45, Unused-4)
Tile Exchanges if any: 1 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 2 (Opp-0)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-1)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-1)
Equity Loss: 118.41 in 14 moves
My play of (FOLIO)ING was a big blunder as Chris held the rack of ?AEIPRU, in what could have been a grandslam move thru the floating G or N. He missed it!
Round 15 Scorecard: 9-6, +476
Stats:
Final Score: 455-439 (spread: +16)
First Player: Me
Counting Accuracy: 100%, Opp-99.32% (-3)
?? - 1/2 (50%)
SSSS - 2/4 (50%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 2)
SSSS - 2/4 (50%)
JQXZ - 2/4 (50%)
Bingos: 3 (Opp- 2)
Tiles Used: 54 (Opp-43, Unused-3)
Tile Exchanges if any: 1 (Opp-1)
Challenges Made: 1 (Opp-2)
Lost Turn if any: 1 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 1 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 249.38 in 15 moves
Round 16 vs. Robbie Onate
We were playing at Board 3, and whoever wins would be finishing at 3rd Place.
Robbie prevailed as he employed tactics of blocking the board after taking an early lead.
Round 16 Scorecard: 9-7, +458
Stats:
Final Score: 358-376 (spread: -18)
First Player: Opp
Counting Accuracy: 100%, Opp-99.47% (-2)
?? - 1/2 (50%)
SSSS - 1/4 (25%)
JQXZ - 1/4 (25%)
Bingos: 1 (Opp- 1)
SSSS - 1/4 (25%)
JQXZ - 1/4 (25%)
Bingos: 1 (Opp- 1)
Tiles Used: 50 (Opp-49, Unused-1)
Tile Exchanges if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Challenges Made: 0 (Opp-0)
Lost Turn if any: 0 (Opp-0)
Phoney: 0 (Opp-0)
Equity Loss: 129.85 in 14 moves
My Score Card in the Event
My Overall Stats:
Wins Ratio: 9/16 (56.25%)
Average Score: 428 per game (Against: 399)
??: 19/32 (59.38%)
SSSS: 34/64 (53.13%)
JQXZ: 30/64 (46.88%)
Bingos: 33 in 16 games (Ave: 2 per game)
Tiles Used: 51 per game
Average Equity Loss: 130.64 per game
Final Standings after Day 2
Yours truly at 6th Place, "balik taya"
Maida Manaog claimed her 5th place finish
Mohammad Suma took his 4th place finish.
Robbie Onate at 3rd Place
Chris Abordo at Runner-up
Alexis Joyosa received his cash prize and a trophy.
The Philippine Scrabble Caravan kicked off late last year until this latest tournament covering parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. According to USAPI, a Grand Final will be held this coming November 2023 with the announcement of the exact date and details to follow.
Below are the list of the concluded Philippine Scrabble Caravan as of this date:
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