Birthday Bash Scrabble Tournament for Atty. Antonio Malonzo

Event: Atty. Antonio Malonzo's Birthday Bash Tournament
Venue: Raloy's Lutong Bahay, Sampaloc, Manila (in front of PRC)
Dates: October 1, 2023

Dictionary: CSW21

Challenge Rule: 5-Point Penalty

Format: Straight KOTH

Round 1 Pairing: Drawing of Lots

No. of Rounds: 10

Birthday Cake for Atty. Antonio Malonzo

Celebrating the nth Birthday of Atty. Antonio Malonzo

The playing area inside Raloy's Lutong Bahay

Group Picture

The 16 Participants

Round 1 vs. Mohammad Suma

What could I say about the first round drawing of lots? I was paired to Mohammad "Orak" Suma. My DAUNTON (65) was answered by his EGOTIz(E)D (72), then I had ADrE(N)ALS (82) and Orak bingoed back with (L)OVESEAT (72+5). When I played PORTIER, Orak hooked it with E to make PORTIERE. I was surprised to find out that it was indeed a good hook after I challenged the play. Later, Orak hit back again with another bingo, (G)HOULIES (86+5) going to this board position.

Board position after Orak's GHOULIES

My Score: 385

Orak's Score: 400

Unseen Tiles: AACDEEGHINOOVYZ (8 in the bag)

I think this was the critical part of the game. I had only one vowel, and looking at my tracking sheet, there were 7 vowels against 8 consonants left, while the Z was still out, a threat at j10 square as well as a possible good score of Z-word along 12th row whoever get hold of the Z, would have the advantage and a big chance of winning the game. There were also several scoring threats along the 2nd row particularly at 2j or 2f playing parallel word to GHOULIES. At first, I thought of playing B(R)IM at 10k for 18 points blocking the dangerous Z-spot but decided to score at 2f with BRIN hoping to draw the Z and some vowels.

As it turned out, Orak replied with IZA(R) (10i) for 68 points and that was the turning point of the game.

In my Post-Mortem review at home, BRIN (2f) was indeed the top choice of the Engine, however the chance of winning was about 24%.

Round 1 Final Board Position vs. Orak Suma

Final Score: 463-531, L (Spread: -68)

Round 2 vs. Alexis Joyosa

In this game, Alexis had three bingos, StO(V)AINE (70), LE(N)TICLE (70+5) and WANdERS (82) while I had only one bingo, VIRIONS (78+5) in my initial play. I had several scoring moves to counter his bingos which keep me ahead throughout the game. When he opened up with (C)ON, I replied with a defensive move of AE (h13) in order to deflect his posible comeback. Final Score: 449-419, W (Spread: +30)

Ronald Credo vs. Alexis Joyosa in Round 2

Round 2 Final Board Position vs. Alexis

Round 3 vs. Abdul "Bobby" Suma

A good win with one bingo apiece, STEREOS (69) for me, while StORAGE (70) for Bobby wherein I replied with ATOP parallel to it, missing a nine-letter word bingo holding AEIOPRT through NE along 4th row. Final Score: 447-370, W (Spread: +77)

Round 3 Final Board Position vs. Bobby Suma

Lunch Break at Raloy's Lutong Bahay courtesy of the Birthday Guy

Round 4 vs. Ben Filio

It was a nip and tuck game until Ben played OAR at n13 giving me a good counterplay, HONE in the triple. We had one bingo apiece, NER(V)uLES (72) for him while ARCHIvE (72) for me. Final Score: 425-365 W (Spread: +60)

Round 4 Final Board Position vs. Ben

Round 5 vs. Mohammad "Orak" Suma

I had three bingos, CASTLES (78), SORROWE(R) (72+5) and MeDIATE (78) while Orak had back-to back bingos, mETHODI(C) (95) (missing THEODICy) and UNPAVED (94+5).

Another analytic pre-endgame finish between us, going to this board position.

Board Position after Orak's TALAQ

My Score: 391

Orak's Score: 376

Unseen Tiles: DEFGIIIINR (3 in the bag)

Surveying the board, I could see the possibility that Orak might bingo along n-file hooking R to OURIE, and so I was thinking a way to block that spot like CRIB (n12), but I would only give that spot for him to hit the triple. I didn't want to empty the bag, so I decided to play off just two tiles, and that was N(I)B (l12) setting up RICKS. (Just realized later that if Orak had DINGIER/ OURIER after that and even if I picked up either I or F, then it would be a loss for me.)

Good thing that Orak was struggling with his rack and just played (D)I (3l). Since there were two spots for him to play DINGIER, the only way to block it was to hook S on OE, and so I played SICK.

In my Post-Mortem review at home using the Engine from the board position above, these were the top choices:

B(O)INK (10j) was the top choice with 100% chance of winning, while my play of NIB was not on the top 10 move list but when I scrolled down, I found out that it had 89% chance of winning. So, it was a lucky break for me that Orak did not have the right combination after my NIB.

Orak stretching his arms after the game

Round 5 Final Board Position vs. Orak

Final Score: 464-410, W (Spread: +54)

Round 6 vs. Maida Manaog at Board 2

I started the game with WIFE (h5) playing vertically leaving ABE, then Maida replied with ANODAL (g5) forming one invalid word NI*, which I challenged off the board. I guessed my initial vertical play worked well to confused her. My second move was a parallel bingo, BOATErS for 77 points and was ahead, 97-0. Maida got frustrated and didn't perform well the whole game. At one point, I had AAENRST, and failed to spot the four timer with the floating J, however, I was able to play the bingo, elsewhere. Final Score: 456-288, W (Spread: +168)

Round 6 Final Board Position vs. Maida

Round 6- Maida Manaog vs. Ronald Credo at Board 2

Round 7 vs. Melvin Dalangin at Board 1

Having won five straight games after a Round 1 loss, I was paired to Melvin who was in the top spot at that time. His RACIEST was answered by my GODETIA. Later I held AEHLNOT, couldn't hit ETHANOL as there wasn't any opening but was able to slot in a nice bingo in the floating E, laying down in a much safer position.

Melvin played just one tile putting M to i13 going into the endgame, the board looked like this.

Board Position after Melvin's MOM

My Score: 410

Melvin's Score: 353

Unseen Tiles: AGILNOSST (2 in the bag)

I was thinking that the only way to win this game was to deny Melvin a grandslam finish. So, I was focusing to block along the c-file and e-file, to play a word in that spot such that it would avoid Melvin a last ditch bingo. Not very sure whether my actual play of VaNG/ DICTa was enough to win the game, but I played it anyway. Then I drew GO from the bag.

Melvin, holding AILNSST told me that I successfully blocked his INSTALS, while shaking his head. He did not bother to look further, and just played (C)ANTS. I heaved a sigh of relief as the floating G that I just opened could have given Melvin a nice out bingo of  AN(G)LISTS.

Since, this was an interesting position, I ran a simulation from an Engine in my post-mortem analysis and found out the following top moves:

 The top choice was STaNG (c6), which blocks not only the c-file or e-file, but also the possibility of bingoing a word ending in letter A along the 11th row, for instance AGLOSSI(A), GLOSSIN(A), GALTONI(A) based on unseen tiles. A play of STRiNG or STRoNG (c6) for example does not guarantee a 100% win in view of possibility of SIALONS (9b). I haven't tested the other top plays, but the one that caught my attention was the GRaIN or GRoIN at l9. This could win by measly 3 points even if Melvin had INSTALS (e6). Even with the rack combination that would bingo out with GLOSSINA or GALTONIA would not be enough for Melvin to win after GRaIN.

I think, I still need to improve on my pre-endgame strategy using a technical approach in any situations given the possibility of scoring with high probability of winning the game, not just by blocking.

Melvin couldn't believe he missed ANGLISTS, the anangram of SALTINGS

Round 7 Final Board Position vs. Melvin

Final Score: 438-391, W (Spread: +47)

Round 8 vs. Melvin Dalangin at Board 1

A return bout with Melvin, but this time, he was much more ferocious with three bingos, NITERIE (69), LIO(N)ISER (70) and ENROOtS (65). I had only TERTIAN (70) to counter with. I tried to come closer but when he played QUaLM for 53 points, that sealed the win for him. Final Score: 402-431, L (Spread: -29)

Round 8 Final Board Position vs. Melvin

Putting up the final scores in Round 8 wherein Melvin emerged victorious.

Round 9 vs. Leo Capuno at Board 2

With my loss in Round 8, I faced the recently crowned Baguio Champ, none other than Leo Capuno. We have not played for a long time. The last time I remember was when we were still working in Dubai way back 2008-2010, I think. But whatever it was, this would be a tough game for me.

Despite my early lead playing cHANGES (78), ANTLIAE (69), BUC(K)ET (49) in succession, Leo kept at pace with his JAMES (54), PERCH (39) and RUST(L)InG (61).

As we approached the pre-endgame, the board looked like this:

Board Position after Leo's YO

My Score: 352

Leo's Score: 355

Unseen Tiles: DDDEGILRTVX (4 in the bag)

Having seen Leo's last play of YO at 2j, I presumed that he was holding the letter "R" giving him control of RYA. My other problem was the unseen X, due to scoring threat like XI at b14 or n14. Due to this, I needed an opening in case he held the X, and with my good rack and a lucky pick up would give me some counterplay.

And the game proceeded this way:

Me: AAAENST h12 (R)ANA +12 -> 364 (I left one tile in the bag)

Leo: c3 VEX +37 -> 392

Me: AEST+DDI 7a TIDE +18 -> 382

Leo: DGLRT DR(A)G +14 -> 406

Me: 6d DAS +24 -> 406 + 4 (LT) -> 410

Final Score: 410-404, W (Spread: +4)

And I won by 4 points! Looking back at our plays, DA(N)DIEST was in my mind during the game but didn't play it as I wasn't sure about it. (Maybe, this was a result of a 5-year layoff, even the simplest bingo was being missed.) Leo realized that he had also bungled his winning chances after my TIDE, because he told me later in the game that D(IN)G/ GOFFERS would have won him the game. I was again lucky to have escaped a victory on this game.

Round 9 Final Board Position

Leo analyzing our Round 9 game

Round 10 vs. Ben Filio at Board 2

At the start of this final round, Orak, Melvin and I had 7 wins each, but Orak had the best spread of +559, followed by Melvin with +414, while I had +343. Following the KOTH format, Orak would play Melvin in board 1. At board 2, I would face Ben Filio who had the best spread among the 6-pointers. My only chance of snatching the championship was for Melvin to win by small margin, while I need to win by a big margin.

In our first seven moves, Ben had exchanged tiles in two of his turns, while I struggled with vowel problems in my first four turns. Then came my three consecutive bingos, SAURIeS (68), VINTAGE(D) (83) and s(E)RJEANT (110+5) which had given me a +193 lead. Prior to the endgame, I was caught up with plenty of letter "I's" in my rack, then Z and X came in but the gap was already reduced to +154, nonetheless, I took my 8th win with a total spread of +497. Final Score: 485-331, W (Spread: +154)

Our game finished first, while Orak and Melvin were still slugging it out at board 1. When I peeped at their scores, I saw Melvin was leading. In the end, Melvin had won by +97 spread giving him a total spread of +511 for his 8th win, too! I was just 15 points shy of making it to the top spot. But still very happy at 2nd place, my best finish so far after three tournaments.

.

Ben looking at the board after our Round 10 game

Round 10 Final Board Position vs. Ben

Awarding Time

6th Place - Ben Filio (6 wins, +156)

5th Place - Maxell Bashier (6 wins, +161)

4th Place - Bobby Suma (6 wins, +487)

3rd Place - Mohammad Suma (7 wins, +462)

2nd Place - Ronald Credo (8 wins, +497)

Champion - Melvin Dalangin (8 wins, +511)

Final Standings after 10 Rounds
1. Melvin Dalangin 8 +511
2. Ronald Credo 8 +497
3. Mohammad Suma 7 +462
4. Bobby Suma 6 +487
5. Maxell Bashier 6 +161
6. Ben Filio 6 +156
7. Leo Capuno 5 +201
8. Aljoe Tomie 5 +110
9. Maida Manaog 5 +96
10. Sajidkhan Unte 5 +56
11. Emil Borboran 5 +29
12. Tony Malonzo 4 +1
13. Rhoel Malonzo 4 -190

14. Alexis Joyosa 4 -207

15. Kenneth Bagay 3 -630

16. Carmina Bermas 2 -840