CHEAH ON PHILOSOPHY
What study techniques do you use and how do you prepare for a tournament or big match?
I find that the factor that most affects my game is whether or not I get enough sleep the night before. It's as simple as that. I am a bad sleeper.
How about word lists ... and so on. Do you study bingo racks or just words?
I suppose in this milieu one can't avoid coming across lists, but I don't study lists deliberately. I hate lists and I can't remember words easily out of context.
So do you hit the books at all or find actual game-time is the best tool?
I have a large stock of words picked up from reading. I am a bookworm, or was when I had the time. For example, I came across ALIQUOT the other day in the Companies Act. Its the only thing I can remember about it. RANGOLI - back page of the Life section of the Straits Times last year. MEZEREON - 'The Story of the Stone' by Barry Hughart. VAIVODE - go read Dracula.
So no 'official' Scrabble studying?
Desultory attempts now and then because I feel I should. But it never sticks. I often say that reading labels on supermarket items and shampoo bottles is more useful.
What is your relationship to the English langauge and your thoughts on playing Scrabble with a second langauge?
I don't regard English as a second language. I do not like to admit it but my Mandarin is execrable and getting worse through lack of use.
It is not beyond the realms of possibility that we could have a Naween Fernando - Ganesh Asirvatham World Championship final in November which would be amazing since neither have English as their first langauge.
They are both fluent. Many of the best writers in English today are not English (or American). Take 'The Remains of the Day', 'The Golden Gate' or 'The Monkey King'.
Okay, let me elaborate. Do you think Scrabble is language oriented?
The Thais don't speak much English. They are extremely good players. I sholdn't over-generalize though. Dr Jakkrit Klaphajone, for example, is perfectly fluent.
I often feel that many players view the game as a strategical or even mathematical game pivotting around bonuses and seeing words as numerical values.
You are right there. But I like words. I have just finished reading 'Ex Libris', a collection of essays by Anne Fadiman, an American writer. Worth reading and quite a lot about logophily.
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