CHEAH ON SOWPODS
Do you have access to the pirate SOWPODS word list?
Ah ... well, as far as can be seen from the Elm Word List, which is what I presume you are referring to, it is perfectly above board. I presume that it has been through the formalities in Malaysia and anyone here buying it would be doing so in good faith. I declare quite openly that I have a copy of the Elm. I also have two copies of the current edition of Chambers in this room (one is for John Lam at his request), OSW3 (the covers have fallen off), OSPD3. I used to have Chambers Words but have since given it away. I also have various earlier editions of Chambers scattered about the place. I therefore make no apologies for owning a copy of the Elm list since no competing version is available here.
How do you feel about the UK transition to SOWPODS and North America voting 'no' on a similar move?
The UK is bowing to the inevitable. North America is being insular. OSPD is not a good dictionary in the sense that I could not use it as a dictionary. MW10 might be but I think I have enough dictionaries.
Do you see the change ever occuring in North America? The majority are quite protective over their word source but yet the fact remains that the top players must learn SOWPODS to compete in the World Scrabble Championship (WSC).
I think North America can afford to be insular because they are big. It is a microcosm of their economy, but it may adversely affect their WSC performance.
Yes, I agree.
I think the UK will be in a very strong position this year.
However, it is a fact that the likely North American WSC entrants are fairly pro-SOWPODS anyway.
Even so, I think the lack of SOWPODS/World Dictionary exposure had some effect last WSC. Not to mention the conditioning of the double challenge.
[See Phil Nelkon's article on challenges for more information.]
Please elaborate.
Cappelletto v Holgate (1999 WSC - Day 1). Holgate was way behind but caught up in large part because Cappelletto let TETANOUS go unchallenged. WSC is single challenge and the challenging player does not lose a turn if the challenge is unsuccessful.
Wow.... so Brian was in effect too rooted in the National Scrabble Association (NSA) rules and it cost him the game?
Yes, the same thing happened with Joel Sherman and PANNERS.
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