NAME :
Keiichiro Hirai

AGE/AREA :
27 from Kanagawa, Japan

OCCUPATION :
System Engineer Assistant/Translator

ACHIEVEMENTS :

• Japanese National Champion 1999 and 2000
• 6th in Sydney Masters 2001
• 72nd at World Championship 1999

COMMENTS :
Started recreational Scrabble 7 years agao, seriously playing Scrabble (SOWPODS) since 1998.

I enjoy watching shogi games on TV. I have fewer chances to play face-to-face games. I believe it is important to learn Scrabble words and strategies by joining several mailing lists of overseas players to increase Scrabble popularity and improve skills among Japanese players. I like reading quotation books, other interesting word books. I play at least one scrabble game against PC a day.

My real Scrabble skills have not reached the elite ranks yet, but as a possible dark horse in international tournaments I hope to upgrade Japanese players recognition in the Scrabble world.

Apart from Scrabble, I like listening Japanese pop music and American country music. I like travelling with a tournament in my itinerary.

UNQUIET/DUUMVIRI (142pt) is my highest turn at tournament level; MONEYERS 176 is my best in a friendly game. On 19th March 2001, at the Tokyo Scrabble Club, I played my best game - 5 bingos: PLACATE(78) SEPIOST(71) CARBINE(68) GAOLInG(70) and ENDgAME(97) and achieved my highest game 629 points vs 220, besting the 589 I made in spring 2000. Later in a friendly game with a TSC member, I again played 5 bingos THYROID(71) SITUATED(72) RARIFIES(72) UNDERLAy(66) SHORTIA(93) - 514 vs 336. My greatest day of Scrabble so far.