VIEW FROM THE TOP
Winner Naween Fernando reports:
Having arrived back from holidaying in Oman and Sri Lanka on the 23rd of January, I decided to make a late entry into the tournament. Took the early morning flight to Sydney - (had to get up at 3:30 a.m. though) and the prospect of playing 10 games on day one hadn't really crossed my mind.
Tournament start was spot on time at 9:00 a.m. with 52 competitors - and NSW (Sydney) seemed to be the strongest outfit on paper.
Game 1 - Norma Tracey
Despite my three bingos to her one final scores were 392 - 344 in my favour. FLUVIA was deemed unacceptable but was pleased to find PLACATED.
Game 2 - Jenny Thompson
I started off with IMAGOES to which she immediately replies with HAUNTED. Some consistent high scoring and a late bonus of MAELIDS sealed the game for me 493-290.
Game 3 - Bob Jackman
Had the tiles flowing my way against a very tough opponent and three bingos to none swung the game my way - 445-307.
Game 4 - Esther Perrins
An early miss of YWROkEN* had me in some trouble (Rod Talbot on the other table commented that it had actually been deleted some time back - ouch!). Esther made a fine play of ESPIAL through an E onto the triple. However GRADINo and AESTIVAL later on help me to a
not-so-comfortable victory - 414-342.
Game 5 - Steve Sunter
Countered Steve's early bonus of GREYESt with SCARMOGE through one of the E's. Followed up with ARANEID and won despite a fine outplay by Steve using the Z. 400-345.
Game 6 - Anne Drew
A game marked by some controversy to say the least. A late play of TESTODE* by me goes unchallenged for some reason. I pick QV from the bag to which there is only one place for the Q and yet I am trailing by 12 points.
It is Anne's turn and with a rack of COURIE? - she opts for COURsE and TESTODES* which I challenge off. I manage to get my Q down for 11 points - Anne's lead is now 1 point. She makes a play for 20 points and the situation is a hopeless one for me as there is no place for the V to go down.
However I calmly play VOFT*/VAW for 19 points - which surprisingly goes unchallenged - again! After countback I win 402-398. What follows is a barrage of criticism, practical man-handling and being accused of cheating! Welcome to Australia! (Note - the tournament was single challenge i.e. free challenges)
Game 7 - Paul Cleary
Paul plays a very high scoring games with beauties such as WUSS/OSHAC and a solitary bingo and manages to win comfortably despite three bingos from me. As if playing Paul wasn't tough enough, Anne was making her own comments across the table! My first loss 382-441.
Game 8 - Joan Rosenthal
Joan starts off with the pretty APaTITES to which I reply with OGRESSES through her S. Was pleased to find NOVeRINT (yes, INVENTOR is good as well!) and cap it off with REELING though LEGERING was also available. Joan mentioned that I could have played my C to make CREELING at the end. Still a big win 488-342.
Game 9 - Rod Talbot
At one stage I was leading 309-126, thanks to RECoILED and DOWDIEST - although I had missed the nine timer CREVICED. Rod makes a huge comeback with some great finds - GLOBOSE and SAgENES (overlapping 5 tiles) and coupled with a back rack leave towards the
end I pull off a not-so-deserved win, 431-398.
Game 10 - John Holgate
I got off to a good start with STINGED but John bingos with CUtLETS to narrow the gap. Again I miss a crucial bonus of DIPSTICk through the D, but am lucky to get with VArIATES later on and win 478-328.
Game 11 - Trevor Halsall
Again a reasonable start with FEARLESS and a late bingo of DIVERTS won me the game - though I believe Mark Watkins might have a few things to say as the game was annotated. Won 400-331 (20 points time penalty for Trevor)
Game 12 - Harry Malcolm
My good friend from Victoria. Was happy to spot SOYBEAN early and apparently blocked Harry's VERONICA but Harry finds ExHUMERS for 84 to come back. However a miss of GERAO* by Harry and my InHERCE put me in front. Was pleased to spot KEAVIE towards the end. Won 428-364.
Game 13 - Alistair Kane
Another Victorian! Alistair makes an early EMULATED to which I reply with LImBERED. A move of FASTING/GARE puts me in front and a late bonus of NEROLIS by Alistair is not enough for him. Won 434-394.
Game 14 - Cheryl Michler
My FINANCES is countered by Cheryl's DOdGERS and ENaTION -end game but plays of UMBEL and PARVE help me to a 417-377 win after penalties for time and not writing down words played.
Game 15 - Keiichiro Hirai
After reading KC's (as he call's himself) e-mail almost every week it was nice to finally meet the gentleman from Japan. KC is a really tough competitor and intends to take part in forthcoming international tournaments.
KC plays DEFLATED through LA for 52 points early on only to block my VILLANOUS also through LA! However I manage VIHUELAS later which is countered by KC's GLORIEs. He also made a classy play of FATSO through a T and hooking the S as well. A tight endgame followed which swung my way thanks to some very lucky picks. Won 412-383.
Game 16 - Esther Perrins
The game I needed to win to secure the tournament. I challenge Esther's opening move of BIRCHED which is acceptable. A play of BENEDICT through her B is immediately followed by Esther's SNUGGLED on the D.
A hopelessly careless move of cARVIEsT* (yes, two blanks!) by me sees Esther back in the game. However I spot VERAtrIA elsewhere but the lead is marginal. Esther ends up with the Q and I win 441-396. Another annotated game which should prove interesting.
Game 17 - John Holgate
An early miss of BROMATED by me puts me off the track. John comes up with some real Scrabble magic with CLEVEITE through a V and IDONEITY through an I. Further blunders of not playing MOFFEtTE to block a triple hotspot and playing INEQUAL* cost me dearly.
John wins 478-318. An annotated game which I would not like to read about for sure - but I think John has other plans!
Game 18 - John Holgate
A return match with John because of the King of the Hill system or as Wilma says - Monarch of the Monolith. Had some fairly straight plays of TRENISE, ISOTONE and DARTInG to John's EVICTING and BrINERS. However another win for me, 514-418.
On the whole the tournament went like clockwork on both days and was superbly run with John Holgate the main Organiser. As usual Wilma Vialle was spot on with her directing and I was very happy to win the prestigious Sydney International Masters Tournament for the first time.
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