SRI LANKAN TAKES THE MASTERS BY STORM
Naween Fernando turned in another impressive performance on Sunday to blitz the opposition and carry off the 2001 Sydney International Masters Scrabble Championships.
He won 16/18 games with a spread of 1013. The battle for silver and bronze was intense with Sydney's Joan Rosenthal clinching second (13/18 +775) and John Holgate third (12/18 +830.)
Some of Naween's fine plays included VERATRIA [a poisonous alkaloid mixture], VIHUELAS [old Spanish guitars] and BENEDICT [a blessing].
16-year old Chris May was a respectable 14th on 10 wins and +392 with a high game of 545 and two interesting bingos - TRIPLANES and KEITLOA [a two-horned rhinoceros].
Jean McGiffen's SAVIOURS (149) was the highest word score and Paul Cleary's 652 won the high game award.
Final top 15 standings:
| Sydney International Masters, January 2001 |
| 1. |
Naween Fernando |
Sri Lanka |
16/18 |
+1013 |
| 2. |
Joan Rosenthal |
Sydney |
13/18 |
+775 |
| 3. |
John Holgate |
Sydney |
12/18 |
+830 |
| 4. |
Rod Talbot |
Wollongong |
12/18 |
+802 |
| 5. |
Paul Cleary |
Sydney |
12/18 |
+541 |
| 6. |
Keiichiro Hirai |
Japan |
11.5/18 |
+635 |
| 7. |
Alistair Kane |
Victoria |
11/18 |
+957 |
| 8. |
Esther Perrins |
Sydney |
11/18 |
+515 |
| 9. |
Steve Sunter |
Sydney |
11/18 |
+201 |
| 10. |
Cheryl Michler |
Sydney |
11/18 |
+182 |
| 11. |
Angie Pearse |
Victoria |
11/18 |
+164 |
| 12. |
Matte Dunn |
Tasmania |
11/18 |
+61 |
| 13. |
Bob Jackman |
Sydney |
10/18 |
+461 |
| 14. |
Chris May |
Sydney |
10/18 |
+392 |
| 15. |
Jean McGiffen |
Sydney |
10/18 |
+352 |
*****
Older News From 27 January 2001:
FERNANDO LEADS AFTER DAY ONE
At the end of the first 10 rounds of the Sydney International Masters 2001 Naween Fernando from Sri Lanka leads by one game on 9/10.
He and I had a battle for top spot in game 10 but Naween ran away with a 150 point win. Esther Perrins (Sydney) and Ann Drew (Queensland) are on 8 and 7.5 wins.
Plays of the day were Trevor Halsall's six tile overlap of TOEIEST on top of PANDIES, Bob Jackman's nine-letter PALTERING through P and L and Keiichiro's brilliant setup play of DUUMVIR [either of two magistrates in ancient Rome who held the office jointly] making UNQUIET and DUUMVIRI [the plural] next time for 142 to salvage a 462-all draw. Click here for Keicho's personal comments on this game with board and playthrough.
Some other unusual words played were PERIODID, GLOBOSE, REPRIVES, LEGGIERO [musical direction meaning light or graceful] and CHORDAL.
Current Top 12 standings
| Sydney International Masters, January 2001 |
| 1. |
Naween Fernando |
Sri Lanka |
9/10 |
| 2. |
Esther Perrrins |
Sydney |
8/10 |
| 3. |
Ann Drew |
Queensland |
7.5/10 |
| 4. |
Bob Jackman |
Sydney |
7/10 |
| 5. |
John Holgate |
Sydney |
7/10 |
| 6. |
Rod Talbot |
Wollongong |
7/10 |
| 7. |
Joan Rosenthal |
Sydney |
7/10 |
| 8. |
Trevor Halsall |
Sydney |
7/10 |
| 9. |
Keichiro Hirai |
Japan |
6.5/10 |
| 10. |
Harry Malcolm |
Victoria |
6/10 |
| 11. |
Alistair Kane |
Victoria |
6/10 |
| 12. |
Paul Cleary |
Sydney |
6/10 |
The final 8 rounds will be played on Sunday January 28th.
*****
DAY 1 SESSION 1
Narween Fernando from Sri Lanka (1999 World Masters champ) leads the field into lunch of the 2001 Sydney International Masters after 4 games.
Paul Cleary top scored with 652. Anne Drew drew with Japan's Keiichiro Hirai with 462 each.
INTRODUCTION
Fifty master wordsmiths will compete in this year's Sydney International Masters Scrabble Championships.
Japan's current national champion Keiichiro Hirai will head 'down under' to do battle with the top Australian players. The field includes seven national champions including the present Australian Champion Paul Cleary - the favourite to defend his 2000 Masters title.
Other contenders include 16-year old wunderkind Chris May, former British champ Esther Perrins and 1999 World Scrabble Championship reps Bob Jackman, Alistair Kane, Joan Rosenthal, Barbara Berlin and John Holgate. Joan (right) is also the Guinness World Record holder for the highest opening score in tournament Scrabble with BEZIQUE, worth 124 points.
Joan Rosenthal, SIM 2001 Contender.
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The 18-round two-day contest begins on Saturday January 27th at the Landmark Park Royal Hotel in Kings Cross Sydney. Results will be posted after each session together with reports of unusual words and brilliant plays.
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