WSC Failing Memories

I'm cheating a bit here because I was asked to write a short report for the SSA...

Allan and I were travelling together on the Tuesday, flying from Edinburgh via Amsterdam to Warsaw, due to arrive at 4.30 pm. We picked Allan up and arrived at Edinburgh with plenty of time to spare only to see our flight was delayed by half an hour. This eventually became an hour and a quarter meaning that we missed our onward connection. Unhappily for us they (KLM - name and shame) decided to put us on a Lufthansa 7.30 pm flight via Munich! Allan managed to get a message to Philip to let him know. We were both getting stressed out as the Munich flight started to also show a delay, and our connection there looked in jeopardy. Half an hour late, and when we landed in Munich we ran to the next gate which they had kept open, knowing we were coming! We finally arrived in Warsaw at 11 pm, but unfortunately my baggage didn't run us fast as us at Munich. After filling in a lost baggage form we arrived at the Hilton around midnight and managed to register as they were still getting the room ready.

So I sat down to game 1 just relieved to be playing. I lost the first and last matches of day 1, but won the 5 in between, which was more than I had hoped for considering the circumstances. My baggage had arrived by the time I got back to my room. I was very grateful with how many people came to say how glad they were I had made it during the day, and offering help. Beverley Calder let me use her score pad for day 1.

This turned out to be a frustrating tournament. Everytime I made a move up the leaderboard to be in contention I then had a run of losing games to drop back down the field. However, I was still in with a chance on the final day which started well. I missed my chance in the afternoon when I dismissed K(EROS) against Chris Lipe which would have won me the game and moved me up to fifth or sixth with 3 to go. I lost the next game too against Komol - a horribly frustrating game from my perspective. I bounced back to win the penultimate game which gave me a chance to finish 10th if I could win the final match against Alistair Richards. It started well, with me taking a decent lead but then a run of 4 vowelless racks killed my chances as he got back-to-back bonuses and a substantial lead that I could not overhaul.

On the whole I think I played well. I got a couple of 'gifted' games that I should have lost, most notably Nathan Benedict not knowing/blocking MONETHS on my final rack. I was also happy to make a miracle comeback against Lewis Mackay - I knew I needed to make dangerous openings and sometimes luck smiles on you.

I finished 18th, very disappointed. But happy that Scotland has achieved a fifth spot for 2013.

My WSC Stats

Starts: 11 Replies: 13 harumph - 57% games won by player who started

Blanks: for 22 against 26 harumph

Average: 448.17 6th overall - about normal for me

Games:

0 blanks: won 3 lost 4

1 blank: won 7 lost 5

2 blanks: won 5 lost 0

Position: 10th

Countdown to KL - 12 Days to Go

So I have 12 days until I fly out to KL. I have started thinking about what to take - as little as possible. I do not need a light sweater or jacket. I do need one or two nice dresses for the receptions. One pair of jeans is enough... And I can utilise the hotel laundry services... And I must find my earplugs...

The Mattel publicity machine has started. Yesterday I had a phone call from the Berwickshire news. The girl sounded particularly uninterested in the scrabble, focusing more on where I may be doing some shopping and sightseeing. ITV Borders phoned later in the afternoon and have arranged to come here to do some filming on Tuesday. Could I have a board out and 'anything visual'. So I may hunt out some of my trophies...

I have stopped adding things into my anagrams cardbox like a madwoman. That is not to say nothing more is going in - just more like a slightly deranged woman. I am feeling a lot better for this reduction in cramming.

I am continuing on my anagrams and hooks for the 4 letter words.

And I am going back over the higher probability bonus words from the 6 and 7 letter stems. I am recreating my beautiful coloured spreadsheets that were never updated following the switch to Collins - maybe I can get a couple on show for the ITV crew. They are very visual :)

I have also found some time on the nicer days to get the veggie patch in order. All weeded now and paths made to create smaller beds. I am seconding Paul and Penny is coming to help this afternoon to get the muck on.

WSC Day 3

Game 17: Wellington Jighere - Nig
I had made it to table 1, not from my own performance but as I was drawn to play Wellington. This meant the extra pressure of having the game annotated and on the WSC website for all to see, so I won't go into great detail here.
I missed a bonus (WEALSMAN) when Wellington blocked (S)ALESMAN. I also completely overlooked hooking BOT with the A when I played CRAP. I was very pleased to see the blank go down when Wellington bonused with (R)EFINErY as I was holding the other one and felt I still had a good chance in the game. (I)ODAtING two moves later to retake a 46 point lead was enough to get me across the line.
W: 465-418

Game 18: Nigel Richards - NZ
My reward for winning was to stay on table one to play Nigel. This game is also annotated on the WSC website. I had a dream start when Nigel gave me an E for FaVORIT(E). I again missed a bonus, MU(S)CADEL, playing MU(S)CLED instead. A couple of other sub-optimum moves, but I still felt I had a chance until Nigel bonused with AgATIZE...
L: 415-518

Game 19: Tim Adamson - USA
Tim bonused on his first move with A(R)UGULAS and I exchanged 6 tiles, catching him back up the following move with S(U)NSHAdE. The game was pretty close until Tim bonused again on move 9 with COvETIN(G). I was forced to make a low scoring opening. Tim only part blocked it, but DONSIER was not enough for me to win.
L: 405-425

Game 20: Patrick Litunya - Ken
I was really struggling at the start of this game with an excess of vowels, playing off AGA, FIE and DAE. Patrick bonused on move 3 with SODAINE followed by ZO two moves later for 63. I got back on move 7 with tENEBRI(O), and took the lead the following move with OXEN, keeping it for the next three turns. Then Patrick bonused with MALTASE - game over.
L: 370-485

Game 21; David Eldar - Aus
As much as I was liking the Canadians in this tournament I was beginning to hate the Australians. I was never in this game. David got a hat-trick against me on moves 3,4 and 5. I tried a hook I was fairly sure was not allowed as I needed the points - David held for a while before challenging. Off it came. I then opted to play the bonus to open up a 9-x, and David had choices holding both the blanks...
L: 344-577

Game 22: Wajid Iqbal - Pak
I was never under any pressure in this game. I was starting and changed tiles. I bonused on move 4 with MEANeST, and changed five tiles again on move 5. This policy seemed to be working - (N)EMPT balanced a consonant heavy rack. Wajid opened the triple with JA(T)O, I opened another with KiNGLES on move 7. Wajid played a phony (CRA(K)Y) that I challenged off. An easy 51 with the X for me. Wajid took the J triple, and I took the K triple. I was 150 up and kept the margin through to the end.
W: 444-293

Game 23: Siu Hean Cheah - Sgp
Cheah appeared to be vowel heavy, opening with UNAI. I had the opposite problem and dumped W(I)Z. OXO from Cheah, and FRUG from me. I bonused on move 3 with UNDRAPE. Cheah hit straight back with OVENBiR(D) to retake the lead, but I had picked sHETL(A)ND from the bag. I took a while looking for the 9-x - having checked the only other bonus is HUNTEDLY which I didn't know and it didn't fit anyway. Cheah bonused again on move 7 with NITRIDE but was still behind, and I scored well on the triple with ARTSY. Cheah took the other one with KAYO. I dumped EUOI and had a kind pickup for TANGIES the following move. I now just had to not do anything stupid to win.
W: 462-398

Game 24: Howard Warner - NZ
Howard started with BOWER, and my opening rack of NETLIKE was playable. Howard levelled the scores at 144 each on move 5 with the great spot of (DI)SSIpATE on a tight board. AX from me. Howard then tried to block any high scoring plays from me hooking AX onto the double with FOOD, which set up YUCH from a grotty rack for 64! (T)UNNAGES on move 9 from me sealed the game, and playing out with RObINIA just rubbed salt into the wounds.
W: 481-340

After the first game of the day my hopes were high, but after losing the next 4 I suppose I have to be happy to have stopped the rot and finished the day all square. 14.5-9.5 for the tourney and 15th place.

I went over to congratulate Suanne Ong as being the top female finisher, on 15 wins. She very sweetly said that I was still the top woman, she was the top girl :)

Nigel and Ganesh had made it through to the final the following day.

WSC Day 2

Game 9: Andrew Fisher - Aus
Andrew bonused first on move 3 with a low scoring ENDE(M)IAL but I hit back on move 4 with DRACENA. I picked a blank, but was very consonant heavy. Andrew hit me on successive moves with (D)EMISInG (89), BW(A)ZI (40), PA(G)ANISE and STOOKIE (81), while I was still struggling with an excess of consonants. I eventually got NoCTULE but it was too little too late. My last rack of THREAVE had nowhere to go - I correctly did not try STOOKIER.
L: 392-496

Game 10: Terry Kirk - Eng
This was my only game against a fellow Brit.
I started with WILCO and my replacement tiles were not good, so changed 5 on move 2. In the meanwhile Terry had played JAG and LEZ. BEDA(Z)E to still be behind, but I drew an S and blank. CARAT from terry, and I spent a long time trying to find a bonus to slot underneath, eventually giving up and playing TENuI(O)US. Apparently Terry missed a bonus here - having spotted the possibility and then as I had taken so long forgetting about it when I gave him the floater he needed. He played WEIGH instead, but was still slightly ahead at this point. A consonant heavy pickup from me was cleared with (C)ADGY resulting in (A)NDROIDS the following move and some breathing space. RoUTEM(E)N 3 moves later secured a healthy win.
W: 429-296

Game 11: David Boys - Can
I started with an AUA dump, giving David a U for his Q. This, however, gave me 67 points for OXHEAD. GLITC(H) from David allowed a neat slot of FA(C)E for 30 from a vowel heavy rack. David was obviously suffering the other way, playing D(A)MP. AZIONE reply for 52 and a bonus sized lead. We then both changed tiles. David obviously didn't fare well and changed again. JE(E) from me, and david bonused with ENTR(I)SMS. I then got away with a phony - misremembered SCIRRHI, but David didn't even hold. It could have been so different - the scores would have been neck-and-neck if it had come off the board. AVErSION two moves later from me killed the game.
W: 445-317

Game 12: Sherwin Rodriguies - Ind
Sherwin started with DAMN, allowing me to dump the Q. (N)EXT blocked my SEAWEED, but I bonused the following move with FADIEST, and extended the lead over the next couple of turns with JUR(A)T (40) and THA(C)K (30). Sherwin bonused on move 6 with DELIRIA and briefly took the lead by one point with OIU(JA) before I bonused again with BoNUSES :) Sherwin came back at me with FAME (40) and GRAVERs (77) to take the lead, but I could respond with COZIE (66+5) with tiles running out.
W: 425-397

Game 13: Marty Gabriel - USA
Marty was a little late arriving but the clock had not been started.
This was a flowing game for me. ERRANTS (68) on move 3, picking PERJU(R)eD for 118. SALtINE from Marty on move 7 was not enough to counter my scoring onslaught of WATER (40), COIF (34+5), HUMAN (37), NAVY (41), B(Y)LINE (33), XI (52) and HAIRY (54).
W: 536-329


Game 14: Jason Katz-Brown - USA
Neither of us started well. I had been opening the game and had to exchange tiles. The scores remained close, the lead switching between us but after 8 moves apiece we were back to level at 180 points each. I then bonused with DRYINGs, getting an extra 5 when Jason challenged. Jason bonused back on move 10 with T(O)PSAILS. Two moves later I got ALG(E)RINE, but was still not secure. Jason dumped a V. With one tile in the bag, and bonuses possible I could still lose, geing only 49 ahead. My rack of BDEMORU looked hopeful but there is nothing there. I finally opted for DUMB to go 80 up, stopping a bonus on the triple - and drew the blank from the bag...
W: 419-341

Game 15: Edward Okulicz - Aus
I got slaughtered in this game. Edward had everything. Strangely enough I hadn't really noticed until he said so at the end. I was pleased with converting AZO to AZON for my G, and being rewarded with OVERING the next move. I was actually 30 points up at this point, extending it to 49 points after HYP. Then Edward bonused with STaRLiT. The problem was I was still in with a chance, albeit slim with Edward moving further ahead with JO(Y)S (44) and BEN(J) (39). I was trying to balance and make an opening. Edward played out with READOUT...
L: 342-511

Game 16: Michael Gongolo - Ken
Michael opened with GUIRO, and with 3 Ss on my rack took a long time before deciding on GASSY. I got (S)WOTTERS as a 4-x the following go for 94. Michael bonused on move 5 with NARDINE to catch me back up. Holding both blanks I spent a while trying for the other 4-x, and was pleased to see GLyCe(R)OL. THEREON two moves later gave me a comfortable margin, and although Michael came back strongly I never felt in any real danger.
W: 479-446

So, end of day 2 with 6-2 for the day, 10.5-5.5 for the tourney and lying in 12th place. There had been a few changes at the top, with the leaders now being Wellington Jighere (Nig) and Nigel Richards (NZ) both on 13-3. I was now the leading Brit after a poor day for Paul Allan.

We had planned a UK team meal in the evening back at the Ming Palace. This was expanded to a European meal when Herve Bohbot (Fra), Anand Buddhdev (Net) and Greger Nassen (Swe) joined us.

WSC Day 1

My gut was still feeling a little dodgy and hoped I would make it through the day...

Game 1: Dean Saldhana - Canada
COCONUT as my opening rack, maybe this was going to be a good tourney. But Dean hit back with MIX for 43 and then back-to-back bonuses with ANESTRA and STAIDES(T) to take a comfortable lead. I scored well with KEF and DEAWY to get back within 10, and my dump of GALLE(O)N was rewarded with a blank for EgOMANI(A) for a 43 point lead which stretched to 60+. Then Dean bonused with (R)EFInERS to empty the bag. I missed the new 8 for a 9-x to play out, but BELTING(S) was enough as I made a quick exit to the loo...
W: 500-385

Game 2: Odette Rio - Phi
This game was nip and tuck, neither of us setting the world alight at the start. We were level after 5 moves apiece, and then we exchanged bonuses, sHORTIE from Odette, C(E)NTRODE by me. Odette then moved ahead with M(O)FO, LOITERS and ZEA to take a 91 point lead. I pegged a bit back with QIS. Odette blocked with DIE(T), and holding the last S and blank I made an opening with HE(s). Odette semi-blocked. I spent a long time trying to find and missing the better play, and eventually played S(A)UNTiNG for a 1 point lead and hoped the last three tiles gave me a chance. I turned over DOW, and could see a draw. Odette almost misplayed at the end, setting me up for a win but realised in time...
D: 396-396

Game 3: Adam Logan - Defending World Champion
I had played Adam a few times when he was working in the UK, but had never beaten him.
I opened with HOOKA and then balanced with GLEI. Adam bonused with AERObAT, but I hit straight back with GREISeN. I pulled slightly ahead, but Adam levelled the score with LEA(D)ENED and then pulled ahead with SATAY. The board was very tight now, and holding the Z I needed to make an opening to have a chance. MUN(T) was the best I could see from a consonant clunky rack. Adam changed and I had picked an O for ZOL and to retake the lead. RI(V)ET from Adam, and with the last S I played WIVE, leaving 1 in the bag but picking the Q. By this point I had under 2 minutes left on my clock. Adam blocked the opening with COP. I was holding AQRSTUY, and could see nowhere to play the Q but TR(OW) set it up. Adam ran his clock right down trying to find a way to block me but failed...
W: 374-345

Game 4: Ferdy Antonius - Ind

I had never played Ferdy before - he has some very annoying habits and it is easy to lose your concentration. Every time he gets a good score he shouts it out so the whole room can hear. Every score of the opponent is met by 'How much?' and has to be repeated.
We both scored well at the start - BOVID, HAZER and TYR(O)SINE on move 4 from Ferdy; XI, JACK(E)D, MOBS and FOVEA from me. I bonused on move 5 with PESAUNT to take a 30 point lead. However, Ferdy had back-to-back bonuses on moves 8 and 9 with SLEE(T)iNG and CENTEr(E)D and I had no ammunition to fight back.
L: 392-461

Game 5: Ganesh - Mal
I have no photo of this game. Suffice it to say that Ganesh had bonuses on moves 4,5,6,7 and 10. I think I just wanted to forget all about this game.
L: 401-549

Game 6: Francis Wachira - Ken
Again I do not have a photo. I was doing okay in this game until the end when I ran out of vowels and got stuck with the Q. To add insult to injury up until the last rack I thought I could still win, but found I had misadded an earlier score...
L: 372-379

Game 7: Chris May - Aus
I was 100 down after 5 moves, helped by playing the phony LOOB on move 3. However, I then took off. POTTaGE on move 6, and I was very pleased to spot the bonus with my pick of AACFILU which gained me an extra 5 points with the challenge. STRIGAE two moves later, and another 5 points when Chris challenged POWS. TAENI(A)TE from Chris at the end allowed me to playout with the toughy REFINeS to put icing on the cake.
W: 552-378

Game 8: Tony Leah - Can
I bonused first on move 4 with TROUBlE, but Tony had been scoring well and retook the lead with J(A)DED. I bonused again with GENTIER on move 6. ZORIL by Tony to be 30 behind, and I decided to risk PALET for a bonus-sized lead. I hadn't counted on 102 from Tony with VAGINAS. However, I could still score well with SCAW for 43. Tony decided to block, just dumping an S with (ZAIRE)S, which saved me a lot of worry. DEX from me and I was still ahead after AH from Tony. NOIL from me. Tony took quite a while on the next move, with me holding RENAILS. After initially playing XI/IN he then decided to add the second N, giving me a problem with ?ADEOQTUU unseen. I eventually opted for RE(N)AILS, picking AU. Tony simmed this later, and it was the best move.
W: 434-419

So, end of day 1 and 4.5-3.5, 39th out of 104 and still all to play for.
Three players (Paul Allan (Sco), Nigel Richards (NZ) and Charnwit Sukhumrattanaporn (Tha)) were on 7-1 at the top of the table.

WSC - Reception

After settling into our room we decided to find the World Trade Centre that was located near our hotel on the premise that there was likely to be somewhere to eat around there. We missed the road to go directly there and ended up at a Barista coffee shop. We found that we had actually gone on a long route around the back of it, but even when we found our way in most of the shops were shut for lunch. We wandered back to the hotel, where Phil and Allan were just checking in after their 2 hour drive from the airport...

When I wandered back downstairs later in the afternoon there were a few more people around, with the inevitable game being played surrounded by spectators. Allan had been thrown out of the room he was sharing with Phil as Phil wanted a nap, so we found somewhere to get a beer in the hotel with Paul joining us.

An hour or so later the lobby was filling up with players so I hung around chatting before going back up to my room to get ready for the evening opening ceremony. I knew I would be in the minority in making an effort, but I had taken both the nice dresses I had bought in Edinburgh and I was determined to not waste packing them!

It was a little late starting, but eventually we began to register, collect our 'goody bag' and file into the reception. This guy scared the living daylights out of me the first time he gave a blast on whatever it is...

There were waiters circulating with wine and hors d'oeuvres, and everyone was catching up with old friends and making new ones.



After a few short speeches candles were lit to mark the opening of the ninth WSC.

We were a little put out that they didn't do a live draw for the opening game of the following day, but were told that if we waited around the fixtures would be generated.

More socialising...

Wilma Vialli, who has TD'ed all the WSC's I have played in, was here in that capacity again.

Team Philippines and Loretta Alban from Qatar

BTW, that is not a spot on my forehead but we were all given a bindi on entering the reception.

It was getting a little late to head back into the city to eat after the reception, so Phil Robertshaw, Wayne Kelly, Paul and I enjoyed a meal together in the hotel, before getting an early night as we were starting play at 8 a.m. the following morning. Luckily for us our room was on the tenth floor so we were a little removed from the fireworks and firecrackers that were going off everywhere to celebrate Diwali...