My Causeway Scrabble 2009 ( bonuses)

I took the liberty of " stealing" these statistics from the Causeway site. Here`s the link to the site, if you want to have a look. Causeway 2009 was just one episode of my 2009 Scrabble soap opera. As I was telling my wife, it`s not very likely to be unlucky in five consecutive tournaments! I blame it on my level... I think it`s time for me to focus my attention on other activities, such as learning Japanese, improving my Chinese etc. Of course I`ll still join tournaments if I happen to be in the "neighbourhood", but the good old days of full-time Scrabble are now history. Which reminds me... Last year, at the King`s Cup Scrabble tournament in Thailand, a top Thai player challenged one of the words I played against him: HISTORY


Bingos for Adrian Tamas in Causeway Scrabble Challenge 2009
93 bingos. Best score was 149 for ATROPINES.
Long word (length > 8): ATROPINES
Low probability words (PF < 1): QUACKLED, ECOLOGIC
No unchallenged phonies

Round Bingos
1 BINIOUS (76) ERRANTS (81) ORTOLANS (78)
2 DAMPEST (77) RESINATA (77) FERMATA (77)
3 PITTERS (74) NOTHINGS (84) NEONATES (59)
4 STONIER (64) AUREOLES (77)
5 ENLISTED (74) LIMACON (76) YATTERS (77) AERONAUT (77)
6
7 RARIFIED (74)
8 BOLTINGS (67) NOCAKES (78) WINTERED (74)
9 RESCALE (75) RAGULED (79)
10 CINDERS (76) OUTSTEER (71) ADONISE (91)
11 LEVANTED (72) WONKIER (72)
12 URCEOLI (68) TERATOID (74)
13 AERATED (73) RATLINS (73)
14 LINTIEST (64) POETISED (90)
15 ANTICAR (89) LURIDEST (80)
16 LIFECARE (92) SEEDIER (71)
17 RUINATE (61)
18 TURGIDER (66) STRUDEL (69)
19 PERVIATE (72) TORPEDOS (63)
20 IDIOTYPE (66) SIRONISE (64)
21 IDEATES (87) DRILLED (63)
22 CORDITE (92)
23 DERACINE (78) PANSIES (96)
24 RELEASED (83)
25 RECLINE (94) WEEPERS (86)
26 LACINGS (78) UNASKED (110)
27 TATSOIS (71) NATURES (73)
28 ECOLOGIC (69) LOITERED (80) RETIREE (71)
29 SCAUPED (83) ELOIGNED (68)
30 SMARTEN (91)
31 ATROPINES (149) EMETINES (81) AIRIEST (62)
32 PERIDIA (71) GRANTER (69) RONDELS (71)
33 FLATLINE (68)
34 IMPRINT (76) SANCTION (68) ELASTIN (76)
35 QUACKLED (78) ARISTATE (68)
36 TRUSTED (83) RETORTED (66)
37 OBELIZE (124) UNSLAKED (97) TENEBRAE (80)
38
39 ALLOWED (69) INTERNED (86)
40 BONDSMEN (84) TAILERON (81) SOLDADO (78)
41 ENVIRON (69) SENORITA (77)
42 UNHAIRER (67)
43 YEARNERS (82)
44 CARBIES (98) RAILERS (68) CLARION (75)
45 SPATULA (71) VISIONED

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW…

Being snowed in can be a catastrophe for some and sheer delight for others. I suppose it all depends on the circumstances. If you were, for example, in some cozy cottage, with a sitting by a warm fire and drinking hot chocolate (or any other beverage of your choice), I guess snow can only be delightful. On the other hand, if you had to catch a plane to get to the other end of the world, a snow storm loses at least part of its charm.
This year, the UK Open snow caught me somewhere in between. I mean, I was in a warm place doing one of the things I like most (I hope you don’t need me to spell it out for you. Yes, of course, I was playing Scrabble!), yet I had to fly to Osaka in a matter of days. And snow did make my first flight, from London to Rome, a nightmare, but the events preceding it were worth it. England, and most of Europe I think, has suffered one of the harshest winters in the last thirty years. For a country where snow is not a common occurrence (they say in Dickens’ times, Thames used to freeze, but the people who witnessed that are long gone), this winter has definitely caused a lot of problems. Not for the brave Scrabble players, though, who know how to courageously face difficulties. They cheerfully gathered outside and erected a statue in honour of the tournament’s organizer, Len Moir. The dignified snowman was cheerfully christened “Lenny”. Here is proof of one of the greatest acts of bravery accomplished by the Knights Scrabbler: (photo).











BESNOW+S, ED, ING = to cover with snow

SNOW+S, ED, ING = to rain with frozen crystals
SNOWBALL+S, ED, ING = to increase at a rapid rate
SNOWBANK +S = a mound of snow
SNOWBELL+S = a flowering shrub
SNOWBIRD = a small bird
SNOWBOOT+S = a boot for walking in snow
SNOWBUSH = a flowering shrub
SNOWDROP+S = a drooping white flower
SNOWFALL+S = a fall of snow
SNOWLAND+S = an area marked by a great amount of snow
SNOWLESS = without snow
SNOWLIKE = having the appearance of snow
SNOWLINE+S = an area which defines permanent snow
SNOWMELT+S = water produced by the melting of snow
SNOWMOLD+S = a fungus disease
SNOWPACK+S = an accumulation of packed snow
SNOWPLOW+S = to execute a type of skiing maneuver
SNOWSHED+S = a structure which provides protection from snow
SNOWSHOE + D,R,S = to walk on oval frames on deep snow
SNOWSLIP +S = a small avalanche
SNOWSUIT +S = a child`s garment for winter wear
SNOWY ( SNOWIER, SNOWIEST) = abounding in snow
SNOWK+S, ED, ING = to prowl or sneak about
SNOWCAP+S = a covering of snow
SNOWCAT+S = a tracklaying vehicle for travel on snow
SNOWILY = in a snowy manner
SNOWISH = somewhat snowy
SNOWMAN ( SNOWMEN) = a figure made of snow

Uk Open 2010 ( Photos)

After another two week break, I`m back with some photos from the UK Scrabble Open 2010.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brizana/sets/72157623273421860/

My Christmas Nails (or The Wife Strikes Back)

Strange things have happened here while I was away (for a well-deserved, much enjoyed and very costly-for my family-trip to Romania). First, I find out that my husband has girlfriendS. The plural must be emphasized. He has not one, but more girlfriends, who ask expensive gifts of him, such as Prince William. I’d rather have, for what I think are obvious reasons, Bill Gates, but well, de gustibus…
Second, this blog has become terrifyingly boring. Even I, who are not “one of his wives”, but THE wife, don’t read his posts. That is why I decided to delight you with… I’m sure you’re not expecting this… my Christmas nails!
The 2008 Malaysia version (we could call it the Causeway design), in a photo taken near the Cameron Highlands, while my husband was toiling away in the competition room.



The 2009 World Scrabble Championship version, executed while Adrian was brilliantly losing game after game in the Championship.



(Photo courtesy of my friend and stylist, Miki-san )

Now, to maintain the Scrabble spirit, the aficionados can think of NAIL words, while the girls can comment on my (I think) pretty nails. Let’s see which team wins!

Uk Open 2010 ( 82 bonuses + 74 bonuses = 45 games)

As promised, I`m back with the bonuses played by me and against me at the Uk Open 2010. For the native speakers of English who are not Scrabble players, see if you can recognize more than 50% of the played words.

My Bonuses: SPECTRA, LEFTISM, DIAPENTE, SATURNIC, DEFROST, CARINAS, AERATOR, SPRAINT, PILLAGES, BORONIA, SEITENS, TERRANE, BONSPIEL, LANCETED, PAINTIER, DENTINE, ANDESITE, APTERIA, UNATONED, ACTINIAN, DEAFENS, ALNICOS, RETITLE, REPROVAL, MANGONEL, RATOONER, CALMANTS, SWINERY, BOLIDES, NOVELESE, OVERSIDES, TARDIED, TRILLED, ASTERIA, CHENOPOD, PRAWNED, FATIGUES, VINTAGE, SOREDIA, SIDEMEN, SCENTING, SARCODE, NOSHERIE, TANNEST, ROMAUNT, EUGENIA, EXCLAVES, TORULOSE, CONEPATE, TENOURS, SINNERED, ANTLION, HALITES, DEWINESS, ORIENTAL, OVERGONE, SORRIEST, BUNODONT, EXALTING, DIANOIA, VITULINE, TINKLED, DECLINER, ISOGRAFT, ONSHORE, ASSERTER, BARTEND, TENONER, THEWIER, REUNITES, TWEEDIEST, ACIDEST, SOOGIES, NUTMEATS, PERILING, JAILBAIT, FORELAIN, GRANDEES, FORELENT, ADJURES, VAUNTIER, INFERIOR ( 82)

My opponents` bonuses: TETANIZES, OVERHUNT, ARRANGED, UNLOADER, ATONERS, SOLVENT, ITEMISER, BITUMED, SPENCERS, LASQUES, BROILED, SINUATE, LUNARIES, HAULERS, TERRANES, SCOURED, DESIGNS, STANDERS, BEGROANS, SMYTRIE, SURVEYAL, SPOUTED, EPAULET, DERRIES, FETCHERS, BORANES, NEUSTON, RETIRES, PITIERS, DINNERS, AUDIBLE, ROTATOR, HERBLESS, DELICATE, RETRIMS, TINDERY, PURITIES, INERTIAE, SCRIENES, STOOLED, JAGUARS, STORIED, JALOUSIE, ANOTHER, AUSTERER, EPICENES, SUPEREGO, DOGEARS, ANSATED, REJUDGES, GUTTLES, PLAGUES, GLITTER, PLAGUER, ARRIVED, NODULES, ALERION, REPONED, PADRONI, VOMICAE, MUSCATEL, SAVELOY, OVEREDIT, CONSENT, KERATINS, UNSUITED, OURALIS, ASCITES, UNLOADER, CINEASTS, COASTED, ALIENATE, VAGINATE, FACTION. ( 74)

Uk Open- Day 5

I finished the tournament with two losses. Evan Cohen played CINEASTS as a triple triple to score 140 points and unintentionally block my OUBAASES play while Wayne Kelly managed to get to 470 in his first five moves or so. My last play of the tournament was INFERIOR to go out and reduce the spread. Uk Open 2010 was very enjoyable. I did feel a bit groggy towards the end. My opponents averaged 505 points in the last seven games, and I felt like an observer! And here are my statistics: 17 wins, 21 losses, 111 spread, 431 average/game, 34 blanks to my opponents' 42, 81 bingoes( bonuses) to my opponents' 74. I lost 11 games where I scored over 400 points and won a game where I scored 357 points! Go figure! I`ll upload some photos and make a list of the played bingoes(bonuses)later.

Uk Open - Day 4

Another glorious day. And some nice words. Against Nigel, I played TWEEDIEST through WE to lose the game by over 200 points and against Phil Robertshaw I played JAILBAIT to lose by over 50. I'm out of the top 15 and that is where I'll probably finish. Tonight we celebrated Mihai Pantis's win. He is the first Romanian Scrabble player to earn money from Scrabble. 1500 pounds is not bad at all. I'm sure that my wife would find something to do with them. Two more games tomorrow, and then off to Japan.

Uk Open - Day 3

Day 3 didn't bring anything new for me. The same consistent mediocrity. In the morning, Martin Harrison played a nine timer against me: HERBLESS for 181 points. The game against Phil Robertshaw really made my day. Phil was almost 200 points behind but he caught up and reduced the spread to 100 points. He was holding a playable ENTOZOA,(entozoic parasite) when he saw me go out with BUNODONT( having rounded molar teeth) and win by 180 points. I made the tops again... At the moment I am 13th with 13 wins and 13 losses. Needless to say that I'm not too excited!



Division A Average Scores
Rank Average Won-Lost Spread Player
1 478.54 21.0- 5.0 +2718 Nigel Richards (A1)
2 450.00 17.0- 9.0 +1372 Mikki Nicholson (A6)
3 445.23 16.0-10.0 +838 Harshan Lamabadusuriya (A4)
4 442.92 13.0-13.0 +863 Adrian Tamas (A8)
5 441.62 18.0- 8.0 +528 Chris May (A3)

Division A High Losses
Round Losing
Score Winning
Score Class Loser Winner
1 501 513 A Adrian Tamas (A8) Phil Robertshaw (A9)
9 474 484 A Adrian Tamas (A8) Chris May (A3)
22 466 534 A Harshan Lamabadusuriya (A4) Paloma Raychbart (A20)
8 461 490 B Wayne Kelly (A14) Craig Beevers (A2)
8 460 508 A Helen Gipson (A5) Philips Owolabi (A10)

Division A Tuff Luck
Sum Player Losing Spreads
85 Maureen Chamberlain (A24) 1 4 13 20 22 25
97 Steve Perry (A25) 2 2 5 9 32 47
97 Adrian Tamas (A8) 2 10 12 16 20 37
112 Olakunle Ajayi (A23) 5 10 10 22 30 35
118 Ray Tate (A27) 1 14 21 22 27 33

Division A High Combined
Round Combined
Score Winning
Score Losing
Score Class Winner Class Loser
14 1072 648 424 A Nigel Richards (A1) A Chris May (A3)
1 1014 513 501 A Phil Robertshaw (A9) A Adrian Tamas (A8)
1 1002 598 404 A Helen Gipson (A5) A Harshan Lamabadusuriya (A4)
15 1000 581 419 A Harshan Lamabadusuriya (A4) A Mikki Nicholson (A6)
22 1000 534 466 C Paloma Raychbart (A20) A Harshan Lamabadusuriya (A4)

Kidnap Prince William

At one of my girlfriend's request, my mission in UK is to kidnap prince William and take him to her. I had no idea he was that popular in Japan.So long, David Beckam! Thank God he is a valid Scrabble word. Otherwise I would have had to ask somebody else to do the dirty job. Don't be surprised if I play " WILLIAM" today...

Uk Open - Day 2

I finished the second day on 9 wins and 9 losses. Strangely enough, there is only one more player on 9 wins and 9 losses! I am quite happy with my average of 447 points per game. My goal is to keep scoring and see what happens... Don`t you think I didn`t make the top though. The highlights of my day were playing 4 consecutive bonuses against Steve Perry, including the low probability CHENOPOD, and playing OVERSIDES (ES was on the board).

Division A Average Scores
Rank Average Won-Lost Spread Player
1 466.56 13.0- 5.0 +1627 Nigel Richards (A1)
2 459.33 15.0- 3.0 +1341 Craig Beevers (A2)
3 454.67 12.0- 6.0 +1189 Mikki Nicholson (A6)
4 449.83 12.0- 6.0 +999 Harshan Lamabadusuriya (A4)
5 447.61 9.0- 9.0 +622 Adrian Tamas (A8)

Division A High Losses
Round Losing
Score Winning
Score Class Loser Winner
1 501 513 A Adrian Tamas (A8) Phil Robertshaw (A9)
9 474 484 A Adrian Tamas (A8) Chris May (A3)
8 461 490 B Wayne Kelly (A14) Craig Beevers (A2)
8 460 508 A Helen Gipson (A5) Philips Owolabi (A10)
14 451 469 C Jojo Delia (A26) Ray Tate (A27)
13 437 513 A Adrian Tamas (A8) Mikki Nicholson (A6)


Division A Tuff Luck
Sum Player Losing Spreads
116 Olakunle Ajayi (A23) 5 10 10 22 30 39
136 Adrian Tamas (A8) 2 10 12 16 20 76
150 Brian Sugar (A13) 7 11 19 21 30 62
157 Ray Tate (A27) 1 14 21 22 41 58
178 Phil Robertshaw (A9) 8 15 27 34 45 49

Anagrams

Today we played eight games. After the games, Mihai and I taught my father how to play Anagrams. Then, my father and Mihai teamed up against me. Unfortunately for them, I managed to steal their finds, so they finished on zero.

The WSC Car

An excellent spot by Sanjoy Gupta at the outskirts of Johor Bahru

Scrabble in Romania

After Christmas, I went to Cluj Napoca to meet my Romanian Scrabble mates. My father was there too. I was pleased to meet Septimiu Crivei, the National Scrabble Champion en titre in Romanian and the guy who supported me the most for the last couple of years. Even though, we often ecxhange emails, it was the first time for us tu meet. And because we couldn't stay away from Scrabble, we decided to play team Scrabble. It was Septimiu and I versus Mihai and my father. As our opponents said, we were extremely lucky to win both games. Here are some photos from Cluj:


Septimiu Crivei, Ovidiu Tamas, Mihai Pantis, Adrian Tamas



Septimiu & Adrian 511 Mihai & Ovidiu 394


Septimiu & Adrian 433 Mihai & Ovidiu 409