Update 28 August 2007:
I realized that I did not complete my blog for this tournament.....trouble is, I cannot find my scoresheets, and hence cannot reconstruct the event.
Anyhow, I ended in 3rd position of division group of 10. Pretty nice.... got a good bump up in ratings, 1049 to 1097. So close to 1100...... did not do as well in the next 2 1-day tournaments, so my rating toy is 1065.
Link to results.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Red Moon Rising
Watched the lunar eclipse tonight. Stayed up past 3am to get a good look. Saw the shadow casting over the moon from about 1.50am. Setting up my camera with 300mm lenses to get as close as possible. After figuring out that I need to compensate by -2.0 to -5.0 on my SLR for the light conditions, I got a clear face of the moon. This photo is when it was almost fully eclipsed. The reddish part is dark with the naked eye, but turns out real nice on photo.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
2007 Silicon Valley Showdown Tournament
Pruneyard Plaza Hotel, May 26-28, 2007
It was the Memorial Day Weekend, a US Federal holiday in remembrance of the US military persons who died at war. As usual, a Scrabble tournament is planned for the long weekends, and we have Monday, May 28 as the holiday.
I started of with rating of 1049 and am seeded 5th in a small Division C of 10 players only. With 20 games, we played double round-robin, with 2 KOTH (I think).
Game 1 – Opponent: BA Toole, seeded 6th, rated 1011
It was a good start for this tournament. Got 2 ‘S’ and a blank on the first draw, with a rack of ?ILLRSS. I did not know the bingos (ShRILLS and SILLeRS), so I started small with ILL, drawing CIM and playing my first bingo SCRIMpS. In the next few turns, I played PARTIED and PLANETS, building a lead that Betty could not catch up with. I won 487-323. Nice start. 1-0.
Game 2 – Opponent: Alison Hotten, seeded 4th, rated 1085
This was a tough game. I was trying to keep up with Alison for most of the game, by 20-30 points. On my 8th move, I thought I caught up with OILIESt to lead 251-180, but she responded with (L)AVENDER to get the lead back. I was trailing again, and towards my last rack, was trailing 309 to 370 after she played a nice IXIA. I bingoed out with RETINAE under her IXIA to form RETINAE/IT/XI/IN/AA to win 411-370. And I nearly did not see it!!! Have not played for so long that I was figuring out how to put down TRAINEE on a closed up board, not seeing RETINAE for a few minutes. 2-0.
Game 3 – Opponent: David Carlson, seeded 2nd, rated 1167.
This was a really tough game. I bingoed ENTRIeS and ALATION in succession in move 4 and 5, but David took a niner with ENTICI(N)G at A15 for 158 points, with me trailing 193-242 after the 5th move. I only caught up to win later as I drew SS? towards to end-game. Won 421-348. 3-0.
Game 4 – Opponent: Bharat Sampath, seeded 9th, rated 834.
Lost this game badly, which was mainly my mistake in challenging AGITA and WORSTEd, both good, in 2 consecutive moves. Could not recover after that. Lost 328-385. 3-1.
Game 5 – Opponent: Vicky Julian, seeded 7th, rated 1001.
Vicky was one of two players who dominated this division for most of the tournament. I was luckier though. Bingoed DISEASE and RO(T)UNdER. Played JUVES# (a British only word) in error, which got challenged off. She played GALLANT, but was not sufficient to win. I had most of the big tiles. Won 407-306. 4-1
Game 6 – Opponent: Mariana Villena, seeded 1st, rated 1168.
Tough game. I played Mariana a number of times before, and my record against her was not too good. Bingoed with RETILES to catch up to her, and she immediately replied with EDIBLES to pull away to lead 181-119. With bad rack balance for most of the game, even with another bingo of BANShIE(S), I lost 310-385. 4-2
Game 7 – Opponent: Helen Gendler, seeded 3rd, rated 1103.
Tough game too. Had bad racks. Had no vowels for several turns, with one rack of DNRSVYY, which I then changed. She phoneyed with with STOOGIe, which I thought was good. Turned out, the word I thought was actually spelt STOGIE, a word for cigar. So, later on, I had a bingo to hook the S on my dECANTS, to her STOOGIeS, she challenged it off! I was soooooo upset….. Next turn bingoed with SCANTEr, but was not enough. Lost 313-388. 4-3.
Game 8 – Opponent: Miriam Kasdan, seeded 10th, rated 789.
Miriam seemed to be like a newbie, but so I took the chance to take advantage to build a bigger spread. Sometimes, when they play small words, it is hard to actually make bigger points yourself. Had one bingo, ReGENTS. Won 408-241. 5-3.
End of day 1, with a 5-3 record, I was in 3rd position. It was not a bad start…
More to follow in next blog entry.
Update 28 August 2007: I realized that I did not complete my blog for this tournament.....trouble is, I cannot find my scoresheets, and hence cannot reconstruct the event. Anyhow, I ended in 3rd position of the group. Pretty nice.... got a good bump up in ratings, 1049 to 1097. So close to 1100...... did not do as well in the next 2 1-day tournaments, so my rating toy is 1065.
It was the Memorial Day Weekend, a US Federal holiday in remembrance of the US military persons who died at war. As usual, a Scrabble tournament is planned for the long weekends, and we have Monday, May 28 as the holiday.
I started of with rating of 1049 and am seeded 5th in a small Division C of 10 players only. With 20 games, we played double round-robin, with 2 KOTH (I think).
Game 1 – Opponent: BA Toole, seeded 6th, rated 1011
It was a good start for this tournament. Got 2 ‘S’ and a blank on the first draw, with a rack of ?ILLRSS. I did not know the bingos (ShRILLS and SILLeRS), so I started small with ILL, drawing CIM and playing my first bingo SCRIMpS. In the next few turns, I played PARTIED and PLANETS, building a lead that Betty could not catch up with. I won 487-323. Nice start. 1-0.
Game 2 – Opponent: Alison Hotten, seeded 4th, rated 1085
This was a tough game. I was trying to keep up with Alison for most of the game, by 20-30 points. On my 8th move, I thought I caught up with OILIESt to lead 251-180, but she responded with (L)AVENDER to get the lead back. I was trailing again, and towards my last rack, was trailing 309 to 370 after she played a nice IXIA. I bingoed out with RETINAE under her IXIA to form RETINAE/IT/XI/IN/AA to win 411-370. And I nearly did not see it!!! Have not played for so long that I was figuring out how to put down TRAINEE on a closed up board, not seeing RETINAE for a few minutes. 2-0.
Game 3 – Opponent: David Carlson, seeded 2nd, rated 1167.
This was a really tough game. I bingoed ENTRIeS and ALATION in succession in move 4 and 5, but David took a niner with ENTICI(N)G at A15 for 158 points, with me trailing 193-242 after the 5th move. I only caught up to win later as I drew SS? towards to end-game. Won 421-348. 3-0.
Game 4 – Opponent: Bharat Sampath, seeded 9th, rated 834.
Lost this game badly, which was mainly my mistake in challenging AGITA and WORSTEd, both good, in 2 consecutive moves. Could not recover after that. Lost 328-385. 3-1.
Game 5 – Opponent: Vicky Julian, seeded 7th, rated 1001.
Vicky was one of two players who dominated this division for most of the tournament. I was luckier though. Bingoed DISEASE and RO(T)UNdER. Played JUVES# (a British only word) in error, which got challenged off. She played GALLANT, but was not sufficient to win. I had most of the big tiles. Won 407-306. 4-1
Game 6 – Opponent: Mariana Villena, seeded 1st, rated 1168.
Tough game. I played Mariana a number of times before, and my record against her was not too good. Bingoed with RETILES to catch up to her, and she immediately replied with EDIBLES to pull away to lead 181-119. With bad rack balance for most of the game, even with another bingo of BANShIE(S), I lost 310-385. 4-2
Game 7 – Opponent: Helen Gendler, seeded 3rd, rated 1103.
Tough game too. Had bad racks. Had no vowels for several turns, with one rack of DNRSVYY, which I then changed. She phoneyed with with STOOGIe, which I thought was good. Turned out, the word I thought was actually spelt STOGIE, a word for cigar. So, later on, I had a bingo to hook the S on my dECANTS, to her STOOGIeS, she challenged it off! I was soooooo upset….. Next turn bingoed with SCANTEr, but was not enough. Lost 313-388. 4-3.
Game 8 – Opponent: Miriam Kasdan, seeded 10th, rated 789.
Miriam seemed to be like a newbie, but so I took the chance to take advantage to build a bigger spread. Sometimes, when they play small words, it is hard to actually make bigger points yourself. Had one bingo, ReGENTS. Won 408-241. 5-3.
End of day 1, with a 5-3 record, I was in 3rd position. It was not a bad start…
More to follow in next blog entry.
Update 28 August 2007: I realized that I did not complete my blog for this tournament.....trouble is, I cannot find my scoresheets, and hence cannot reconstruct the event. Anyhow, I ended in 3rd position of the group. Pretty nice.... got a good bump up in ratings, 1049 to 1097. So close to 1100...... did not do as well in the next 2 1-day tournaments, so my rating toy is 1065.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Finally! 1000!!!!
Sunday, March 25 2007
My first foray into competitive Scrabble after an absence of about 7 months! Have been busy in my search for a new home, purchase of the home, dressing up the home, exams, family visits from Malaysia and Singapore, etc. etc. etc.
Finally, stepped back into Tomato Thyme pizza parlour at Los Gatos for a weekend tournament. Somewhat uncertain of how I’ll do. Rusty, rusty. Ratings at 960 since the Nationals in August 2006. Seeded 5th in the Division 5 for this tournament.
Game 1: Lynn Johnson, rated 989, seeded 4th
Oh no….. first game and I get her….. Not a good start, with starting rack IILOOOR. Threw off OLIO for a measly 8 point start. But second draft was good, and bingoed next with DIViSOR. Immediately drew COLLIER for the next rack, but could not go down. Sixth move, bingoed with RE(T)AINED, and immediately drew out RETA?NS, which goes down next. Won 477-281 easily. Lucky…..
Game 2: Marina Villena, rated 1164, ranked 3rd
Started fairly equal, with Marina pulling ahead 20-30 points until I first bingoed with ERMINES to equalize it again. Had a few good plays, with DEX for 41 points immediately followed by JOLTS for 48 points. One play later, bingoed with ENDEARs and started closing off the board. Marina fought back well to catch up. Very close ending. Won 397-393. Phew…..
Game 3: Amanda Bonds, rated 856, seeded 7th
This was somewhat of a fishing game, making small plays till mid game where I bingoed with EROSIoN and she replied immediately with ETESIAN. The game remained pretty close but I gain some lead to win 347-317.
Game 4: David Carlson, rated 1187, seeded 1st
Both of us started with small plays. I first bingoed with SLINTER# (British only). David held the play for a moment, and let it go. Why? Because he played QI/QI over my bingo for triple-triple letter! So, still a close game till later when I bingoed with LICKeRS. Held the lead until the very end. At the very end, he bingoed out with TAVeRNS but was not sufficient to overtake. Won by slight lead of 407-404. A boo-boo happened next. When checking tiles after the end, there was a tile left in the bag! Was to be mine, but just a 1-pointer which would not change the results…. Man, I better check the bag at end games next time! He was a good sport about it though.
Game 5: Helen Gendler, rated 1167, seeded 2nd
She had a good start. Bingoed with OVEReAT with her first move! The spread went up with me trailing 85 points in mid-game until I bingoed with PIAStER to even out a little. Continued to catch up, with a good play of PAX for 40 points to even out the score somewhat. In the end game, I calculated and made sure she could not win. Win 372-368. Won 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th seeds! I think I’m gonna see a ratings increase!
Game 6: Marina Villena, rated 1164, ranked 3rd
Back to Marina, and she’s out for vengeance! I think the tile-gods finally thinks I’ve been too lucky…. Had lots of unplayable racks, changed tiles twice this game. Was trailing badly for most part until I bingoed with ReTAINE(R) to catch up somewhat. Had LADDERs as my last rack with nowhere to go…. Lost 352-395.
Sigh…. well, I turned out second in this tournament….. Should have been first as I was the only one with 5 real wins. But Marina was placed first as she had a bye in her first round to equalize with me on wins, and she had a higher spread. With my close wins, spread was not my friend.
But I’m happy! Found out that my ratings shot up to 1,049!!! I am finally above 1,000! Darn, I tried so hard last year to try for division 5 in the Nationals but missed by 1-point. Now, with a 7 month hiatus, I come back and got results like this! Man….
But I’m still happy :)
My first foray into competitive Scrabble after an absence of about 7 months! Have been busy in my search for a new home, purchase of the home, dressing up the home, exams, family visits from Malaysia and Singapore, etc. etc. etc.
Finally, stepped back into Tomato Thyme pizza parlour at Los Gatos for a weekend tournament. Somewhat uncertain of how I’ll do. Rusty, rusty. Ratings at 960 since the Nationals in August 2006. Seeded 5th in the Division 5 for this tournament.
Game 1: Lynn Johnson, rated 989, seeded 4th
Oh no….. first game and I get her….. Not a good start, with starting rack IILOOOR. Threw off OLIO for a measly 8 point start. But second draft was good, and bingoed next with DIViSOR. Immediately drew COLLIER for the next rack, but could not go down. Sixth move, bingoed with RE(T)AINED, and immediately drew out RETA?NS, which goes down next. Won 477-281 easily. Lucky…..
Game 2: Marina Villena, rated 1164, ranked 3rd
Started fairly equal, with Marina pulling ahead 20-30 points until I first bingoed with ERMINES to equalize it again. Had a few good plays, with DEX for 41 points immediately followed by JOLTS for 48 points. One play later, bingoed with ENDEARs and started closing off the board. Marina fought back well to catch up. Very close ending. Won 397-393. Phew…..
Game 3: Amanda Bonds, rated 856, seeded 7th
This was somewhat of a fishing game, making small plays till mid game where I bingoed with EROSIoN and she replied immediately with ETESIAN. The game remained pretty close but I gain some lead to win 347-317.
Game 4: David Carlson, rated 1187, seeded 1st
Both of us started with small plays. I first bingoed with SLINTER# (British only). David held the play for a moment, and let it go. Why? Because he played QI/QI over my bingo for triple-triple letter! So, still a close game till later when I bingoed with LICKeRS. Held the lead until the very end. At the very end, he bingoed out with TAVeRNS but was not sufficient to overtake. Won by slight lead of 407-404. A boo-boo happened next. When checking tiles after the end, there was a tile left in the bag! Was to be mine, but just a 1-pointer which would not change the results…. Man, I better check the bag at end games next time! He was a good sport about it though.
Game 5: Helen Gendler, rated 1167, seeded 2nd
She had a good start. Bingoed with OVEReAT with her first move! The spread went up with me trailing 85 points in mid-game until I bingoed with PIAStER to even out a little. Continued to catch up, with a good play of PAX for 40 points to even out the score somewhat. In the end game, I calculated and made sure she could not win. Win 372-368. Won 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th seeds! I think I’m gonna see a ratings increase!
Game 6: Marina Villena, rated 1164, ranked 3rd
Back to Marina, and she’s out for vengeance! I think the tile-gods finally thinks I’ve been too lucky…. Had lots of unplayable racks, changed tiles twice this game. Was trailing badly for most part until I bingoed with ReTAINE(R) to catch up somewhat. Had LADDERs as my last rack with nowhere to go…. Lost 352-395.
Sigh…. well, I turned out second in this tournament….. Should have been first as I was the only one with 5 real wins. But Marina was placed first as she had a bye in her first round to equalize with me on wins, and she had a higher spread. With my close wins, spread was not my friend.
But I’m happy! Found out that my ratings shot up to 1,049!!! I am finally above 1,000! Darn, I tried so hard last year to try for division 5 in the Nationals but missed by 1-point. Now, with a 7 month hiatus, I come back and got results like this! Man….
But I’m still happy :)
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Our first ice hockey game
Feb 3, 2007
Went for our first live ice hockey game today. The San Jose Sharks against the Chicago Blackhawks. My firm got a private box in the HP Pavilion stadium, and we were hosting an event with my main client. Really nice set up, on the penthouse level. Food & drinks, stocked bar, the works...
Ice hockey, really fast paced. Could hardly follow the puck most of the time. Lots of crashes between players, and even saw one of the hockey stick broke into 2! The SJ Sharks won 4-2, and they are currently ranked 2nd in their division, so it was a good game.
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