Sunday, August 15, 2010

I participated in my first tournament under the WGPO banner. WGPO was formed out of unhappiness on how NASPA was being managed. I must say, great start to a new beginning! Won my division with a 5-1 record despite being the 6th and last ranked with rating 1172.

Game 1 – Opponent: (B1) Joan Clark rated 1544

Had pretty good tiles in this game. Managed 3 bingos: REFLIPS# (did not see PILFERS), cOVERIN(G) and DeGRAD(E)S. Had both the blanks, 2 S, the Q and Z as well. My opponent, on the other hand, had not much to go with, biggest score was AXE for 30. Joan has not been playing for 20+ years. Cross-tables recorded her last tournament in 1986! Perhaps I got lucky she did not warm up yet. Won 430-315, +115.

Game 2 – Opponent: (B4) Jon Demeter rated 1345

Jon mostly won in our numerous matches. He started with a bingo, ARREArS and I responded in my 2nd move with COATTAI(L). Then I scored well with EX (31 pts), ZINC (45 pts) in the next few moves, and another bingo DArTING later. Jon was keeping up with good scoring words in strategic spots with FOVEA (39 pts), YEOMEN (35 pts), WENS (46 pts) and KI (34 pts) but was not able to take the lead after my second bingo. Won 415-373, +42, total +157.

Game 3 – Opponent: (B2) Pat Diener rated 1329

Again, Pat usually won in our matches. And she was leading in the first half of the game until my first and the only bingo in this game with REASOnS. I started off with 3 S’ on my first rack and little vowels. Had to change 4 tiles on my second turn. After my bingo, she almost caught up playing NERTZ (50 pts) but I managed to keep ahead. The board quickly closed up and I edged a win. Won 333-313, +20, total +177.

Game 4 – Opponent: (B5) Alan Whitman rated 1262

I do not get to play with Alan much as he is usually a division above. I did surprise him with a win the first time we played many years back in an open division tournament in Los Gatos back in 2006. I was rated 836 while he was 1529, a major upset. He started with AMATIVE, which I challenged and it was good. By his second turn, he was 122-0 ahead. I tried to catch up. Even with 3 bingos: ASTERIA, (R)EOILINg and PUNI(S)HER, I could not overcome his lead. He scored well with strategic plays of GANJA (39 pts) and SYNES (43 pts) on the triple words. At least I did not get steamrolled… Lost 373-437, -52, total +125.

Game 5 – Opponent: (B3) Mary Stevens rated 1372

The last time I played against Mary was 2006. Again, she usually is in the higher division. She started with HM, and I bingoed with REMANDS/HM/MA under HM. Had great scoring plays with QUINCY (40 pts), QI (41 pts) and JESTER (67 pts, non-bingo). Tried ACETINE# but it got challenged off. I had a end-game outplay bingo of RETINES but I chickened out from playing it as I was not sure of it and she had 7 tiles which might be a bingo. So, I played safe instead. Won 436-377, +69, total +194.

Game 6 – Opponent: (B5) Alan Whitman rated 1262

As predicted by Alan, we met again for the final game of this 1-day tournament. I started with SURLIED# but was challenged off. He had ITCHY (34 pts) to start and I bingoed down the T with oU(T)SIDER. He responded immediately with T(R)EELINE. Later on, I bingoed NaMELES(S) and he responded in kind with BE(A)TNIKS. I was leading till towards the but it became very close. In fact, he led 370-387 before my out-play. I had ALERT on my rack and he did not check that I have only one out-play of TAL(L)ER and failed to block. Won 394-387, +7, total +201.

That’s it. My first WGPO tournament and a win! The results was almost a complete reversal of the ranking: B6, B5, B4, B3, B1 and B2.

Bingos:
REFLIPS#
COVERING
DEGRADES
COATTAIL
DARTING
REASONS
ASTERIA
REOILING
PUNISHER
REMANDS
OUTSIDER
NAMELESS