Details
Category: News
Hits: 46

Best improver for this quarter is Amanda, ahead of Pat in second place and Jim, Deborah and Richard in joint third place.   Well done, Amanda!  Welcome to Nick, and Polly Vallance.

 

High-scoring words:

·       115       QUESTED                    Wanda

·      112       UNFAZED                     Pat

·       107       SEQUINNED                 Wanda

·       107       TEXTERS                     Charles

·       104       PREBAKES                   Graham

·       102       HANKERS                    Hepzi

·       101       SPANKED                     Wanda

·       97        ZINGERS                     Nick

·       95        DIVULGED                   Graham

·       95        ECHIDNAE                   Richard

·       93        DIATOMS                     Graham

·       92        TURNPIKE                    Charles

·       91        INTERIM                      Graham

·       90        REBITES                      Helen

·       90        VITIATE                        Graham

·       88        DABBLES                     Deborah

·       88        SMELLER                     Amanda

·       88        TRAINED                      Maire

·       86        SCARRING                   Joy

·       81        LINTERS                      Maire

·       77        ERASION                     Jim

·       76        CLINGER                     Mary

·       76        TITTIES                        Jim

·       75        OARIEST                      Jim

·       75        STARRED                     Mary

·       Other words: ARTSMAN 74 Jim, STAINER 74 Maire, STAIRED 74 Jim, MAILERS 73 Maire, TAUNTER 72 Jim, PORTALS 71 Keith, TESTIER 71 Jim, SARDINE 72 Jim, WANIEST 71 Jim, ALINERS 70 Jim, GREATER 70 Maire, PAINTERS 70 Jim, TREASON 69 Keith, HUNGERS 68 Keith, CARNETS 67 Jim, DEAREST 66 Maire, ANTSIER 65 Jim, BASINET 64 Jim, GENDERS 64 Jim, SWEETER 64 Maire, SCALDING 63 Keith, TORNADO 63 Maire, FUSSIER 62 Jim, TRAINEE 61 Maire, WHEEZED 52 Amanda, CRANIAL Amanda

 

Many bonuses or high-scoring moves by one player in a game  (scores over 100 also appear in the high-scoring words section):

·       BADGERED 66 METEORIC 63 LEGATION 80 POSSIBLE 78 (consecutive moves)
(also INSTEAD 74)                                                                                Graham

·       ALLICES 70 ROOTAGE 75 DEXTERS 87 EPEIRIDS 83                         Richard

·       CODIFIED 98 PONGIER 77 WEARIES 70 SITUATE 69                          Wanda

·       OREGANO 68 EXPERTS 109 TERTIAN 75 SEQUINNED 107                 Wanda

·       EERIEST 64 REORDAIN 94 IRRIGATE 61 CLAIMANT 65                      Richard

·       FRIANDE 93 RESIGNED 70 HIREABLE 76 JIRGA 50                             Helen

·       OUTLEAP 64 UNHOPED 72 EXPIRES 92 ORIGANES 67                       Helen

·       SKATINGS 92 BOOTEES 72 SPANKED 101 QUESTED 115                  Wanda

·       TEXTERS 107 URINATED 61 RAINIER 67 STAINED 79                         Charles

·       TUMBLERS 64 BROWSES 95 NANNIES 79 KING 57                             Helen

·       CANNONS 69 UNEAGER 70 HOMEBOYS 90                                        Helen

·       CAJOLES 85 BRANDIES 76 BATHROBE 90                                          Charles

·       CREATING 76 REPROVED 95 DEVOTING 74                                       Wanda

·       DEVIOUS 80 STRAWEN 81 FOOLERS 93                                             Helen

·       ELOGISTS 83 RAIDERS 96 SATIATED 72                                             Graham

·       ENNEADS 73 RELISTS 72 DEARIES 73                                                Richard

·       ENTAILS 72 FINANCE 85 ARTISAN 70                                                  Helen

·       EPISTLE 77 TARDIEST 83 PRONAOI 65                                               Richard

·       ETERNAL 70 TOELESS 66 EPITOME 78                                               Graham

·       FAIRLEAD 86 DOSSERET 66 MANHOOD 85                                        Richard

·       LEGATEES 80 CUSTARDS 86 TREATIES 64                                        Helen

·       MINTERS 71 SHIRTED 70 SERIATE 66                                                 Wanda

·       REBAITS 68 TRANCES 76 FRONTERS 62                                            Wanda

·       SABOTAGE 74 EPSILON 90 RETURNEE 61                                         Graham

·       SPIRITS 86 MINUTES 73 TOADIED 78                                                  Fiona

·       SUITORED 80 FINEISH 73 OVERGOT 77                                             Richard

·       TUNABLE 62 TRAYNES 72 QUAI 69                                                     Helen

·       ZELANTS 90 EROSIONS 70 EXTERNS 83                                            Graham

 

Other things:

·       New personal bests:      Richard 634, Megel 583, Mary 430

·       9-letter word:                 BATHROBES Deborah 46

·       Unusual word:               PHWOAR Charles

 

 

Name

Old rating

New rating

Rating change

P

W

D

L

Average

Highest score

Highest ever

Amanda Lowe

82

93

11

22

7

1

14

306.3

360

392

Pat Llanwarne

123

130

7

14

8

0

6

351.6

431

516

Jim Macey

116

122

6

13

9

0

4

357.5

455

478

Deborah Porter

130

136

6

27

15

0

12

364.3

482

542

Richard Spencer

202

208

6

34

31

0

3

449.9

634

625

Maire Bennett

55

58

3

15

2

0

13

286.5

402

498

Keith Radbourn

69

71

2

34

5

0

29

277.4

337

418

Graham Harding

179

181

2

40

28

0

12

427.0

533

661

Sharon Hewitt

130

131

1

21

11

0

10

350.7

453

548

Helen Harding

186

187

1

37

28

0

9

424.1

598

609

Joy Wade

107

106

-1

23

8

1

14

334.6

451

484

Fiona Titcombe

152

149

-3

21

10

0

11

365.1

466

551

Martin Stephens

113

109

-4

26

10

0

16

335.1

437

477

Wanda de Poitiers

182

178

-4

29

18

0

11

400.7

591

598

Charles Parker

104

99

-5

29

11

0

18

331.3

470

509

Hepzi Rodrigues

137

132

-5

23

10

0

13

352.0

418

554

Michael Spencer

93

82

-11

21

4

0

17

289.0

358

502

Insufficient games – a previous quarter’s results, or 13 games in a quarter, needed to qualify

Nick

106

 

0

2

1

0

1

321.0

336

336

Polly Vallance

89

 

2

9

3

0

6

299.7

363

363

Megel Barker

174

184

10

6

5

0

1

465.8

583

583

Mary Twomey

106

105

-1

9

3

0

6

310.2

430

430

Maureen Barlow

122

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

528

Jen Brennan

50

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

436

 

Details
Category: News
Hits: 98

On 8 September Richard played in a one day tournament in Luton - here is his report :

 
I entered the one day event at Luton on 8th September and was the only East Berks player attending. 
 
48 Players were split into divisions of 8 and played everyone else in their group followed by one final game to decide final placings. I found myself in the 3rd of these against similarly rated players. 
 
In Game 1 I started with the bonus of WATERISH and added two more of SERICON and ROBINIA. My opponent hit back with two bonuses of his own plus a 60 for FRIZ but I held on for a 441-401 win.
 
Game 2 was more comfortable. Pleased to spot REMIGIAL for 63 and a nice spot opened up to play TRASHES as a double double for 98 WIN by 421-308
 
Game 3 was a bad game though closer than it looked! I trailed by 10 after 13 turns and reluctantly felt I should go for good points on offer to take a 302-278 lead. The downside was it meant emptying the bag! The opponent has SNOOZER in two different places for 102 and I was caught for 20 on my final rack which led to a 400-282 win for my opponent.
 
In Game 4 the opponent had 2 bonus to my zero but had a lot of low scoring plays including 2 changes. However I scored very well with non bonus plays throughout and won by 445-326.
 
Game 5 was much tighter but had the edge after bonuses of AERADIO and RETINTED and held on for a 444-422 win including a 10 point time penalty for the opponent.
 
 Game 6 started brightly with bonuses of STAINED and ANTIROLL in 2 of my 3 opening turns but opponent was scoring well while my scoring dried up. He then took the lead with ANGARIES and won relatively comfortably 414-385.
 
Game 7 was a good game for me. Challenged off OOWARI early on then bonused with CELIBATE and GERONTIC to give a healthy lead. Opponent then played a fun bonus of MOSTEST which I challenged but turned out to be good!  Final score a win for me of 439-387.
 
Game 8 was a play off to determine 1st and 2nd places with both my opponent and I leading on 5 wins each from 7. It was a good game with 3 bonuses each. I bonused with  CERRADOS for 63 on turn 2 but opponent hit back immediately with GLAZIERS for 87. 
 
I then than had further bonuses of TOASTING and EXIGEANT on turns 4&5 which almost killed the game off. The opponent bonused with DRONIEST and ROUTINE on his final two moves but I scored enough to hold off the late flurry with a 446-428 win giving me an overall result of 6 wins from 8 and a first tournament win for quite a while.
 
Bonus highlights;
 
Me - WATERISH, ROBINIA, REMIGIAL, AERADIO, ANTIROLL, GERONTIC, CERRADOS, EXIGEANT
 
Opponents- SNOOZER, ANGARIES, MOSTEST, GLAZIERS
 
Well done Richard !
 
Here are a couple of his boards.
 

Details
Category: News
Hits: 207

Over the weekend of the 10th and 11th of August, there were 2 one day Scrabble tournaments in Oxford. The weekend was one of the hottest of the year, but the air-conditioned room made for a refreshing atmosphere.  Players came from Edinburgh, Kent, Southampton, Staffordshire as well as more  local Oxford and Berkshire players.

The first tournament consisted of three divisions of 16, with seven games to be played.

Helen played in Division A, Richard and Graham in B, and Pat in Division C.

Pat probably wished the tournament could have ended after 3 games, not 7, as she won her first 3 games, including one by 223 points – Pat scored 514 ! Pat then lost the remaining 4 games, finishing with 3 wins and a 10th place finish.

 

In Division A, Helen probably wished the tournament could have started AFTER the first game. She was drawn against the top rated player, and lost by 197 points – ouch! Her luck didn’t change much during the tournament, and her two wins came against the two players who finished below her at the end of the tournament. One of which she beat by 4 points, this followed a game which she lost by 6 ! Some very close games indeed!

 

In B, Richard and Graham matched each other game for game both with 4 wins from 5 games. Richard then had to play a local Oxford player, who had a much lower rating than his 40 years Scrabble experience would suggest. The ratings were wrong and Richard had three bonus words laid against him in the first 3 moves! Not easy coming back from that.

Graham won his game, so played the Oxford player to decide the winner of the division. The game started with 2 bonuses each – Graham managed a third later in the game, and held on to win by 38 points, and won the division – well done Graham.

 

Day 2 had a different tournament schedule, groups of 8 players each playing each other. Pat, Helen, Richard and Graham were joined by Fiona and Megel.

 

Fiona and Pat competed in Division D and both won 3 games. This was a good performance by Pat as she was bottom rated in the Division. Fiona scored over 400 in 4 of her games, which included beating Pat in the last game of the tournament.

 

Division B was the only division with 10 players. It also contained the other 4 East Berks players. Fixtures were calculated after every round, and frequently there was at least one matchup of East Berks Players. Helen won 2 games out of 7 with a highest score of 449. Richard won 3 games including 2 with scores over 480!

 

 

 

Megel won 5 games during the day, with his lowest score being 389 against Graham. Graham lost his first game then went on a 5 game winning streak, beating a player who was unbeaten over the two days. In the last round, a King-of-the Hill round, Graham had to play the same player again, and lost but still finished second. Megel won his last game, which was enough to secure a ratings prize. Well done Graham and Megel.

 

 

 

 

Here are few of the more unusual words East Berks players played or were played against them and a couple of the finished boards :

TUTANIAS, FOSCARNET, PIEZO, CROZIERS, HOPDOG, SERPULID, TETRAPLA, SELENIUM, SUNDAES.

 

 

Note well : this final board contains the word GOY, which since 2021 has been invalid.

 

Details
Category: News
Hits: 257
The Broadstairs tournament took place at the end of July, and Richard went along. Here is his report:
 
 
 
I entered two one day events held at Broadstairs on 27th and 28th July. Its a good option for anyone considering combining Scrabble and a summer holiday -you can easily walk to the beach from the venue.
 
I played in Division A on both days (8 games on each day) with day 1 being packed with good games.
 
I started Game 1 against the top ranked player so was very pleased to win the game 462-373. After two bonuses there was a nice spot for WILJAS near the end for 75 which sealed the win. 
 
Game 2 was very exciting -a 514-477 win. I started with 3 bonuses in the first 5 turns -PERILUNE, ROOTSIER and FAWNERS to give me a 130 lead. The opponent put up a good fights with 3 bonuses and 2 50 point plays but I held on.
 
I lost game 3 476-418 but another good game -the opponent spotting the tricky OESTRIOL and then getting high scoring plays with the Q and Z.
 
Game 4 could have gone either way with the opponent having both blanks at the end but the board was quite closed so difficult to bingo and I held out for a 375-368 win.
 
Game 5 was similar -I had two early bonuses but the opponent came back with 55 for HOOPY and 76 for MELTIER towards the end. I thought I'd lost but found EDGER for 30 with several overlaps and hung on for a 421-418 win. See Board attached.
 
Game 6 was the key game against the eventual winner. Opponent played ENGORED which opened a 9 timer opportunity -my rack was ABNOOS? I went for the 9 timer but played too fast putting down BANDOORS. BANDORES is good but I got confused and missed BRADOONS (a word I knew) which would have scored 149 .Spotted BRADOONS about a minute after playing the phony.
 
Despite that miss the game was still tight and would have been a tie of 458 each -unfortunately it was 5 point penalty challenge and I felt I had to challenge the opponents KEELAGES. Overall a missed opportunity to go to 5 wins.
 
Unfortunately the last 2 games didn't go for me and I lost both by over 100 to finish on 4 wins from but still enjoyed the day overall and had the consolation of the ratings prize.
 
 
Day 2 also started well. Started with SHRIMPS for 95 on move 2. Opponent then played CORTILES quickly unsure of whether it was good. CORTILE is good but and according to the definition is a courtyard so was a bit puzzled at then end of the game that it turned out to be invalid. However, pleased to find DYNATRON for 86 which helped secure a 450-393 win. See second board below. 
 
The next 4 games were shared with the player that drew better winning so not the excitement of day 1. However game 6 was a painful loss as. We both started badly with me changing once and the opponent changing twice and playing a phony of MOTTLIER which I challenged off. Towards the end there were few opportunities to bingo and I picked up the J and Z which I though would be enough to win. Playing LUZ for 39 gave a 16 point lead but the opponent managed to score well with his final plays -29 for DON, 32 for AYES AND then 41 for HOS while there wasn't a great J spot. It was also a very complicated endgame to work out and my opponent was left on 12 seconds on his clock while I went down to zero seconds. I therefore avoided going overtime but lost 413-405. 
 
The last 2 games were shared giving me 4 wins from 8 though pleased to spot SNAGLIKE in the final game. 
 
 A selection of my favourite words/bonuses played by me and against me are as follows;
 
Me - PERILUNE, ROOTSIER, FAWNERS, SNAILIER, ENNOBLED, MEDCINAL, DYNATRON, COTEAUS, GLENOID (non bonus), FOEDARIE, INTORTED, DENTARIA, SNAGLIKE
 
Opponents- OESTRIOL, STOVING, KEELAGES, SLEEKIER, INFERIA, IRIDEAL
 

Details
Category: News
Hits: 344

Best improver for this quarter is Wanda de Poitiers, ahead of Richard and Michael Spencer in second and third places.   Welcome to Joanne (Jo) Hepburn and Megel Barker. 

High-scoring words:

·       112       EXOTICS                      Wanda

·       105       SOUPING                     Sharon

·       104       SQUIRTER                   Joy

·       102       TRACHEAS                  Megel

·       101       QUINTARS                   Helen

·       98        FRONTAGE                  Graham

·       97        WEEDING                    Graham

·       96        TRAYFUL                     Graham

·       95        DASHIEST                    Helen

·       94        CLIENTS                      Helen

·       94        STREAMED                  Deborah

·       93        SECTION                     Hepzi

·       92        EVASION                     Helen

·       92        EXAMINER                   Helen

·       91        PARSONS                    Graham

·       91        STUNTED                     Graham

·       89        SLINKER                      Maire

·       89        SKIVERS                      Charles

·       89        STAINED                      Charles

·       86        FAIREST                      Helen

·       86        SOAPIEST                    Jim

·       85        IRISATE                       Jim

·       85        SPANGLE                     Keith

·       84        STRIDER                      Jim

·       82        BLASTER                     Maire

·       82        HIDEOUT                     Charles

·       81        DOUBLET                     Helen

·       81        URINATE                      Maire

·       80        BEAUTIES                    Helen

·       80        UPRIVER                      Mary

·       79        STREAMS                    Charles

·       78        CINEMAS                     Martin

·       77        DERIDERS                   Joy

·       77        EASTERN                     Jim

·       77        HAIRNET                      Jim

·       77        HASTIER                      Maire

·       77        ZESTY                          Maire

·       76        HUNTERS                    Maire

·       76        PAUSING                     Keith

·       75        PASTIER                      Jim

·       75        THINNERS                   Maire

·       74        DUMPIER                     Jim

·       74        OFFENCES                  Martin

·       73        STERNER                     Maire

·       72        BANDAGES                  Jim

·       72        SOLDIER                      Jim

·       70        ATONERS                    Maire   

·       Other words: BENDERS 69 Maire, BITTERS 69 Maire, DETAILED 69 Maire, LADDERS 69 Maire, LASAGNE 69 Jim, BRASSING 68 Charles, PIRATES 68 Maire, SHELTIE 68 Jim, RAISERS 67 Maire, TAENIAE 67 Jim, TOUSLES 67 Maire, URINATE 66 Keith, DELETING 64 Keith, INERTIA 64 Keith, NASTIER 64 Jim, SEQUINS 64 Keith, SNAGGLE 64 Helen, ARSENAL 63 Jim, FESTERS 63 Jim , SMELTING 63 Maire, CANISTER 62 Maire, LAMENTS 62 Joy, LOOPIEST 61 Jim, VIOLINS 54 Charles, BASQUE Charles, BREADED Amanda, NATTERS Maire

 

Many bonuses or high-scoring moves by one player in a game:

·       GAZE 50 QUINA 56 HURRIES 77 JETON 71 LOWRIES 87 OVARIAN 87 INTITLE 60           Helen

·       AEROBIC 73 TRAWLERS 74 DENIERS 85 LACQUER 79 FOXED 65        Wanda

·       ANNOYING 64 INFECTS 88 TAXI 55 IZAR 57 REVERED 94                  Helen

·       EJECTOR 104 STANGED 92 FLOATIER 67 LOUDENS 70                     Wanda

·       REBUTTED 63 OPIATES 71 NOSTRIL 70 CUSHION 80                         Graham

·       CONVENES 101 FORESTER 72 HARKENS 74                                      Wanda

·       DECANTER 68 TEMPLED 84 RESTIVE 79                                            Graham

·       DELUDED 71 ODDMENT 96 ERECTING 74                                          Wanda

·       DINGBAT 83 RETIRAL 72 EGOTIST 72                                                 Richard

·       DOCKING 84 RECLINER 57 ANODISE 82                                             Fiona

·       FASTENER 90 UNITARDS 70 OUTLIER 76                                           Helen

·       GENTEEL 69 SORBENT 80 DENTILS 83                                               Wanda

·       HETAIRA 89 TOLERANT 74 NEOGENE 85                                            Richard

·       LACTEAN 70 LEAVENED 74 SHINTIED 83                                            Richard

·       LINEATED 76 SECTIONS 80 STARTERS 84                                         Wanda

·       LODESTAR 68 COMATOSE 78 BESTAIN 81                                         Graham

·       NERVILY 76 DIACTINE 74 IODURET 66                                                Richard

·       OSTEOID 77 ESCALATE 72 STROKER 91                                            Wanda

·       POUTING 67 TINDERS 73 FURCATED 80                                            Richard

·       RERAISED 69 FENESTRA 62 ALOETIC 68                                           Wanda

·       RESIDUES 80 AUSTERE 73 INUTILE 77                                               Wanda

·       RESTAGED 74 INSANER 76 ANTLERED 74                                          Wanda

·       TAGETES 73 RECITING 72 BANEFUL 66                                              Wanda

 

Other things:

·       New personal bests:      Helen 609

·       11-letter word:               ADMINISTERS 34 Michael

  

Name

Old rating

New rating

Rating change

P

W

D

L

Average

Highest score

Highest ever

Wanda de Poitiers

164

182

18

34

29

0

5

437.5

575

598

Richard Spencer

185

202

17

28

26

0

2

439.0

531

625

Michael Spencer

80

93

13

32

9

1

22

313.6

407

502

Hepzi Rodrigues

129

137

8

20

10

0

10

349.8

465

554

Martin Stephens

109

113

4

25

11

0

14

332.9

443

477

Fiona Titcombe

148

152

4

23

14

0

9

396.3

494

551

Amanda Lowe

80

82

2

26

6

0

20

306.2

379

392

Joy Wade

106

107

1

14

6

0

8

333.2

442

484

Sharon Hewitt

131

130

-1

14

9

0

5

359.2

418

548

Graham Harding

180

179

-1

44

33

0

11

428.5

571

661

Helen Harding

190

186

-4

42

33

0

9

444.6

609

609

Maire Bennett

61

55

-6

32

2

0

30

264.0

343

498

Pat Llanwarne

130

123

-7

17

8

0

9

346.4

442

516

Deborah Porter

137

130

-7

28

14

0

14

354.3

440

542

Charles Parker

113

104

-9

32

14

1

17

320.4

443

509

Jim Macey

126

116

-10

19

7

0

12

354.8

447

478

Keith Radbourn

82

69

-13

36

3

0

33

282.8

380

418

Insufficient games – a previous quarter’s results, or 13 games in a quarter, needed to qualify

Megel Barker

 

174

1

6

4

0

2

400.8

464

464

Joanne Hepburn

 

38

-26

3

0

0

3

269.3

292

292

Mary Twomey

99

106

7

9

3

0

6

319.9

377

430

Jen Brennan

50

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

436

Maureen Barlow

122

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

528
  1. National Scrabble Championships 2024
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