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One of our members, Pat, took part in the Winter Matchplay Scrabble tournament held in Milton Keynes on November 22nd – 23rd 2025.   Here is her report:

 

"In November I took part in the Winter Matchplay, which is a long-running tournament in Milton Keynes.  As usual I stayed at the Holiday Inn, where the weekend tournament took place. There were 44 players, but only two divisions. Most players were in A.  There was some tough opposition, I was player 8 of the 12 in division B.

There was an assortment of players, including a young lad and his grandmother. There was also an experiment with live streaming a game, which they hope to use at Reading's UK Open.   (The live stream is here ABSP Tournament Scrabble UK - YouTube ) 

There were 10 games on Saturday,  of which I won 3.  I encountered my first total recount, which was requested by a player I had beaten by 5 points.  This used up valuable time from an already short lunch break.  The result of the recount was that I had actually won by 6 points.

I had a better day on Sunday, winning 5 of the 8 games. I was pleased that my rating increased by one point, now standing at 99, one point away from the elusive 100."

 

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These statistics cover the year running from the beginning of October 2024 to the end of September 2025.   

Committee:

Chairman - Deborah Porter
Secretary - Joy Wade
Treasurer - Wanda de Poitiers
Statistician - Helen Harding

 

Winners were as follows:

Best improver for 2024-2025:   
1st Jim Macey
2nd Hepzi Rodrigues
3rd Sharon Hewitt 

       

Quarterly improver prizes:
Q1: Deborah Porter
Q2: Joy Wade
Q3: Sharon Hewitt
Q4: Jim Macey

 

Winter League:                         
Division A: Richard Spencer
Division B: Pat Llanwarne
Division C: Martin Stephens

 

The All-play-All:                        
Group A: Richard Spencer
Group B: Hepzi Rodrigues
Group C: Joy Wade
Group D: Keith Radbourn  

 

Handicap:                                
Deborah Porter

 

·      The following players scored over 500 points in a game at least once during the season:

 

·       ·       Graham Harding (highest score 693)
·       Richard Spencer (674)
·       Megel Barker (616)
·       Wanda de Poitiers (581)
·       Helen Harding (570)
 ·       Tim Charlton (569)
·       Hepzi Rodrigues (536)
·       Fiona Titcombe (525)
·       Johnny Sammon (519)
·       Deborah Porter (502)

 

 

 

 

The highest single moves were:

·    
·       185       SPOOKIER       Graham
·       167       PATIENCE        Graham
·       144       FRIEZES          Wanda
·       131       LAIRIEST         Wanda
·       122       LITERATE        Helen
·       116       STAINED          Maire
·       112       TOXINES            Graham
·       111       FIXATES          Helen
·       109       SHOWERY       Helen
·       107       SQUIRMER      Tim
·       104       PRICKERS       Pat
·       104       REQUEST        Jim
·       103       QUOLL             Graham
·       102       MINDERS         Martin
·       101       SEGMENT            Graham
·       100       REQUITS         Megel

 

 

 

Name

Old Rating

New Rating

Rating Change

P

W

D

L

Average

Highest score

Highest ever

Jim Macey

122

168

46

52

32

0

20

369.0

463

478

Hepzi Rodrigues

132

154

22

92

51

0

41

370.5

536

554

Sharon Hewitt

131

151

20

78

50

0

28

356.9

488

548

Joy Wade

106

121

15

109

48

1

60

334.9

457

484

Maire Bennett

58

70

12

118

16

0

102

280.3

440

498

Deborah Porter

136

148

12

115

67

0

48

365.0

502

542

Keith Radbourn

71

74

3

123

29

0

94

287.4

396

418

Pat Llanwarne

130

133

3

59

25

0

34

350.9

455

516

Charles Parker

99

100

1

116

40

0

76

329.7

483

509

Wanda de Poitiers

178

178

0

125

92

1

32

421.0

581

598

Graham Harding

181

180

-1

167

121

1

45

425.0

693

693

Fiona Titcombe

149

147

-2

70

41

1

28

389.3

525

551

Helen Harding

187

185

-2

155

126

2

27

433.2

570

609

Polly Vallance

91

85

-6

72

24

1

47

311.6

421

421

Amanda Lowe

93

87

-6

96

26

0

70

306.8

443

404

Martin Stephens

109

100

-9

90

34

0

56

326.5

401

477

Michael Spencer

82

72

-10

88

16

0

72

282.4

367

502

Richard Spencer

208

183

-25

104

83

1

20

437.1

674

674
                     

People with insufficient games (52, or an average of 1 per week) to qualify for best improver

Gillian Cranston

101

107

6

16

6

0

10

358.1

470

470

Tim Charlton

197

203

6

38

30

0

8

419.3

569

569

Megel Barker

184

187

3

9

6

0

3

453.1

616

616

Maureen Barlow

122

113

-9

43

21

0

22

346.4

449

528

Mary Twomey

105

87

-18

39

16

0

23

312.7

421

430

Lizzie Hewitt

93

73

-20

10

2

0

8

275.3

347

347

Lesley Richards

87

65

-22

2

0

0

2

223.0

285

285

Ann Boswell

93

46

-47

16

0

0

16

233.1

291

291
                     

New members without a previous year's playing record

Johnny Sammon

82

113

31

33

15

0

18

355.8

519

519
                     

Guests

                    

Tom Carey

  

143

2

3

1

0

2

384.0

484

484

Sian Gates

63

53

-10

2

0

0

2

238.5

242

242

Cheryl Nembhard

 

74

-14

1

0

0

1

225.0

225

225

Deborah Tobin-Desson

  

35

-15

2

0

0

2

185.5

221

221

 

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Richard recently played at the NSC at the end of October. Here is his report :

 

---

I played in the National Scrabble Championship between October 25-27 which was held in London at the Naim Dangoor Centre near Paddington. There were 23 games and 32 players competing in one Division.
 
Day 1 had 7 games and I was pleased to get 4 wins and a draw. The draw was the only one in the tournament 428-428. I was happy with as the opponent had the better tiles at the end and couldn't find the winning bonus. The final game of the day was also close as I managed a 3 point win.
 
Day 2 was on paper very tough as there were 9 games to play and all 9 were against opponents rated significantly higher than me. I was very happy to win 5.
 
Pleased to spot the extension to EVIL to become EVILDOER for 42 pts early on in the day to help get a win. 
 
Game 10 was one of my best games see picture. After an early bonus of STRAINS played the bonus of COAMINGS which was challenged but stayed on the board. Then saw I had the bonus of AASVOGEL through the V of VOLAR. Interestingly the same bonus was played against me in game 3! 4th bonus of DAUTIES plus scoring plays of MEAT for 38 and ZOBU for 45 game me a 525-391 win.
 
 
Game 13 was a test for me as I was playing a former UK champion. After I changed 1 on the first rack my opponent played EUONYMI as his first word. I challenged and it was a phoney so came off! It wasn't a high scoring start as we both kept getting racks that didn't gel.  I led 199-146 after 9 turns! Then my opponent played BERG to open up the board putting the G in the triple lane.
 
This gave me DEGRADES for 149 effectively ending the game. 
 
Day 3 again was positive as I won 4 out of 7 to give me an overall total of 13 and a half out of 23 for the tournament. The final game was a fitting end finishing 487-486 as per second board photo.
 
 This was a very open game with 3 bonuses each. After both changing opponent opened with DAUBIER for 74 but I had DESCENT 70, HOAGIES 72 and PAESANI 88 on turns 2, 4 and 5 to take a good lead. He then bonused with ASTEROID for 70 and ULTRARED for 68 to make things closer but I felt in control as long as there were no more bonuses.
 
I played QATS for 34 giving me a nice lead of 442-400. It left the Q in the triple lane but figured I could survive something like QIN. Unfortunately he had FIQUE for 54 to make things tight but it did mean he had to play off all his vowels leaving NNOR after picking the final tiles.
 
I thought I'd had just enough after playing AJIS for 30 at the end but time was running low and I hadn't spotted the better out sequence of AJAR which would have left RINGS as a threatened outplay. The photo shows this better move.  (The board also contains the invalid DUCTI* don't play it!)
 
After AJIS opponent found his winning sequence playing BRENS for 15 and after my NAG for 16 played NON for 16 to take the game. This loss meant I finished 11th instead of 6th but I finished 20 points above rating overall which game me the ratings prize.  Overall an enjoyable weekend and the result was much better than I expected. 
 
   
 
Word highlights were,
 
 
Me -PAESANI, PARDALES, COAMINGS, CEMITARE, EASTLAND, AASVOGEL, WHEATENS, CONINES, SEMEION, INOCULA    
 
Opponents - ULTRARED, KINGLESS, UNCOWLED, AASVOGEL, ASSLIKE
 
 
 
 
(Picture provided by Natalie Zolty- thank you)
 
-
 
Richard started the tournament as the 22nd best player. To finish 11th is an excellent achievement - well done.
 

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Best improver for the fourth quarter of the season is Jim Macey, ahead of Johnny Sammon in second place and Hepzi Rodrigues in third place.   Welcome to Tom Carey; good luck in the next World Championships!

High-scoring words:
·       185       SPOOKIER                   Graham            (triple-triple)
·       104       PRICKERS                   Pat
·       104       REQUEST                    Jim
·       94        DECIDERS                   Deborah           (double-double)
·       94        PEANUTS                     Helen
·       92        FEASTED                     Graham
·       92        SEXTANT                     Deborah
·       92        SIEVERTS                    Helen
·       91        GROWERS                   Graham
·       90        QUEERING                  Charles
·       90        UNVESTED                  Graham
·       89        OXTAILS                      Charles
·       87        REACHES                    Maire
·       87        SPICIER                       Helen
·       85        CATERING                   Jim
·       84        CRAZES                       Johnny
·       83        DESTAIN                      Jim
·       83        PRALINES                    Jim
·       82        CHEWIEST                   Jim
·       82        PANCREAS                  Johnny
·       81        DONKEYS                    Maire
·       81        LEEWARD                    Jim
·       81        MUSTIER                     Hepzi
·       81        STOOGES                    Maureen
·       80        ARTIEST                      Maire
·       80        PANTIES                      Hepzi
·       80        TRAINER                      Maire
·       79        ARENOUS                    Johnny
·       79        STRIDER                      Charles
·       77        NASTIEST                    Charles
·       77        UNSALTED                   Charles
·       76        AERIEST                      Hepzi
·       76        FOISTING                    Johnny
·       76        SMARTER                    Maire
·       75        WEARIES                     Maureen

Other words: 74 FEISTIER Jim, 74 SPLITTER Hepzi, 74 TITTLES Charles, 74 UNITERS Maire, 73 ADIPOSE Maureen, 73 AEDILES Jim, 73 ARCADES Maire,73 DARTLES Johnny, 73 LAKIEST Jim, 73 SOOTIER Hepzi, 73 STERNED Jim, 73 TERMINI Jim, 72 LOATHES Maire, 72 STINGER Maureen, 72 TANKERS Maire, 71 GENUINE Maire, 70 ASTERIA Johnny, 70 BLUEISH Jim, 70 BUTCHERY Deborah, 70 ERODING Jim, 70 INVERTS Charles, 70 NITRIDE Johnny, 70 ROASTIE Maire, 70 SOBRIETY Johnny, 69 DAMAGES Jim, 69 NUTRIAS Johnny, 69 SIRLOIN Charles, 68 ACTIONER Maureen, 68 HEATING Maire, 68 NEONATE Johnny, 68 RIVETED Jim, 68 STATING Hepzi, 68 TRANNIES Hepzi, 67 CONNERS Maire, 67 GOUTIER Jim, 67 LIONISE Maureen, 66 ARSENIC Jim, 66 LOITERS Maureen, 66 SAUNTER Jim, 66 SWELTER Johnny, 65 CHEERING Jim, 65 DEITIES Charles, 65 REPOTTED Mary, 64 CHARTERS Jim, 64, SPOILER Jim, 64 STAINER Maire, 64 STARNIE Jim, 63 ALIENEE Jim, 63 OUTRIDE Jim, 62 IDEALLY Johnny, 62 RIGIDITY Jim, 62 SAILORS Maire, 61 DINNERS Jim, 60 CANOEING Charles, 60 NIOBATE Johnny, 60 MANILAS Mary, BELOVED, FAVORITE, SLANGERS Amanda

 

Many bonuses or high-scoring moves by one player in a game:
·       CAREENS 77 STROBES 71 PREFACES 66 REGATTA 79            Richard
·       DREAMIER 59 FAINTING 86 SUSPECTS 91 SPRINGER 78            Graham
·       FLOATER 84 TEASING 82 STAMPED 78 ZESTY 78                  Graham
·       SAPLING 74 GELATION 77 TRAYNED 80 RINSABLE 61            Graham
·       SALINES 66 ZOWIE 65 REATTAIN 59 SATIRES 68                   Helen
·       ALLUDES 73 TROOLIE 79 SATIRES 73                                    Graham
·       ANNEALS 72 SPECIAL 82 NEOPHILE 70                                  Richard
·       APOGEES 65 WHITENS 104 SYRINGE 64                                Graham
·       BRINIEST 70 OUTINGS 70 SOLVENT 69                                  Hepzi
·       BLUEISH 85 INVITED 71 DENIERS 73                                      Johnny
·       HOATZIN 100 DISAGREE 83 REAGENT 66                               Graham
·       JADES/HOATZINS 111 STARING 70 MISTUNE 90                    Helen
·       MAESTROS 80 TRIENNIA 82 ISLANDER 68                              Helen
·       INSOLENT 60 LEGIBLE 69 RETAILER 59                                  Helen
·       PENNIES 83 WAXER 55 TRAVELS 69                                      Maire
·       RELENTS 64 CAYENNE 86 PINDAREE 76                                Richard
·       RUSTIER 69 FEASTER 98 RETOTALS 77                                 Graham
·       SNAILED 68 ALIENORS 72 MISLEAD 96                                   Johnny
·       SNORING 79 TASTIEST 86 CORONAS 83                                Fiona
·       STATUES 82 DARNEST 73 READOUT 63                                 Graham
·       UNTRIED 76 SCARIER 72 BORNITES 62                                  Wanda

New personal best:        Johnny Sammon 519     Well done!

 

Name

Old rating

New rating

Rating change

P

W

D

L

Average

Highest score

Highest ever

Jim Macey

134

168

34

13

11

0

2

396.2

463

478

Johnny Sammon

82

113

31

21

12

0

9

370.4

519

519

Hepzi Rodrigues

131

154

23

27

19

0

8

389.1

536

554

Martin Stephens

89

100

11

27

9

0

18

320.9

372

477

Wanda de Poitiers

168

178

10

28

23

0

5

416.3

532

598

Graham Harding

175

180

5

40

28

0

12

426.6

543

693

Maire Bennett

66

70

4

29

5

0

24

290.1

367

498

Joy Wade

119

121

2

30

15

0

15

341.1

457

484

Sharon Hewitt

149

151

2

25

16

0

9

348.1

457

548

Michael Spencer

72

72

0

15

3

0

12

268.4

323

502

Pat Llanwarne

133

133

0

15

6

0

9

353.4

438

516

Deborah Porter

149

148

-1

33

18

0

15

372.4

489

542

Amanda Lowe

92

87

-5

19

4

0

15

310.9

443

404

Charles Parker

105

100

-5

33

12

0

21

323.5

399

509

Keith Radbourn

81

74

-7

36

6

0

30

277.5

370

418

Richard Spencer

193

183

-10

24

16

1

7

423.5

522

674

Helen Harding

196

185

-11

37

25

2

10

425.6

539

609

Maureen Barlow

128

113

-15

37

17

0

20

349.4

449

528

Fiona Titcombe

164

147

-17

21

10

1

10

387.9

525

551

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

Tom Carey

141

 

2

3

1

0

2

384.0

484

484

Tim Charlton

202

203

1

9

8

0

1

436.6

475

569

Polly Vallance

86

85

-1

11

4

0

7

305.6

361

421

Mary Twomey

116

87

-29

11

2

0

9

304.4

402

430

Deborah Tobin-Desson

50

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

221

Ann Boswell

50

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

291

Lizzie Hewitt

73

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

347

Cheryl Nembhard

74

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

225

Gillian Cranston

107

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

470

Megel Barker

187

 

0

0

0

0

0

 

0

616

 

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Fiona recently attended the Mind Sports Olympiad held in London.

Here is her report 

 

I attended the Scrabble tournament that is part of the Mind Sports Olympiad - an annual event that runs over a fortnight and features all sorts of board games and mental puzzles. It has quite a different feel to many events in that you often get novices turning up, and people wander in and out of the room to see what's going on! My first game was against a much higher rated player - I opened with a bonus and hung on to the lead until the very last move when he bonused out on the triple word score!

My second game I also played a bonus on my first move, but it went downhill after that, playing two phonies to lose a game I really felt I should have won!

My third game was undoubtedly my best, again opening with a bonus - NAIVETE - which I was relieved stayed on after a challenge! I went on to get a nine-timer EN(D)ORSES for 131 points, and a further bonus of MUTI(N)EER to win with a very respectable 514 points.

 

 

 

 

After that, I played two new players - new but definitely not novices! I did win both those games, but both were hard-fought! After that I played David Shenkin who I have never yet managed to beat, and that was true again, then the last game of the day which I made lots of silly mistakes, having overlid, unlodge and wakey challenged off the board. I was particularly cross with myself with unlodge, as, as soon as I played it I realised it was an anagram of LOUNGED which is of course a real word! Despite the frustrations, I very much enjoyed the day and playing people I hadn't played before. 

 

Sounds like a great day - well played Fiona!

 

  1. Oxford 2/3 August
  2. Best Improver – April to June 2025
  3. June 7 : Romford
  4. Coventry 18-19 April
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