2nd Best at LBH Cup

A.K.A How I blew my chance to win the thing

Game 1: Jason Toh Kok OnnOpen with COINED (24 ,keeping I). Balanced my second rack with FABRI(C) (26, keeping TK), also with an eye to extend it to with -ATING or ATION at some later point in the game); which leads to two interest options for 4-timers when Jason plays GAN. I opted for (B)EaKIEST for 102. Slowly pulled away with optimal scoring, including an nice GALORES for 75. Endgame scenario: he with AEEIRR? for flexibility while I can only get rid of the P and W from my rack of IIOOPRW to conserve my spread gain. 474-301

Game 2: Liew Kian Boon (the new kid from the blockers)
His opening of FERRY (30) allowed me to overlap AEON (17) on top of it and he maintained his lead untilhe began fishing, allow me to land back-to-back aUDILES (69) and (E)sOTERIC (93) to jump to a 155 lead. He replies immediately with INANEST (67) to cut if back down to 88 but I tightened the board up that I drew the J (which I managed to dump) and the Q (which he managed to stick on my rack) to whittled my spread. 419-340

Game 3: Tony Sim
Tony opened strongly with HEFT (20) and ANKLE (29, hooking (HEFT)E) while I play through consonant heavy drek like PENN(E) (10) and RECC(E) (18). I then strike first blood with SYRINGE (85, hooking (HEFTE)S*) because I chickened out of GREYISh for 88. Tony then punished me with BILTONG (87, in the same column as GREYISh before landing dEWIEST (92, hooking (SYRINGE)S). I was playing catchup until LEAFAGE (69) put me in front by 13 points and I managed to save my lead to win by 9 points. 412-409

Game 4: Ricky Purnomo
He starts out being FAWNY (36), so I tried to RIP (15) him off but then he saw the TAR(IF)F for 24. Then I laid down an OESTRAL (74) and he was LULLED (24) by my QI (24). Dumping a N(E)MN (8) against my JE(W) (35), he silenced my challenge of his PROTeST (73+5, hooking (NEMN)S, which I challenge). I LUG (14) his DIVA (14) around while she RETCHES (76) and he says CIAO (18). I gave him some ZEIN (41) and he offers me a MArIGO(L)D (72) flower that I AXE (43). His UKE (42) was (T)OUGH (30) but I said NO (22) to his NIDI (46-> 0, after challenging the phony hook MAKI*). So he la dee da DI (12) open a triple lane where I DERIVATE (89) a victory and draw the last W for WRETCHES. And then he had to be such a BACON (24) to block that spot, while I grew some YEWS (23) in a nearby column while he watches his IO (11) to go out, letting me BE. 486-371

Game 5: Chia Cuo Cong
I exchange the whole of my first rack, giving him the opening move of BOXY (32) which I overlap with ANOA (28). He gets down MITOGEN (69), which gives me VIRE(M)IA (39) through his M in the triple lane. 2 turns later. I close the gap with S(T)UDIoUS through his T only to see him play (F)INALIZe (107). Did a few setup plays with CURIE (30) and YA (42) which hooked POXY and CHAYA but I can't close the gap. 347-452



Game 6: Marcus Goh Kim Leng (Andy's groupie #1)
Let's see: XENIA (40) was learning how to be on top of JUDO (34) while her companion was reciting an ILIAD(21), which unfortunately turn out to be full of PORNOS (34+5). So with a little DIVI (15) and some PL(ODD)ING (26) of my (J)UICER (30), he had to (C)EDE (18) the lead to my ANEMO(N)ES (72). When I saw his KETO (22), I AVOW (30) to avoid him trying to F(R)Y (18) me with my GRISTLE (84+5). He then had to find a place for BITO (27), but not in my ZO(O) (32), and some much needed (LA)V (12) before I CUSH (45). He then sHATTER(ED) the tranquility of the board, while my W(A)QF, while he wryly says: "this is supposed to be MY (29) game if I can find the niner". Well, it is too bad that I cannot stand the sight of BEAR(s) (21), even more so when they are dress in TAR(T)ANES (57) since it is not in their GENU. 418-366

Game 7: Hubert Wee
He exchange 4 tiles, letting me open the game with FIGO (16). He scores with HERBY (33) while I find TINDERS (75). He then phonies with MISOWN(E)D through the E of HERBY, which I challenged. Thinking that he had nothing with the E, I played EXON (44, H1) opening up the triple lane. He didn't think so either (we find out that MID(T)OWNS was playalbe through the T of TINDERS after the game) so he opted for WO(O)D (31) while I find the aesethically pleasing ACAULI(N)E (72) through the N. He tries to hook SIMLINS to it (making ACAULINES*), which I challenge off. After my next move of QAT (28), he finally plays LIMIN(E)SS through the E of EXON for face value. Towards the end, he managed to capitalized on the J twice for a total of 56 point, dangling an L in the triple lane. I chickened out of (L)EADWORT and just played of (A)WA and get rewarded with N? which comes in handy to bingo pORTEND (73) of his opening of HI. He overlaps DUALiNS (68) but I finish my tiles before him. 493-430

Game 8: Andy Kurnia (AK-47, cheap but deadly)
(He starts)
Exchange 7.
Exchange 7.
Exhcange 1.
QIBLA (52)
ANTISERA (82) and we are off.

After his WAB (31) blocks the A for my DOP(A)MINE for a possible 76 points, I opted for IMPoNED (74), forcing him to score with HEFT (54), which somehow fits into my plan for my next rack of (T)RIGON-I-C (86+5). No place for my next rack, DEALATE so I played DEAL (28), forcing Andy to go up for PEEOY (43), while I play LATEX (57, for turnover and to kill several bingo line) instead of AXE (56). Andy then opens up with EVOKES (38) while I dismissed GOUSTI(E)R and just payed GOUTI(E)R (27). I dump CRL and he throws AIOI to balance our racks and I scored with FUSING (30) killing the last easy bingo line only to draw to my D: EUDRW?, which can be played through a N and an E on the board to form U(N)D(E)rDREW.

Oh, what ectasy to see a nine letter bingo through two separate letters.
Oh, what amazing chance to be able to play such a move.
Oh, what brags I could say about that move.

And Andy just had to play ZA(N)J(E)RO through the same 2 letters, dashing any hopes for me and sparing my audience the torture of my ravings and rantings. So, we wrapped up the game in the next 4 moves. 452-413

So end Day 1 with 7-1. I am still living up to my expectation as Day 1 runaway. Just have to see how spectacular tomorrow's crash will be.


Game 9: Quek Sim Ho (I have an appointment at 6.30pm so we play tomorrow => rats, no free ride from Tony tomorrow. Yes, Tony: you were right, Quek s***wed me)
I openly appealled to a QADI (28) because of Quek's KH(I) (20), but only got some GAM (25) that Quek manage to JUT (30) on my WIG (23) and used that for a very qUIETED (86) move. I decide to F(U)ZE (36) instead of F(U)ZEE and Quek grew some CLOVES (62), which I found to be very good because they were of the (C)URNIEST (83) genetic variants. He then YELP (29->0, phoney hook (KAT)E), so I BAA (17) in return before he got very TYPY (33). My (T)RANNIES (77) took the LIFE (23) out of him, and we talked about the DWAUM (31+5) and DOOL (19+5) before I took my CORNERS (69+5) ahead of his now unplayable AEROGEL. He broke that up with AGO(N)E (24) while I drew EIIIOR to my ? and decided to dump the excess IIO back into the bag as he found a ROON for 28. I drew AXE for an AXE(L) (27) before he BA for 26. I drew back the IO and a V for a cache of IVORIEs, earning me 75+5 and the last tile in the bag, a H. He had enough of this PINTLE (38+5), to which I just replied: "EH?" (18). 526-399

Game 10: Lim Li Wei (aka "I must win this to win the tournament")
He got down C(O)PERING on his 3rd move for 90 points, forcing me to play STY(G)IAN for 45 on the triple lane to catch up. I immediately drew both blanks but can't capitalized on them to score with iNDOLEs (72). He gets down another bingo, AURATES (75) and I am down by 72 points. He then proceeds to block the floaters I need for CALEF(I)ED and ESCALA(T)E so I cannot mount any comeback. Then he exchange 6 tiles (including the Q, X and 2 Is) into the bag, allowing me to pick up TIN to my CASE, after playing HAZ(EL) (34) to cut his lead down to 3. He doesn't block the remaining bingo line, which lets me play CANTIES(T) (76) and I managed to draw the correct tiles to the Q and X such that I cannot be stuck with either of them. The best quote for me was watching alpha mutter that he can trap my Q before I pointed out that QU can go down onto two separate As on the board (maybe I should have kept quiet and watch him fumble his clocked into overtime). 416-391

Game 11: Victor Chua (Andy's groupie #2)
I went fishing for a bingo, while Victor is so RELiANT (81) and a bit DOnSIER (74) that my SPANIEL (75) doesn't even cut the spread. 332-426










Game 12: Jocelyn Lor
Was hindered by unbalanced rack early in the game, while she managed to play TASTIEr (70). Was rueing my next rack of AEEORSW because SOWARREE doesn't play before I chose WOE to open up a triple lane. she takes that with TH(E)Y (42) while I changed my next rack. I eventually get down MOREENS (79) to cut her lead down to 29 points but another change blew that back up to 69 points. I managed to find BANDIES (73+5) to whittle it back to 12 but drew the QV and got bogged down dumping them in the end game while her last rack looked pretty with AEHJN?. 350-391

KOTH Rounds: Now tied with Hubert on 9 wins, Guo Cong is breathing down our necks with 8 wins.

Round 13: Hubert Wee
My only instinct was to score, score and score. Hubert was trailing until he drew ASPERSE (80+5) after exchanging 5 tiles the turn earlier. I rectified that 3 turns later while he struggles with 1-pointers racks before he opened up for my sTOMPED (94) which end the game for him there and then. He then proceed to tighten the board, which I duly obliged by complying with him.435-307

Despite me beating Hubert, Guo Cong didn't manage to accumulate enough spread to overtake Hubert. So......

Game 14: Hubert Wee
Hubert was leading most of this game and managed to get down GENTEEl (63) on his 6th turn, while I was forced to exchange 5 tiles the following turn. Hubert then defended his 60+ lead until his OWRIE gave me the floater for S(I)RENISE (70) (I missed the superior (E)SERINES/(E)ERINESS for 77, which might have been the game-winning move). This allowed him to score with the X in RAD(I)X (42). A cute A dump of DA/AG allowed me to out in 2 with LUAU and DO(V)E but I still lose to him by 4 and compound that loss with a 1 minute overtime penalty. 324-388

Guo Cong has now overtaken me on spread and gets to play Hubert. (Whoopee......)

Game 15: Tony Sim
Opening rack: AEOUFNR. I chose UFO (12) over FURANE (26)
Then I needed to change 3 on the next rack. (NHL, keeping EARN)
ION (11, keeping AIRE)
exchange 7 (AIERUYI) [vowels into consonants: GGLNSX?]
exchange 5 (GGLNX, keeping S?) [consonants into vowels: AAAIU]
exchange 4 (AAIU, keeping AS?) [vowels into consonants again: MSWY]
Drawing MYWS to AS?, I play WAYS (46) and PA(W)N (36) but and forced to change 2 tiles of my racks again before playing CONGES(t) (86+5).
Managed to score with HAVE(OU)R for 42 point but Tony accelerates his game from this point onwards. 343-410

Guo Cong beats Hubert and gets into the driving seat, while I drop to 4th as Tony overtakes me. And so, another rematch...

Game 16: Tony Sim
After this game, I have somehow witness the cosmis balance power that is known as probability (in the long run) A.K.A swinging luck in the short term.
Tony plays AFOOT (18), allowing my QUEME (28). He gets JURA (27), which I foolishly try to hook an S to but got challenged off. He then gets ADZ (45) and WINCE (34) before my dump on HELL (20) gives me the floating L for (L)OGINESS (70). His QUAIR (36) and V(I)L(E)R (24) are no match for my sEVENTH(S) (67) and LOOBIeS (77), which puts me 78 points up (I drew EIUDSTY and was cursing that the L was in the wrong place for SEDULITY). Then we started playing tight board (I even phonied PI(N)K(E)) before I managed to kill (RETAX)ING (both of us were fishing for that extension) by playing ED from my rack of DOTAGES to deny Tony the comeback. I drew UI to GOATS but there was no opening for AGOUTIS either so when Tony emptied the bag, I just played out in two with OUTSAI(L) and G(IF). 406-353

Day 2: 4 wins/8 games
I really must stop Day 2 crashes, but I will admit, this scrappy performance was probably overdue, considering my last tournament was slightly over 5 months back in october 2006. At least I didn't get punished for my rustiness.