LBH was horrible and the last MSA mini......

wasn't ideal, 3rd place after failing to keep pace with Nigel (Recalling the 2008 Scrabble Scramble) and then stumbling over my last opponent by winning by single digit (well, he opened with a natural TOAZING....ggggrrrr.....) to allow someone to pip me on spread.

And don't even get me talking about LBH.

Lim Boon Heng Cup

Here I come!!!

Guess this means that JB mini will have to wait.
OTOH, I probably will scrap my Australia trip and have to reconsider WPC in light of the new dates and venue (do I really want to spend all that money on a 10 year visa that will only be worth 1 trip?)

WSC and CSC epilogue

WSC 70th place (half a win up on 2005 record). 11-13, -262.
Just pissed mad that I had to play compatriot, Vannitha Balasingam in the last round. And Malaysia is confirmed losing a spot, so shared responsibilities all round. (and that includes you, Ganesh)
CSC Open: 10th place, RM500, 27.5-17.5, + 1317.
No chance to play Premier this year, so I need not take responsibility that Causeway team has been dropped (Hell, I would rather Team Malaysia play and get dropped than being merged with Singapore to form Team Causeway). Time to start boosting International Rating to make the International teams (I think the 1911 rating I got from these two tourneys is a good headstart)

Foreseeable 2010 Itinerary
April: 2010 Australia Nationals, Adelaide
June: 25th King's Cup, Bangkok
November: WPC, Toronto/Dallas/Whereever (There is always the Malaysian Open for backup)
December: Causeway Scrabble Challenge, JB

King's Cup Epilogue

Good: 16-10, +93, 16th place (one win up on last year) Personal Record

Bad: losing out on 10th place by a Helen Gipson or Lukeman Owolabi or Panupol Sujjayakorn

Ugly: Free challenge is such a bitch to deal with. Then again, there was Cream & fudge Factory which I visited like 5 times throughout the tournament, my poor waistline. My bowling scores on Friday or Saturday night.
Preparations for Nationals: Double NADA!!!!

Penang Open epilogue

Good: 5th place, RM 700 richer
Bad: rating should drop, 13 wins out of 20, ding-donging most of the way at the beginning.

Ugly: Diarrhoea attack on 1st night, Acid Reflux this morning, GI syndrome all the way. Cardbox just exploded today, 2000+ and counting to conquer in a few days.

Upside: no end-tourney slide, won 7 out of the last 8 games. (I think I managed to pass the curse on to Alex Tan)
Preparation for King's Cup: still NADA!!!

Scrabble updates

Zyzzyva: 1.4xk 7s and 8s with bloated indigestions, must be the 6Ls K words......oh well, not going to reset cardbox just yet.

Strategy: sux!!!

Practice: sux!!!! need to plan some online sessions with pakorn or helen.

Preparation for Penang Open: what preparations?
Preparation for King's Cup: Nada too.

Where did the script go wrong?

Singapore Open:

First 10 games: 9-1, 2 clear of the field and in pole position (good)
Last 6 games: 0-6, 7th barely scoring any points if this was the F1 GP (bad)

Playing phonies like HILIS* (unchallenged), OBIITS* (unchallenged), VOIDLESS* (challenged). (Really Ugly)

Going for the Singapore Open

Okay, I was feeling rusty right now and wanted to put about an extra 3000 bingos to use on the board before Penang Open. Hence the Singapore Open trip at the last minute. Actually, just wanted to get my mind off a crappy date that bombed.
Despite leaving it until Sunday to buy the train tickets, managed to snag lower berths in the middle so I should be fine. If all goes well and the field plays terribly, I should win this. And Penang Open. and King's Cup. But who am I kidding, Pakorn just registered for Penang Open. Then again, only 4 repeats.

I just got a tattoo

from Tribal Art Gallery, by Chung.

Consider it a customized tribal modern design with 3 dragons (1 roaring, 2 asleep) in the form of a borneo scorpion.

Will post photos and the pain up when I get back from East Malaysia on Saturday.

Edit: Here are the photos

Australian Nationals 2009 - Redux

Good: Enjoyed the weather, enjoyed the tournament, enjoyed the full cream milk, enjoyed the food.

Bad: Finishing 20 something with 13 wins and 2nd highest spread.

Ugly: Last 3 games. Go see for yourself.