Sixty players gathered for this year's Sydney International Masters in the Waratah Room at Revesby Works Club.
The venue was excellent and a bit more upmarket than our usual Henry Lawson hut across the road.
One of our internationals Aloysius Conzago from Singapore was missing at the roll call but Naween Fernando (from Sri Lanka via Melbourne) was there to defend his title. After his 11th at the Worlds last month he was the hot favourite. A goodly sprinkling of interstaters from Queensland and Victoria made it a fairly classy field.
Right from round one upsets were the order of the day Paul Cleary and Naween dropped their first games but made steady progress through the ranks thereafter.
But the early pacemaker proved to be Ann Drew who lead the field at the end of day one. Sometime Queenslander Karen Richards and Sue Kyatt were in the front pack after round eleven which finished around 9 p.m.
Our genial GP Ivor Zetler added some triviality to the championships by offering a $5 prize for the longest word and the best (in his humble opinion) medical word. At one stage some oohs and ahs were heard coming from a table which pitted Olga Fisher against Richard Birch. As I strolled by I noticed the impressive 12-letter word INCAUTIOUSLY on their board (the longest word I can remember seeing in a tournament game). Olga had wrapped CAUTIOUS around Richard's O on her opening move. He later added an LY and Olga attached IN up to the TWS for 48 - classy stuff!
Needless to say it eventually won Ivor's $5 just ahead of Naween's FLAUNTIER (through an I and an R) and DENOUNCER (off DE).
The Revesby tile gods were certainly kinder to me than the Las Vegas deities and my games flowed nicely apart from a clumsy loss to Frank Czarics, a 53 point defeat by Naween and a shellacking from Ann Drew who played sequentially OVERAWE (83) ZONA (59) IMITATED (72) and NEAREST (81) but fortunately missed the eight from CLUTTER plus A next move.*
At the end of Day one I was running third but in the first Sunday game I was tipped out by three points by Karen Richards who played a smart endgame.
As the day unfolded Ann Drew was being challenged by me Paul Cleary Naween Rod Talbot and Trevor Halsall. After 17 rounds we began the three King of the Hill games which turned out to be a best of three between Rod and me. I managed a 39 point win in our first game. Rod found NEMATODE onto a TWS for 86 in reply to my REAVAIL (72). In game two Rod scored well with (B)ORAZON early on and with SALUTE(D) late in the game to win by 79.
The final playoff game was a real nailbiter.
After 12 moves I trailed by 113 points and had practically given the game away. Somehow I grafted a couple of 30+ scores then the two blanks landed on my rack and I squeezed in STONIED for 66 drawing an unplayable BRN. Rod held E I P U.
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o ----------------------------- 01|# . . + . . . M I B . + . . #| 02|. V . . P * Q I . A(S) . = .| 03|. A A . H O I . + I(T) = . .| 04|G U . W O E . + . L O O . . +| 05|L . . I N . . . . . N A . . .| 06|O * . F . * . T . * I F . * .| 07|A G L I T T E R + . E . + . .| 08|T . . E . . . O . . D + . . #| 09|. . + . . . + T + . . . + . .| 10|. * . . . * . S E Z . . . * .| 11|. . H E A V E . . E D . . . .| 12|D R E Y . . . + . A A = J . +| 13|U . R E L A X . + . N . O . .| 14|C = . . U M . S A N G E R S .| 15|K . . W R I S T . . . + . O Y| -----------------------------I then played BRA/BAA at 12i for 11 - to lead 367/364. Rod then played PE at n4 for 13 and I went out with HERN (c11) for 7 (with 4 seconds left) gaining four points from Rod's I U to win 376/375. We later saw Rod's mistake by not playing CUE/HERE for 17 blocking my N play. I should have played HERN first which would have meant a tied game. N3 UP/LOOP would have tied the game for Rod also. Funny what pressure can do to your powers of analysis.
Naween beat Ann to sneak into second (by two spread points) ahead of Rod with Paul and Ann finishing fourth and fifth.
High game went to Jean McGiffen (538) and Liz Jackman won the high rating gain prize (+113 points). Ivor's best medical word was judged to be VERRUGAS - a Pervuvian fever with warty tumours. His medical trivia session was a fun finale to the tournament and gave us some unusual bingos - like PHIMOSIS.
Some interesting words played were INSHENT, CANAIGRE (Cleary), GUAIACOLS (Fernando) FALDETTA, SANIDINE (Holgate) NEMATOID, ALLERION (Rosenthal).
A special word of thanks to Wilma Vialle for her entertaining direction of the event and to all who worked to make the event enjoyable for all participants. Our memories of the tournament will also be tinged with sadness as we mourned the passing of our friend Ros Gibbons in a moment's silence. The Sydney Scrabble scene won't be quite the same without her.
* CULTRATE
Results after game 20
2002 SYD INTNL MASTERS -- OPEN
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 John Holgate 15 986
2 Naween Fernando 14 939
3 Rod Talbot 14 937
4 Paul Cleary 13 1192
5 Anne Drew 13 884
6 Trevor Halsall 13 503
7 Alistair Kane 13 248
8 Sue Kyatt 13 -118
9 Esther Perrins 12 639
10 Joanne Craig 12 433
11 Joan Rosenthal 12 394
12 Derek McKenzie 12 274
13 Michael Vnuk 12 273
14 Karen Richards 12 -19
15 Harry Malcolm 12 -188
16 Frank Csarics 11.5 -43
17 Jean McGiffen 11 381
18 Edward Okulicz 11 284
19 Hanne Marks 11 117
20 Sal Costanzo 11 25
21 Jean Noonan 11 15
22 Gloria Gallagher 11 -46
23 Dianne Davis 11 -121
24 Sam Greenberg 11 -148
25 Tony Hunt 11 -303
26 Bob Jackman 10.5 545
27 Chris May 10 341
28 Audrey Newman 10 310
29 Cheryl Michler 10 153
30 Betty Foreman 10 17
31 Alison Pollard 10 -61
32 Ivor Zetler 10 -92
33 Jenny Templeton 10 -150
34 Ian Close 10 -257
35 Raya Wilkinson 10 -457
36 Trish Windhurst 9 307
37 Peter Shaw 9 87
38 John Barker 9 79
39 Elizabeth Ho 9 14
40 Norma Tracey 9 -59
41 Sue Gergelifi 9 -161
42 Judy Hay 9 -185
43 Liz Jackman 9 -331
44 Paul Richards 9 -347
45 Gary Pollard 9 -602
46 Rene Chelton 8 435
47 Olga Visser 8 25
48 Jan Serisier 8 -100
49 Margaret Berliner 8 -266
50 Vicki Russell 8 -519
51 Moana Nepia 8 -561
52 Alastair Richards 8 -699
53 Chile Malcolm 7 -115
54 Zina Costanzo 7 -183
55 Nanette Reynolds 7 -328
56 Penny Wells 7 -686
57 Richard Birch 7 -1055
58 Pat Schuberg 6 -976
59 Margaret Andrews 5 -759
60 Nonie English 5 -902
HIGH GAME: Jean McGiffen 558
HIGH WORD: Derek McKenzie 149
"DANEWEED"
Stats for Tournament : 2002 SYD INTNL MASTERS
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| state Name | National | State | Wins | Rating Points |
| | Old New | Old New | Exp Act | Old Change New|
+--------------------------+-----------+---------+-----------+---------------+
+Section: *OPEN + + + +
+--------------------------------------+---------+-----------+---------------+
| NSW John Holgate | 7 4 | 3 2 | 13.3 15.0 | 1814 +29 1843 |
| VIC Naween Fernando | 3 2 | 1 1 | 14.9 14.0 | 1906 -14 1892 |
| NSW Rod Talbot | 12 7 | 4 4 | 11.7 14.0 | 1774 +46 1820 |
| NSW Paul Cleary | 2 3 | 1 1 | 15.0 13.0 | 1916 -33 1883 |
| QLD Anne Drew | 22 9 | 4 2 | 9.4 13.0 | 1725 +74 1799 |
| VIC Trevor Halsall | 6 8 | 2 2 | 14.1 13.0 | 1827 -17 1810 |
| VIC Sue Kyatt | 24 13 | 11 5 | 10.1 13.0 | 1712 +59 1771 |
| VIC Alistair Kane | 14 26 | 6 12 | 15.2 13.0 | 1758 -44 1714 |
| NSW Esther Perrins | 16 15 | 5 5 | 11.7 12.0 | 1751 +9 1760 |
| QLD Michael Vnuk | 52 49 | 6 6 | 11.6 12.0 | 1613 +7 1620 |
| NSW Derek McKenzie | 33 25 | 11 7 | 10.3 12.0 | 1679 +36 1715 |
| NSW Joan Rosenthal | 30 27 | 10 8 | 11.0 12.0 | 1683 +22 1705 |
| NSW Joanne Craig | 17 18 | 6 6 | 12.6 12.0 | 1749 -11 1738 |
| QLD Karen Richards | 27 20 | 5 5 | 10.1 12.0 | 1694 +40 1734 |
| VIC Harry Malcolm | 25 22 | 12 10 | 10.9 12.0 | 1711 +22 1733 |
| VIC Frank Csarics | 97 51 | 52 27 | 6.4 11.5 | 1510 +104
1614 |
| NSW Jean McGiffen | 28 36 | 9 10 | 12.6 11.0 | 1693 -30 1663 |
| QLD Edward Okulicz | 9 17 | 3 4 | 12.7 11.0 | 1783 -33 1750 |
| VIC Sal Costanzo | 53 61 | 28 33 | 12.6 11.0 | 1612 -32 1580 |
| VIC Dianne Davis | 66 71 | 37 39 | 11.6 11.0 | 1570 -12 1558 |
| NSW Jean Noonan | 210 136 | 55 37 | 6.1 11.0 | 1341 +99 1440 |
| NSW Hanne Marks | 121 103 | 35 25 | 9.8 11.0 | 1472 +25 1497 |
| NSW Tony Hunt | 201 142 | 53 40 | 7.0 11.0 | 1346 +82 1428 |
| NSW Gloria Gallagher | 153 134 | 43 36 | 9.6 11.0 | 1414 +28 1442 |
| NSW Sam Greenberg | 182 145 | 48 41 | 8.1 11.0 | 1365 +60 1425 |
| NSW Bob Jackman | 4 6 | 2 3 | 15.1 10.5 | 1891 -71 1820 |
| NSW Chris May | 18 28 | 7 9 | 13.0 10.0 | 1744 -59 1685 |
| NSW Audrey Newman | 178 130 | 47 35 | 6.2 10.0 | 1372 +76 1448 |
| NSW Alison Pollard | 134 93 | 39 21 | 7.2 10.0 | 1455 +56 1511 |
| NSW Cheryl Michler | 226 171 | 57 49 | 6.3 10.0 | 1312 +74 1386 |
| NSW Ian Close | 84 100 | 19 22 | 11.4 10.0 | 1526 -26 1500 |
| NSW Betty Foreman | 92 113 | 23 30 | 11.4 10.0 | 1514 -28 1486 |
| NSW Jenny Templeton | 257 220 | 63 58 | 6.9 10.0 | 1269 +63 1332 |
| NSW Ivor Zetler | 87 106 | 21 27 | 11.6 10.0 | 1524 -32 1492 |
| NSW Raya Wilkinson | 199 203 | 52 56 | 10.1 10.0 | 1348 +1 1349 |
| NSW John Barker | 26 55 | 8 14 | 14.7 9.0 | 1709 -113
1596 |
| NSW Elizabeth Ho | 249 225 | 60 59 | 7.1 9.0 | 1279 +39 1318 |
| NSW Peter Shaw | 83 112 | 18 29 | 10.9 9.0 | 1526 -38 1488 |
| NSW Norma Tracey | 190 175 | 50 50 | 7.8 9.0 | 1357 +25 1382 |
| NSW Trish Windhurst | 98 101 | 26 23 | 9.6 9.0 | 1510 -10 1500 |
| NSW Sue Gergelifi | 101 148 | 27 42 | 13.3 9.0 | 1506 -85 1421 |
| NSW Judy Hay | 214 181 | 56 51 | 7.2 9.0 | 1337 +36 1373 |
| QLD Paul Richards | 176 186 | 16 18 | 9.6 9.0 | 1375 -11 1364 |
| NSW Liz Jackman | 317 245 | 78 61 | 3.6 9.0 | 1173 +113
1286 |
| NSW Gary Pollard | 117 154 | 32 44 | 12.4 9.0 | 1479 -67 1412 |
| QLD Olga Visser | 106 140 | 9 12 | 11.2 8.0 | 1500 -63 1437 |
| NSW Margaret Berliner | 256 257 | 62 64 | 7.8 8.0 | 1270 +3 1273 |
| NSW Rene Chelton | 96 153 | 25 43 | 13.0 8.0 | 1511 -99 1412 |
| NSW Moana Nepia | 137 193 | 40 53 | 12.8 8.0 | 1452 -96 1356 |
| NSW Jan Serisier | 118 162 | 33 46 | 11.9 8.0 | 1478 -78 1400 |
| QLD Vicki Russell | 289 270 | 29 29 | 6.2 8.0 | 1203 +37 1240 |
| QLD Alastair Richards | 291 259 | 30 25 | 4.6 8.0 | 1202 +67 1269 |
| VIC Zina Costanzo | 108 152 | 56 68 | 11.0 7.0 | 1496 -79 1417 |
| NSW Penny Wells | 116 196 | 31 54 | 13.5 7.0 | 1484 -129
1355 |
| VIC Chile Malcolm | 326 290 | 122 114 | 4.9 7.0 | 1162 +43 1205 |
| NSW Nanette Reynolds | 321 279 | 80 68 | 4.4 7.0 | 1168 +52 1220 |
| NSW Richard Birch | 277 281 | 67 69 | 7.0 7.0 | 1218 +1 1219 |
| NSW Pat Schuberg | 268 268 | 65 65 | 5.8 6.0 | 1237 +5 1242 |
| NSW Margaret Andrews | 282 313 | 69 77 | 6.5 5.0 | 1212 -31 1181 |
| NSW Nonie English | 284 308 | 71 75 | 6.0 5.0 | 1209 -20 1189 |
+-------------------------------------+---------+-----------+----------------+