Scrabble Nationals 2012 (Day Two)

Game 9: vs Eugene Kok
Our scores were pretty close after we each had a bingo at the same turn. I pulled ahead after scoring well with the Z and the X, while he scored well with the J.

New words learnt: AIRDATE
My Bingos: ETESIAN(73) Opp Bingos: AIRDATE(71)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: TEAZING(41), XU(52) Opp High Moves: JONES(45)
W 377-319, +58. 6W 3L (Accum spread +358).

Game 10: vs Jia Jun
I managed to edge out my opponent from Marsiling Secondary School despite being out-bingoed two to one by having several high scoring moves.

New words learnt: -
My Bingos: DOLTINGS(61) Opp Bingos: GENUINE(83), REWRITE(84)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: INE*
My High Moves: FIZ(45), EEK(30), MISER(34), YEH(34) Opp High Moves: OX(52)
W 435-407, +28. 7W 3L (Accum spread +386).

Game 11: vs Jeyaseelan
I was beaten convincingly by this up and coming Scrabble player from NTU as I was out-bingoed three to one.

New words learnt: EATCHES, ARSIEST
My Bingos: INTERNS(80) Opp Bingos: EATCHES(83), ATONIES(66), ARSIEST(76)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: HAJ(38) Opp High Moves: ZONE(45), VAIL(38), FUEL(30)
L 317-491, -174. 7W 4L (Accum spread +212).

Game 12: vs Joseph Tan
I probably should have closed the bingo lane at the bottom but luckily my opponent was not able to bingo out with a AEPRSX? rack and an existing E on the bottom left hand corner to overtake me. He tried EXPERiAS* but it was challenged off.

New words learnt: -
My Bingos: DIATRON(64), SCATTED(81) Opp Bingos: DUALITY(82)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: EXPERiAS*
My High Moves: BIKE(34) Opp High Moves: -
W 448-349, +99. 8W 4L (Accum spread +311).

Game 13: vs Mahendra Morghan
I think I had even better luck than the game against Shahrul. Won easily as I out-bingoed my opponent four to one.

New words learnt: -
My Bingos: PLAINER(68), SOUTANE(72), LETTERs(69), WEAVERS(75) Opp Bingos: GRADINS(80)
My Phoneys: HOCS* Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: SEZ(41), HO(33) Opp High Moves: FAB(32), KOALA(36), OX(36)
W 547-346, +201. 9W 4L (Accum spread +512).

Game 14: vs zzBye

W 175-100, +75. 10W 4L (Accum spread +587).

Game 15: vs Aloysius
Was trailing my opponent by about 80 points before I gained back the lead by bingoing with a four-timer LAKESIDE(98) and followed up with PAX(58) as the "I" was just underneath the triple letter score.

New words learnt: -
My Bingos: LAKESIDE(98) Opp Bingos: FORgETS(69)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: PON*, OZONED*
My High Moves: PAX(58), ZONED(39), BOTT(31) Opp High Moves: JOIN(37), PEEING(30)
W 466-320, +146. 11W 4L (Accum spread +733).

Game 16: vs Jeyaseelan
My most feared opponent and I had to meet him again in the King of the Hill segment. This time my losing margin was much smaller and I think I could have won if I had not challenged so many of his valid words.

New words learnt: DANNIES, EOLITH
My Bingos: IRRITATE(68) Opp Bingos: DANNIES(73), NEGROID(79)
My Phoneys: LATES* Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: ONY(33), KEF(35), VAC(32), ZEROS(50) Opp High Moves: DOPY(46)
L 387-398, -11. 11W 5L (Accum spread +722).

Finished the tournament with 11 wins and 3rd position. Hope to do better next year!

Scrabble Nationals 2012 (Day One)

This year's Nationals is held at Bishan CC and it is the first time that division B had to play 16 games. I met Bee Tiang, Aloysius and Valli at the food court for a drink before the actual registration.

Game 1: vs Catherine Tong
Catherine was the only female player in division B and I was quite impressed by how she could multi-task by reading a Chinese novel in between moves! Lost to her even though she was not fully paying attention to our game.

New words learnt: -
My Bingos: TINDERS(70) Opp Bingos: STEWING(82), REaLIsED(74)
My Phoneys: PERTY* Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: - Opp High Moves: HODS(36)
L 333-439, -106. 0W 1L (Accum spread -106).

Game 2: vs Gabriel Cheang
I could have won if I knew the bingo to a ADEIMT? rack that had to end with "TED". Decided to try MIrATED* but I should have known that it was the anagram for READMIT that had no other anagrams.

New words learnt: MIcATED
My Bingos: GIDDIES(92) Opp Bingos: TREASON(71), CANNIER(84)
My Phoneys: MIrATED* Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: JAB(31), XU(31) Opp High Moves: ZAIRE(58), QIS(40)
L 327-426, -99. 0W 2L (Accum spread -205).

Game 3: vs Winston Gwee
Had two blanks early in the game and was able to bingo with CoIFfED(76). The scores might have been closer if Winston did not phoney twice.

New words learnt: -
My Bingos: CoIFfED(76) Opp Bingos: -
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: PRIVE*, FYE*
My High Moves: QUA(32), ZINC(30) Opp High Moves: GRAPE(43), LASH(42)
W 363-285, +78. 1W 2L (Accum spread -127).

Game 4: vs Neo Wei Sheng
Wei Sheng had superb bingo power! Would have lost even more if he did not also phoney a lot to offset the overall margin.

New words learnt: ORIOLES
My Bingos: - Opp Bingos: URINATE(85), ORIOLES(75), SOUTANE(73)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: TRIAGER*, UNTRAIN*
My High Moves: HIKES(36), LEY(34), XU(50), FATWA(38) Opp High Moves: ZOL(36)
L 350-449, -99. 1W 3L (Accum spread -226).

It was around 1.30pm when I finally had time to go for lunch with Winston and Valli. The food court was just across the street and was much more convenient than at Toa Payoh West CC! Heard that there was a famous Chicken Rice stall but did not try as it had a very long queue.

Game 5: vs Shahrul
This was a bingo pack game where both of us had three bingos each! Won as I scored well with the J and the X and gained 34 points with his GLITZES when he tried in vain to bingo out.

New words learnt: -
My Bingos: MODERATE(69), OUTLIER(72), ISATINE(74) Opp Bingos: SOREDIA, BOUNCED(77), CLEARING(82)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: SOREDIAS*, GIPE*
My High Moves: JAP(41), WEX(51), POM(31) Opp High Moves: KAB(30)
W 538-372, +166. 2W 3L (Accum spread -60).

Game 6: vs Ng Ming Wei
I managed to keep my lead after scoring one bingo as my opponent phonied several times.

New words learnt: FAERIE
My Bingos: INTERNS(69) Opp Bingos: -
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: VIZ*, DINTY*
My High Moves: JOTS(32) Opp High Moves: TUX(30)
W 376-260, +116. 3W 3L (Accum spread +56).

Game 7: vs Tan Wei Jie
I out-bingoed my opponent two to one and won rather easily. I think he made a similar mistake as Shahrul when he tried to finish first but ended up phoneying and allowing me to finish first instead.

New words learnt: SORBATE
My Bingos: GROANED(73), LINTERS(65) Opp Bingos: SORBATE(77)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: SORBATED*, GLINTERS*
My High Moves: CUZ(35), KIN(35), WAI(30), CAB(32) Opp High Moves: HEATY(30), EREV(31)
W 466-303, +163. 4W 3L (Accum spread +219).

Game 8: vs Low Bee Tiang
I could have won by a bigger margin if I had not tried to prevent Bee Tiang from bingoing but ended up letting him score big with the Q and the Z instead.

New words learnt: -
My Bingos: GODETIA(77), KARITES(89), AWNIEST(88) Opp Bingos: TOASTING(68)
My Phoneys: - Opp Phoneys: -
My High Moves: JA(38) Opp High Moves: HOE(31), QAID(47), LUZ(47)
W 481-400, +81. 5W 3L (Accum spread +300).

Finished day 1 with 5 wins and 3 losses. I won all my games after lunch! Hope I could maintain such good form for the second day!

The Pornographers

The story is about how a man who made pornographic films struggled to provide for his family.

Liked the anthropological study on the ordinary people and society in general!

Internet Movie Database Link

About The Pink Sky

The story is about what happened after a young girl found a wallet filled with money. She lent some of the money to an old friend and started a newspaper with the wallet's owner and her three friends.

Liked the nice black and white cinematography! The young girl looked quite cute too!

Internet Movie Database Link

Nishi Ginza Station

The story is about the adventures of a hen pecked husband when his wife went on a holiday.

Liked the interesting fantasy sequences on the island! The stationery shop girl looked quite cute too!

Internet Movie Database Link