Causeway Challenge Final List

Here are the players who qualify to represent Malaysia at the Causeway Scrabble Challenge. (Cheah Siu Hean and Michael Tang have opted to play for Singapore)

1. Nigel Richards 1952
2. Ganesh Asirvatham 1920
3. Aaron Chong 1753
4. John Lam 1660
5. Alex Tan 1632
6. Yeo Kien Hung 1616
7. Tan Jin Chor 1609
8. Jocelyn Lor 1587
9. Tengku Asri 1550
10. Chim Wai Main 1512

Reserves:

1. Chuah Sim Swee 1512
2. Yeap Gim Sai 1501 (has opted to play in Open Division)
3. Krishna Kumar 1498
4. Thomas Tan 1449 (has opted to play in Open Division)
5. Warren Lau 1441
6. Ayob Samad 1420
7. Ong Suanne 1419
8. Paulette Yeoh 1412
9. Seshi Ramanatha 1398
10. Sandy Tsen 1379

2004 Penang Open Commentary

It's been a long wait since Equatorial Cameron Highlands, but the 5th Penang Open Scrabble Competition was worth every bit of it.

I checked in to room 713 with my roommate, Pui Cheng Wui on Friday after a detour along Jalan Jelutong. We were delighted to find the tournament venue was situated on the 7th floor. Talk about having a tournament right outside your doorstep. We soon met Tan Jin Chor, John Lam, Jocelyn Lor, Irene Lim for dinner of gado-gado and mutton soup along Jalan Penang. Pui liked the soup so much that he order a second helping and promptly wound up with a heavy belly. Jocelyn Lor and I accompanied him to walk off the excess before heading back to the hotel for a friendly spar (which I lose to Pui twice) and retiring for the night.

Starting off the next day with 24 players, I had a good run over Dr. Mohamad Salehudin, Chuah Sim Swee, Ganesh Asirvatham and Yeap Gim Sai to earn 4 wins and a +666 spread. What an ominous sign to have before everyone headed down to Jalan Penang again to dine on Char Kuey Teow, Wanton Noodles and Prawn Noodles for lunch. Back at the hotel, I ding-dong with losses to Jocelyn Lor and John Lam and wins over Pui Cheng Wui and Ong Suanne to finish the day on top.

Later that night, all the participants were treated to a sumptuous dinner at the Executive Lounge. This was followed by wishes for birthday girl, Yeap Gim Sai. In her honour, many players put on an impromptu acapella concert, including Seshi Ramanathan (who has cut four albums), John Lam and Tan Khee Chiang.

We resume battle the next day as I fell Seshi Ramanathan and Tan Jin Chor before stumbling over Tan Khee Chiang. I won a squeaker against Alex Zulkarnain who misplayed the endgame.
After lunch at the same place the previous afternoon, I proceed to lose twice to Pui Cheng Wui in the repeat rounds and barely hanging on to a win over Yeap Gim Sai to finished 5th. Ganesh, Tan Jin Chor, Pui Cheng Wui and Jocelyn finished ahead of me respectively. Rounding up the prize winners were Ong Suanne and Yeap Gim Sai.

Tan Khee Chiang, Seshi Ramanathan and Warren Lau earned the class prizes for those under 1500 while Yang Mohsin and the Yeoh sisters (Sue Jane and Sue Ann) triumphed in the Intermediate Division (14 players)

2004 Causeway Qualifiers

Here is the updated list of players in the running to represent Malaysia at the Causeway Scrabble Challenge to be held in Johor Bahru. 10 players will be chosen to play in the Premier Division.

Players in RED have declined their spot on the Malaysian Team for the upcoming event.
Players in GREEN desire to participate in the tournament and will be chosen if they qualify.
Players in YELLOW yet to confirm or refused their spot.

1. Nigel Richards (NZ) 1952
2. A Ganesh 1907
3. Cheah Siu Hean 1815 (opted to play for Singapore)
4. Vannitha Balasingam 1763
5. Aaron Chong 1753
6. Pui Cheng Wui 1707
7. Yeo Kien Hung 1685
8. Michael Tang 1649 (opted to play for Singapore)
9. Tan Jin Chor 1648
10. Jocelyn Lor 1646
11. Kong Chock Heng 1640
12. Alex Tan 1632
13. John Lam 1622
14. Azmil Aziz 1602
15. M Nashad (SRI LK) 1577
16. Tengku Asri 1553
17. Chim Wai Main 1505
18. Krishna Kumar 1498
19. Yeap Gim Sai 1497
20. Chuah Sim Swee 1491
21. Warren Lau 1449
22. Thomas Tan 1447
23. Sarah Law 1431 (opted to play in Open Division)
24. Zain Putra Baharuddin 1429
25. Ayob Samad 1420

2004 Penang Open

Here are the results from the 2004 Penang Open Scrabble Championship held over the weekend. The ratings and archives will be updated within the next few days so that you can check out the round-by-round performance.


Results after game 15
NOVEMBER 17, 2004 -- MASTERS
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 A Ganesh 13 1346
2 Tan Jin Chor 10.5 788
3 Pui Cheng Wui 10 1087
4 Jocelyn Lor 10 564
5 Yeo Kien Hung 10 421
6 Ong Suanne 9 -157
7 Yeap Gim Sai 9 -328
8 John Lam 8 528
9 Tan Khee Chiang 8 191
10 Seshi Ramanathan 8 103
11 Warren Lau 8 -307
12 Chuah Sim Swee 7 199
13 Sandy Tsen 7 58
14 Michael Wong 7 16
15 Ng Chee Eng 7 -172
16 Mohd Salahudin 7 -314
17 Alex Zulkarnain 7 -748
18 Paulette Yeoh 6.5 271
19 Zamri Majid 6 -602
20 Adele Tan 5 -253
21 Zeenath Ariff 5 -468
22 Irene Lim 5 -684
23 Shameer Muhammad 4 -508
24 Jackie Cheah 3 -1031

HIGH GAME: Seshi Ramanathan 600


Results after game 6
NOVEMBER 17, 2004 -- INTERMEDIATE
Rank Player Wins Mar
---------------------------------
1 Yang Mohsin 5 630
2 Yeoh-Sue Jane 5 294
3 Yeoh Sue Ann 5 220
4 Mohd Riyaludin 4 144
5 Loh Sah Hooi 3 136
6 Helen Kong 3 111
7 Muhammad Muzzammil 3 98
8 Goh Yeang Tong 3 -77
9 Goh Ee Teng 3 -180
10 Charmaine Cheah 2 67
11 Loh-Vern Ern 2 -182
12 Tan Yu Teik 2 -660
13 Lew Yao Loong 1 -287
14 Sharfizi Azmal 1 -314

HIGH GAME: Yang Mohsin 488

Causeway Challenge Updates

Mr. Tang has some news about the Causeway Scrabble Challenge, here's his correspondance:

First and foremost, this is my new personal e-mail account so please use this e-mail for future correspondences.

I am pleased to finalise the accomodation pacakge as follows:

Tournament : 3rd Causeway Scrabble Challenge
Venue : Eden Garden Hotel, Johor Bahru
Date : 17 - 19 Dec 2004
Package : 2 Nights accomodation + 6 meals
(Day 1 - Dinner, Day 2, Breakfast, Lunch + Dinner, Day 3 - Breakfast + Lunch)
Rates : Single Room - RM400 nett per person
Double Room - RM300 nett per person

Please note that for those who would like to extend their stay at Eden Garden Hotel, the rate would be RM125 Nett for Single Room (incl 1Breakfast) and RM 145 Nett for Double Room (incl 2 Breakfasts)

Please note that registration deadline for both Premier and Open Division is 30 November 2004. I would appreciate if you can send me your confirmation and hotel reservation by e-mail to alchemist9189@gmail.com or call or sms me at +65 9189 9189.

Please also note that players are encouraged to bring along their own scrabble board, clock and score sheet as this tournament will be run with minimal assistance.

Looking forward to seeing all of you in Johor!

Michael
Organising Chairman

For more details, please refer to the hyperlink on the sidebar under upcoming tourneys

Clubhouses

It has been 3 years since the death of the Parkroyal Scrabble Corner and it is about time that we wake up to reality. We really need a decent clubhouse.

For all you people out there, if you know of any suitable venue that can host a scrabble get-together, (minimum requirement being tables and chairs big enough), please email rhyen518@yahoo.co.uk . I will look into the suitability of the venue. It's okay if people have to pay for use of the space as long as the fee is reasonable.

One place that I have approached is the newly renovated KL Memorial Library. If we can get a scrabble corner there, players may have to pay a annual subscription fee of RM40 for an adult for RM20 for a student. So you get a scrabble corner and library membership for the price of one.

For more uptown people, the La Bodega Lounge on the 2nd floor in Bangsar is a pretty spiffy place but to patronize with snacks & drinks etc may be a bit expensive (since it is Bangsar) and parking may be a hassle. I hope to negotiate a settlement there.

So please, do keep a lookout for some good place to host Scrabble corners

Causeway challenge

Check out the link for this tourney on the sidebar.

Basically what started off as Malaysian-Singapore friendly rivalry has now expanded to include the premier scrabble nation in South-East Asia --- Thailand!!! 29 games between 30 of the top players, 10 each from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

The open division was added last year, so you can still get to play instead of just watching games after games after games. Relax in between rounds by checking out the experts at their best or their worst games of their lifes at the cruel hands of their opponents

Register with Mr. Michael Tang at alchemist9189@gmail.com or
+65 9189 9189 (aka 02-9189 9189)

Hotel packages are still being finalised

Malaysian Nationals

From the Tournament Chairman:

Dear players,

The National Championship will be held on the 27-28 ofNovember at YMCA KL. This will be an 18 game event and open to Malaysian Citizens only. The MSA's AGM will beheld on the 27th after the last game and members who wish to attend the AGM are reminded to pay the membership fees on the 27th morning.

Entance Fee is RM50 for Adults and RM20 for students.

There will be two categories; those who are 1300 andabove and those 1299 and below. Prizes will be awardedto the top five finishers in each category. Thewinners of the 1300 and above category will receivethe challenge trophy and the title of NationalScrabble Champion. There will also be cash spot prizesfor each of the 18 rounds.

regards

Ganesh Asirvathm(Tournament Chairman)

To register, email the tournament Chairman at metaplot@yahoo.com or message either of his handle on isc.ro: 'juggernaut' or 'waylander' or call him 016-628 8742 (to be disclose if he wishes to)