Latest update April 23rd, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 24, 2012 Sports
On a day of fluctuating fortunes, when words got in the way, Guyanese word formers turned back the challenge of their Trinidad and Tobago counterparts, carting off the honours, 20 points to 16 when the curtains went up on the Caribbean Scrabble Championships at the Bank of Guyana Sports Club, Avenue of the Republic, yesterday afternoon.
Captain of the local team, Abigail McDonald, distinguished herself among her team mates, shrugging off a first round defeat to Troy Modeste by a spread of 38 to register convincing wins over Eugene Capriata (90), Patricia John (77), Leslie Charles (76), Adolphus Alexander (84) and Kurt Ross (122).
Much was expected of Leon Belony but the top seed endured a torrid time with the bag resulting in him surrendering his inaugural game to Kurt Ross by a spread of 38. Troy Modeste rubbed a little more salt in the wound with a decisive win by a spread of 156.
Belony showed some improvement when he surrendered a close game to Charles (3) and closed off the day on a positive note with a thrilling 3 point victory over Adolphus Alexander. This was a crucial point as the local word formers were still delicately poised and had they lost that point it would have spelled curtains for them.
Indeed, the high level of play ensured that even the top local players were kept in check. Collins, who had earlier surrendered a game to Charles, engaged Modeste in the penultimate sitting and was well on his way to surrendering the set when he called on his experience after trailing by 30 points with the bag exhausted.
The former national champion hooked ‘reasoner’ to ‘resiny’ to secure the game, gaining a valuable point for the pull local team. One game later, it was Krakowsky’s turn when he faced off with Brian Yates. The bag once again exhausted, the local player trailed by 31 points.
Pulling the proverbial ‘rabbit out of the hat’ Krakowsky shuffled his tiles and came up with ‘aurorae’ which netted him a crucial 74 points. An additional 32 points from his opponent’s rack placed him comfortably ahead and his team had pulled off a closely contested first round.
Moen Gafoor could have rued his fortunes after trailing Pat John in a game that the former player seemed set to win by a large spread. The Guyanese refused to say die and eventually played a bingo, ‘snakelike.’
On any other day the play might have produced the required results but Gafoor was barely able to accrue 73 points that resulted in him conceding the game by a tantalizingly close 9 points margin.
The local word formers will resume their efforts this morning when they tackle Barbados in the second round. The latter team boasts capable players in Orlet Bullock, Maria Darlington Margarida DeSouza Elvis King, Richard Carter and Captain, Lorton Graham.
Despite their victory over the defending champions, the local word formers will be cognizant of the volume of work still to be done. Should they lose to Barbados and should the Trinidadians prevail over the Bajans, a dicey situation will ensue where the arbitrators will be required to examine the aggregate points. The game is therefore; still wide open entering the second round.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago returns tomorrow morning to play Barbados while Collins will be hard pressed to defend his individual title he won when the countries met two years ago. The action gets underway at 09:00hrs this morning.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
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