Gafoor takes lead after first round

May 27, 2009 Sports

Despite a few upsets, most of the top rated players dominated the leader-board at the end of the first round of the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) National Open Championship which got started yesterday, at Malteenoes Sports Club.

Moen Gafoor

Heading the list was Moen Gafoor, who closed with 7 points and a massive spread of 883, while pre-tournament favourite Abigail McDonald, though finishing with a similar amount of wins, ended with a lower spread of 531, while five players were tightly bunched on six victories apiece.

At the crest of that list is defending champion Frederick Collins, who has a spread of 730 and he is followed by James Krakowsky on 602, Floyd Carmichael with 370, Nicholas Grant on 197 and Orlando Michael 175.

On a day which got off to a late start, it was evident very early that the more established players would not have their way as Carmen Gonsalves, who was returning after a hiatus, produced two stunning performances to beat Gafoor and Krakowsky, while another player who was absent for sometime, Yvonne Murray, duplicated her feat with an upset win over Collins.

The distress for the top players did not stop there when Ruby Cummings, perhaps inspired by the ‘underdogs’ early performances, dispatched McDonald by 82 points.

Just when many felt that the favourites’ grief would cease, little known Anand Mohabir, playing in his first tournament, registered what had to be the biggest upset of the tournament so far when he disposed of Colin Chichester and Krakowsky in impressive fashion, sending a chilling reminder of how difficult it would be for everyone.

The competition continues this Saturday at the Bank of Guyana. The winner of the tournament will receive $50,000 and a trophy.