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Former National Champion Fred Collins returns to his winning ways
Etches his name on Insurance Brokers Lien trophy
Fred Collins
Former national scrabble champion, Fred Collins regained his form and carted off the top honours when the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) staged the Insurance Brokers Lien tournament in the pavilion of the Guyana Cricket Club, yesterday.
Collins amassed a total of 5 games with a positive spread of 427 to relegate reigning national scrabble champion, Abigail McDonald, who won 5 games with a positive spread of 343, to second place. James Krakowsky rebounded from a first round lost to Collins (66) and a fifth round defeat by McDonald to register 4 games and a positive spread of 29 thus occupying the final podium spot.
Indeed it was a day of surprises as tournament favourite, McDonald, started on a winning note with a victory over Ulric Harris (57). She then faced Grace Hercules in a very competitive game and despite a strenuous fight by the latter player, still managed to prevail, albeit by a slim spread of 15. The local scrabble queen then crushed Paul Adams by a massive spread of 113 in her third game to trudge off for lunch with a flawless three games and a positive spread of 300.
In the meantime Floyd Carmichael, who has been absent from the past three tournaments, returned with a bang, matching McDonald’s efficiency all the way. He defeated Leon Belony in the first round by a spread of 77. R.O. Michael fared no better as Carmichael humiliated him by a spread of 78. The rampaging Carmichael then wrapped up the morning sessions, shutting out Ruby Cummings by a 40 spread margin.
Abigail McDonald
All this time Collins had defeated Krakowsky (66) and R. O. Michael (139) to stay in the hut. He however, conceded the second round game to Ruby Cummings (20) to set him back a mite.
The first game after the lunch interval pitted McDonald and Carmichael, the two best players of the morning sessions. Carmichael was eventually outclassed by a spread of 115 which changed the dynamics of the tournament.
James Krakowsky started the tournament on a losing note, conceding his first game to former national champion, Fred Collins by a spread of 66. Undaunted, he quickly regrouped and won the next two games prior to the lunch period against Belony (58) and Orlando Michael (114). He then went on to register a come from behind victory over Ruby Cummings (85).
Indeed, it was the afternoon session that distinguished the players. Collins picked up momentum wiping out Ulric Harris (109), McDonald (75) and Carmichael (58). Despite this loss, McDonald is still highly favoured to do well in the impending World Scrabble Championships scheduled for Malaysia later this year. The players convene for a practice session next Thursday evening at the Malteenoes Sports Club starting at 19:00hrs.
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