Latest update December 25th, 2024 1:10 AM
Latest News
- Guyanese losing millions from Govt. and Opposition’s failure to to manage oil sector
- ‘Guyana’s Stabroek Block success is like a Michelin Star Restaurant’ – Exxon official
- Gaza appeals for help as Israeli army attacks key hospitals
- Face the Press, Mr. President!
- State makes application to revoke Brutus’ bail
Caribbean champion responds to Kaieteur Sport
Newly-crowned Caribbean Scrabble champion Frederick Collins poses with Barbadian Orlet Bullock and Trinidadian Pat John after winning the crown.
By Rawle Welch
Guyanese Frederick Collins became the first ever Caribbean Scrabble champion after winning the Singles title at the recently concluded Tri-nation Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.
Kaieteur Sport in recognition of the achievement posed a few questions to the champ and here are his responses.
Kaieteur Sport- How tough was it to accomplish that feat?
Frederick Collins- It was tough. Remember that I lost the first game. However, it was not as tough as I expected it to be. For some strange reason, the two persons who I expected to present the greatest challenge were unable to be fluent with words. At another time I would play the very words I did with those opponents and lose. But that is the game of scrabble. Sometimes the ‘tile fairy’ works in your favour.
There was also a particularly exciting game with Leon Belony that swung on a risky play insofar as I was unsure of the word ‘KABOB’ a variant of ‘KEBAB’ as in shish kebab, but played it nevertheless as it would have sealed the result of a series of about 4 high point exchanges yielding 30+ points each play. I found myself doing a Serena Williams bounce when the electronic word judge said that the word was valid in response to Leon’s challenge.
KS- I know that you have been around the sport for a long time and have done outstandingly during your career, but would you rate this performance as the best so far? FC-Insofar as the result was concerned I would certainly rate it the best.
As far as the quality of the games was concerned only one with Orlet Bullock was worthy of a championship tournament in that it was full of excitement, it was closely fought, I played boldly by taking chances and succeeding, and it was clear that it was won by superior word knowledge for the tiles distributed in that particular game. It is possible that if he knew the hook for the word ‘PROM’ was ‘E’ to make ‘EPROM’ he might have won as the opportunity for an equalising bingo was there for some time and it is unlikely that Orlet could not have found a 7-letter word to end with an ‘E’ for about 8 tempos.
KS- What do you think your feat will do for the sport here?
FC-I don’t know really. But, I hope that the fact that Guyana holds the championship will inspire more persons to take up the sport.
KS- Rate Guyana’s performance at the tournament?
FC- Excellent. The morning session against the Trinis began as usual with us winning about 1 or 2 in every round of 6 games. It is really amazing that we actually managed to beat them in the afternoon. That to us meant that we were capable of doubling the performance in the afternoon in future. All we needed to do was to find out what made the difference. We have not yet found an answer.
KS-Are we getting better in terms of being more formidable opponents for our Caribbean counterparts?
FC- Certainly.
KS-Are you willing to make special mention of any of the local players’ performance at the championship?
FC-The performance of James Krakowsky was outstanding. His was the best performance ever by any Guyanese player against the Trinidadians in the team games.
KS- Give me your thoughts on the significance of the Caribbean Series and what it means for the sport in the region?
FC- I would say that the Caribbean is waking up to the sport. While I am not aware that any other countries reported the event, it was carried in the Trinidad and Guyanese press.
KS- Would you like to see more countries participate in the Series?
FC- Of course. There are actually non-English speakers who play scrabble in the English language. The potential of this game is huge, if we can manage to develop the same level of interest as is manifest in the Asian countries. Just imagine if we had Brazil and the rest of Latin America on board. In fact, it is planned to increase the number of countries participating starting with the English-speaking Caribbean.
KS- Is there a move to get more countries involved in the Series?
FC- Yes. (See above)
KS- Describe your feeling when you wrapped up the important encounter to clinch the title?
FC-I had to take some time to let it sink in that I had really won. One has to realise that I had not of late won any tournament in Guyana. So getting past all comers, including the favourites was something! I would have actually been satisfied with the contribution in the team games. Winning the individual championship was special.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animals!
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Ah, Christmas—the season of goodwill, good cheer, and, let’s not forget, good riddance!... more
Breaking the Chains of Poverty: A need for political will
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The year 2024 has underscored a grim reality: poverty continues to be an unyielding... more
Weekend Cartoon
