Latest update April 11th, 2025 9:20 AM
Gafoor, Benjamin, Ramnarine share podium spots in GASP Open Championship
Moen Gafoor survived a close shave when he rebounded from a one point defeat in his final pre-lunch game against Michael Benjamin to notch up 5 points and a positive spread of 672 to take top honours when the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) staged an Open Championship in the pavilion of the Malteenoes Sports Complex, yesterday afternoon.
After a grueling battle Gafoor carted off the spoils with Benjamin and Ramnarine (left &right respectively) finishing in that order.
Benjamin then made several fundamental blunders in his final game against Kamta Ramnarine and eventually surrendered that game by a close 5 points which cost him the tournament. He also finished with a similar amount of points as Gafoor but a lower positive spread of 171 to seal off the second place; Ramnarine completed the podium spots after amassing 4 points and a positive spread of 37. He returned from a lengthy hiatus and also defeated Colin Chichester (150), Grace Hercules and Mohabir (32).
Gafoor took care of Devraj Deonarine at the start of the tournament by a spread of 151 before his second win against Ashwant Mohabir. His game against Benjamin was grueling and at one time the latter player led by more than 90 points with the bag dwindling and the clock ticking away the time. Gafoor then called on his experience and by the time the bag was exhausted, had closed the gap considerably and even threatened to upset Benjamin. This was not to be as Benjamin, despite losing a challenge, held his nerve and triumphed by one point.
Gafoor returned during the post lunch session and defeated Maurice Munru (162) and Orlando Michael (268) while Benjamin also took care of Michael (54) and Wayne Cave (39). He was set to cart off the spoils when he was failed to capitalize on a play that would have netted him the game. Benjamin did receive a second opportunity to repair the damage but by then the game was extremely close and left no room for errors.
Ramnarine then created the perfect opportunity for Benjamin to utilize all of his remaining tiles and cart off the spoils but the former boxing champion missed out on the opportunity to lose by 5 points.
Meanwhile, Gafoor defeated Robert Williams by another close shave (18) to win that set and the tournament.
The players will go at it again on September 29 next when the GASP stages another open championship but will continue their weekly practice sessions at the Malteenoes Sports Club on Thursday evenings.
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