97 The bi-monthly magazine of the 7 APRIL 8 IL APR C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S APR C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S 7 IL AP RIL ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH A quick reference to forthcoming events SCRABBLE PLAYERS (fuller list and details inside) Feb 7th West Sussex (6) Peter Hall 01903 717571 Feb 7th-8th Nottingham Nomads (16) Clive Spate 0115 920 0208 Feb 8th-15th H-B Holidays - Torremolinos Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 Feb 15th Hampshire Open (6) Alan Bailey 02392 384360 Feb 21st Brentwood (6) Cindy Hollyer 01277 822050 Feb 21st-22nd Scottish Masters (11) Neil Scott Invitational Feb 27th-Mar 1st H-B Holidays - Bingley Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 No 94 FEBRUARY 2004 Feb 28th New Malden (6) Shirely Cave 020 8949 1566 Feb 29th BEST - Deadline for Entries Evan Simpson 020 8429 1984 Deadline for next issue 12th March Mar 6th Leicester (6) Marjorie Smith 0116 255 1176 Mar 13th Edinburgh (5) Alan Sinclair 01316 697316 Harshan is the Champ Mar 14th Swindon (6) Steve Perry 01367 244757 It seems like a long time ago now, but as the last issue of Mar 21st Southampton (6) Alan Bailey 02392 384360 The Last Word was going on press, Harshan Mar 27th-28th Durham (11) Laura Finley 0191 565 4079 Lamabadusuriya was overcoming Clive Spate in the Final Apr 9th-10th Exeter - Isca (6) Andy Davis 01623 437751 of the National Scrabble Championship at the Sadlers Apr 10th-12th Exeter - Easter Matchplay (19) Andy Davis 01623 437751 Wells Theatre in London. Congratulations, Harshan. Apr 18th Brighton (6) Jim Lyes 01273 813006 No report of the event was forthcoming to The Last Word, Apr 24th Newcastle (5) Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 although The Times newspaper did cover the event with Apr 24th Southend (6) Evelyn Wallace 01702 302569 an article in one of their leisure sections, plus a leader Apr 25th BEST - End of Round 1 Evan Simpson 020 8429 1984 item in the newspaper itself on Wednesday 3rd Apr 30th-May 3rd H-B Holidays - Worthing Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 December. I hope you had a chance to read that better- Apr 30th-May 3rd Germany Karl Khoshnaw +49 5541 954794 than-usual article as I failed to receive permission to reproduce it. May 9th Bourne (6) Betty Benton 01778 425234 May 14th-17th H-B Holidays - Morecambe Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 Harshan now qualifies to represent England in the 2005 World Championships, should they take place. May 16th Bournemouth (7) Ruth Marsden 01202 707148 May 29th-31st Stoke Rochford (18) Christina French 01708 701578 Hurry, Durham May 30th BEST - End of Round 2 Evan Simpson 020 8429 1984 June 6th Melton Mowbray (5) Maureen Rayson 01664 563330 Entry forms for the Durham Tournament on March 27/28th should have been circulated Jun 11th-14th H-B Holidays - Bridgend, Wales Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 with issue 93 of The Last Word. Unfortunately, owing to an oversight on my part, that did Jun 13th Peterlee (5) Samantha Beckwith 0191 586 6436 not happen and as a consequence entries for that superb event have been undeservedly slow. An entry form has been included with this issue, so don’t dally in sending of your Jun 25th-28th H-B Holidays - Ayr Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 application. There’s not much time left. Jun 26th Luton (6) June Edwards 01908 679041 Jun 23rd-26th H-B Holidays - Harrogate Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 Apologies Jun 27th BEST - End of Round 3 Evan Simpson 020 8429 1984 July 24th Lincoln (6) Teresa Hill 01427 838741 Apart from apologising to Durham tournament organiser Laura Finley for the above omission, I also apologise to her husband Pete for omitting his name from the caption to Jul 25th BEST - End of Zone Finals Evan Simpson 020 8429 1984 the England squad photo in last issue’s WSC report, and to Welshman Gareth Williams for Aug 7th-8th Nottingham Nomads (16) Clive Spate 0115 920 0208 giving his nationality as English. Sep 3rd-6th H-B Holidays - Penrith Viv Beckmann 0191 273 1705 I think that’s all the apologies done with - at least until this issue comes out! Alec The Last Word is printed by Keely Print, Beccles, Suffolk (01502) 713930 SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark of J.W.Spear & Sons Ltd., Maidenhead SL6 4UB ISSUE CONTENTS Committee Corner .......................... 1 Fantasy Scrabble League 2003 ........ 18 CCOOMMMMIITTTTEEEE CCOORRNNEERR New Dictionary Issue ................ 2 Letters .............................................. 20 Profile of Darryl Francis.............. 4 Across The Board ............................ 22 That Was The Week That Was.... 6 Edgeways ........................................ 31 A Good New Year to everyone and I hope you had a Merry Christmas. Just prior to the Most Improved Player .................... 8 Xtras ................................................ 37 festive season getting underway the Committee met on 6 December. Some changes to the ABSP Titles Update .......................... 9 A Zother Swiss Mystery.................... 41 Committee were confirmed and Margaret Browne has stepped down after many years of Ratings ............................................ 10 Forthcoming Events.......................... 42 service. Given Margaret’s long service, especially in ensuring that the newsletter went out Tournament Results and Reports ...... 14 Edgeways Answers .......................... ifc six times a year, the Committee have awarded her a Life Membership. Seconded to the ABSP All-Time Records .................... 17 Calendar of Events ..........................obc Committee with a specific portfolio in respect of the word source we use is Darryl Francis. More information about Mattel’s decision to move from the Chambers to Harper-Collins (Collins) Dictionary is in an article by Allan Simmons elsewhere in the newsletter. However, Throughout this publication, comments by the Editor do not represent the views of the representatives of the ABSP are meeting with Elaine Higgleton of Collins on 21st January. ABSP Committee. Any statements by the Committee are clearly marked as such. All We had some good news from Viv Beckmann, our Membership Secretary, who reported an other contributions to The Last Word represent only the views of the contributor. increase in membership to 678, which we think might even be an all-time record. Hopefully all those members have been enthusiastic enough to renew promptly. News of THE LAST WORD TEAM those who’ve won the draw for the 20 sets of Protiles is given elsewhere this issue. The Last Words Team welcomes contributions from readers to their respective areas, The Committee revisited the criteria for World Championship qualification during 2004. either as letters, articles or suggestions. Contact information: As in previous years it will be those members who have the highest rating on 1 January 2005 who will be invited to become part of the squad. There is a requirement for those General Editor: Games and Strategies: Words and Puzzles: interested to have played 60 games throughout 2004 with at least 30 games to be played Alec Webb Phil Appleby, Raymond Tate, in the second half of the year. The requirement to play in specific tournaments has been 17 St Margarets Road Thorns Cottage, 6 Amochrie Glen removed to give individuals as much flexibility as possible. This criteria applies to England Lowestoft Mount Pleasant Lane, Hollybrook only. Scotland and Wales have their own criteria for World Championship qualification for Suffolk Lymington, Paisley those countries representatives. NR32 4HS Hants SO41 8LS PA2 0DY [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Congratulations to Chrystal Rose who, I am delighted to announce, has been awarded the Most Improved Player Trophy for 2003 with an increase in her rating of 31 points. There is Forthcoming events: Features: only one trophy for the Most Improved Player, however, there is always several individuals Paul Cartman, Christina French who improve dramatically in any given year and their achievement goes unrecognised. 9 Chapel Terrace, 127 Carlton Road, The Committee always note these improvements and now have decided that the top ten Stafford ST16 3AH Gidea Park, Romford, who’ve increased by at least 20 points should be formally recognised with a certificate and 01785 211851 Essex RM2 5AU free membership for a year. Congratulations to those concerned - your certificate and [email protected] 01708 701578 membership voucher will be with you shortly. At this time of year we learn of those who [email protected] have gained Expert and Grandmaster titles and full details are in the article by Pete Finley. continued overleaf STOP PRESS Confirmation of this tournament arrived just too late for inclusion in Forthcoming Events. Refer-a-friend Scheme Edinburgh (5 games) Tea/Coffee available throughout the day, Saturday 13th March and hot soup at lunchtime. If by 30th June, through your encouragement, someone joins the Contact: Alan Sinclair Lunch is NOT provided ABSP for the first time, you will receive a voucher giving you £5 0131-669-736 Entry costs: £7.50 For ABSP members discount on your subscription for 2005. Be sure to make Viv Beckmann aware of £9.50 For non-ABSP members Venue: Liberton Kirk Halls, your entitlement. Tel: 01912 731705 or email: [email protected] 30 Kirkgate, Edinburgh Cheques payable to: Registration: 10:15 Alan Sinclair, 19 Duddingston Avenue, There is a limit of three vouchers per member. First game: 11:00 Depature: 17:30 Edinburgh EH15 1SJ 1 On the topic of the National Championship, I can tell you that the ABSP will again be Club and Tournament players to assess opinion (world wide as well as UK) and not just working with Mattel to run this event in 2004. Feedback and criticisms from the 2003 adopt the preferences of the Dictionary Committee.