Scrabble Champions Tournament 2013
World Scrabble Championship 2013
Won by Nigel Richards
from 110 players
3 December 2013 — 8 December 2013
Held in Andel's Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic
Sponsored by Mattel
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The World Scrabble Championship 2013, renamed by Mattel to Scrabble Champions Tournament, was held in Andel's Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic during December 2013.[1]
The format was a 31-round preliminary tournament and best-of-five semi-finals and final. After defeating Dave Wiegand and Sammy Okosagah in the semi-finals respectively, Nigel Richards and Komol Panyasophonlert played a best-of-five final for the top prize and the title of World Scrabble Champion 2013.[2]
Results
The winner was Nigel Richards of New Zealand who defeated Komol Panyasophonlert of Thailand with three games to two in the best-of-five finals.[3] Richards set the record for being the first three-time World Champion, the only person to have won the title more than once.
In a lucky start with two blanks, Komol started with a 70 point bingo POONAcs. Nigel replied immediately with a 94 point bingo DIATONIC, to set the tone for a high standard final. Komol had further bingos DOULEIAS, EXALTERS and LIGHTENS while Nigel had TERRAPIN. Komol won the first game 495 - 445.
In the second game, Nigel saved his X to hook his own word JEU to make a 73 point EXACT with JEUX. Nigel had bingos OUTDARED and NOISIER. Komol tried to pull back a large lead with a 107 point phony HALVINGS on the triple, but it was successfully challenged and Nigel won the game 471 - 319.
In the third game, Komol set the pace with a 66 point QAT. Komol had bingos AEROGEL, SEITENS and ORDINAnT while Nigel clawed back with yARNERS and a 75 point JACKS on the triple word. It was not enough and Komol won 471 - 433.
In the fourth game, Komol's first play was PARTAKeN for 68 and Nigel immediately replied with ADNATiON for 82, not having had a chance to use his blank for a bingo in his first turn. Nigel had further bingos INCENTS and PILOTAGE, a 63 point QI and SHOJIS for 72 while Komol tried to come back with SUETIER but to no avail. Nigel won 518 - 410, to pull the score back to 2-2 with one game remaining to decide the title.
In the final game, Komol had a great start with GAZUMPED for 96 but Nigel responded with BEJEWeL for 89 and AUrOREAN across six hooks for 98 to take a 100+ lead. Komol had a vowel heavy rack of AEEIIIT and exchanged AEIII. Nigel had bingo OILSEED and a 60 point GREX while Komol eventually found bingo VIREMIAS after successive bad draws. Nigel sealed the win with RATOONER with a final score of 581 - 421,[4] thus clinching the title of World Champion for the third time, the only person to have won it more than once.
Top Ten
| Position | Name | Country | Win-Loss | Spread | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigel Richards | World Champion | 22–9 | +1498 | 10,000 |
| 2 | Komol Panyasophonlert | Thailand | 21–10 | +1215 | 5,000 |
| 3 | Dave Wiegand | United States | 22–9 | +791 | 2,500 |
| 4 | Sammy Okosagah | United States | 22–9 | +2052 | 2,500 |
| 5 | Craig Beevers | England | 20–11 | +983 | 1,200 |
| 6 | Jim Kramer | United States | 20–11 | +953 | 1,000 |
| 7 | Paul Gallen | Northern Ireland | 20–11 | +819 | 900 |
| 8 | Brett Smitheram | England | 20–11 | +725 | 800 |
| 9 | Sherwin Rodrigues | India | 19–12 | +1128 | 600 |
| 10 | Adam Logan | Canada | 19–12 | +994 | 500 |