Thais fall short as major Scrabble championships conclude in Malaysia

 

The Thai contingent at the biggest professional Scrabble tournament in the world this year fell short of the top honors.

 

The Thai team at the Causeway Challenge was strong but were never able to mount a serious challenge to the best player in the world, Nigel Richards of New Zealand.

 

Jakkrit Klapajone, a doctor from Chiang Mai, spoke for many on Facebook in praising Nigel as the greatest player of all time and

calling the phenom his “idol”.

 

Doing best of the Thais was 26 year old investment analyst Thacha Koowirat from Bangkok who was fifth. Thai number one rated Phichai Limprasert, also from the capital, was tenth.

 

Computer programmer Komol Panyasophonlert who is rated in the top ten in the world could manage only 20th on this occasion. Jakkrit was 21st.

 

 

Korat teacher Akkrapol Kwansak who has opened a Scrabble academy in the north eastern town, was 22nd with Bangkok resident Gerry Carter also representing the kingdom in 30th place of the 46 contestants.

 

The tournament lasted five days and each player completed 45 games.

 

The top games were screened on live streaming throughout the world with many commentators saying that some of the games represented the highest standard of Scrabble play ever seen on any continent.

 

Nigel took the $US10,000 first prize, with Aussie world number 2 David Eldar in second and Ayorinde Saidu of Nigeria in third.

 

Scrabble is played by tens of thousands of school children in Thailand and Bangkok has been referred to as the “Home of Scrabble” due to its iconic tournaments and the many world class players who live in the city.

 

Scrabble, the world’s most popular word game, enjoys the patronage of the Thai Royal family. The King’s Cup takes place in Bangkok every June/July and the Princess Cup concluded last week with Nigel Richards also victorious.

 

Gerry Carter told Thaivisa: “The standard of play was simply phenomenal. Any mistakes were punished severely.

 

“But I am sure all the Thai players will regroup, analyze their failings and come back stronger next time.

 

“There is a constant stream of young talent at the game coming through from Thai schools. These children are inspired by their Thai role models and sooner or later we hope that one of them may be able to match Nigel for his word power and creative thinking”.

 

Thailand has had two world champions in the past in 2003 when Panupol Sajjayakorn won the title aged just 18, and in 2009 when architect Pakorn Nemitrmansuk was the winner.

 

But no one has matched the consistency of three time world champion Nigel who also won the French world championships in 2015 without being able to speak the language at all.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2016-12-06

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Scrabble is played by tens of thousands of school children in Thailand and Bangkok has been referred to as the “Home of Scrabble” due to its iconic tournaments and the many world class players who live in the city.

 

By who?

 

By whom?

 

But seriously, folks.  How Thais can compete in this growing up with Thai script is beyond me and impressive.

I am amazed, as well as disappointed, at how many nonEnglish speakers can master the language better than native speakers...my asian grad students spoke and wrote better than most americans.

They have often not 'mastered' the language any more than a parrot has, probably cannot speak it either, they have just memorized a lot of words

On the contrary, all the Thais mentioned in the article can speak English well. They have travelled the world playing the game communicating with people who love it and spreading the good name of Thailand. What they have mastered is the vocabulary needed - most of them have learnt around 100,000 words to compete at this level. They are an inspirational success story for the kingdom inspiring its youth and are superb role models. 

This will be interesting to see how the bashers turn this around!

 

They've been given a start by the headline.

The way the Thai press wrote this tournament up was that the Thais only had to turn up to win - but they got beaten by a Kiwi, and Aussie, a Nigerian, a .........................and a......................and a.............

You should see them go at the Rubick Cube.......English spelling mathematical wizards, the lot of them.

Edited December 6, 20169 yr by NickJ
None

2 hours ago, Johnniey said:

This will be interesting to see how the bashers turn this around!

 

They've been given a start by the headline.

Time, thats all that we need

3 hours ago, Jane Dough said:

On the contrary, all the Thais mentioned in the article can speak English well. They have travelled the world playing the game communicating with people who love it and spreading the good name of Thailand. What they have mastered is the vocabulary needed - most of them have learnt around 100,000 words to compete at this level. They are an inspirational success story for the kingdom inspiring its youth and are superb role models. 

Yes, very heart warming indeed

11 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

 

By who?

 

I've never ever heard Bangkok referred to as the 'home of scrabble' by anyone, nor have I seen any Thai school pupils or university students playing scrabble. Maybe this Bangkok they are talking about resides in an alternate universe!

4 hours ago, thai3 said:

They have often not 'mastered' the language any more than a parrot has, probably cannot speak it either, they have just memorized a lot of words

 

Which is still an achievement, as is their understanding of the game's strategy. BTW, is Nigel Richards also a parrot for winning the French title though he doesn't speak the lingo? Probably, but I'm impressed nevertheless. 

11 hours ago, dukeandduke said:

By whom?

 

But seriously, folks.  How Thais can compete in this growing up with Thai script is beyond me and impressive.

Nah, I'll stick with who.

 

Ran out of tiles you see...

 

Don't know why, but your post reminds me of that track by Radiohead ''On the run from the Grammar Police''...something like that anyway.

Edited December 6, 20169 yr by Bluespunk

1 minute ago, Bluespunk said:

Nah, I'll stick with who.

 

Ran out of tiles you see...

 

Reminds me of that track by Radiohead ''On the run from the Grammar Police''...something like that anyway.

Ran out of tiles you see...

 

Marbles, mate, marbles. Wrong game.

Just now, Dexlowe said:

Ran out of tiles you see...

 

Marbles, mate, marbles. Wrong game.

Scrabble uses marbles? Since when...

Just now, Bluespunk said:

Scrabble uses marbles? Since when...

Oh dear ... 

 

I really shouldn't try to be too clever. Lose me marbles, I do. 

Just now, Dexlowe said:

Oh dear ... 

 

I really shouldn't try to be too clever. Lose me marbles, I do. 

Ah, being clever were you...missed that...

11 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

 

By who?

 

by the 14 people who competed in the "world championships above 50 something"

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Bangkok has been referred to as the “Home of Scrabble”....

 

Clearly a short-term rental.....

3 hours ago, Sphere said:

 

Clearly a short-term rental.....

Hopefully their deposit will be returned shortly

I thought the end result was pretty good , like a few here , what scrabble?

2 hours ago, oldlakey said:

Hopefully their deposit will be returned shortly

 

Depends on the terms of their sleaze.