Best players

LAST year saw us bid adieu to the Equitorial Cameron Highlands Scrabble Open Tournament that was our pick for Tournament of the Year. We also welcomed the return of the Malaysian Open, last organised in 2003.  

Many established tournaments on the local scene are becoming bigger and better, like the Penang Open and Malaysian MENSA, and we sincerely hope that they – as well as new tournaments like the Taylor’s Inter-College (the first intervarsity Scrabble event) – will continue to grow.  

It is also my sincere wish that the new lexicon promised by Collins will be published soon (hopefully, errata-free and drama-free, if one has been following the developments in Britain) for all Scrabblers to adopt and study.  

This is a World Championship year. No prizes for guessing who will take one of the two top spots but the other spot should be an open race among Aaron Chong, Pui Cheng Wui and Michael Tang, who ended their 2006 season on new highs. Fear not, because anyone can win the second spot so long as you draw well and bingo all the way. 

We extend our congratulations to the award winners below, all of whom have done well in 2006.  

Player of the Year:  

Ganesh Asirvatham (Malaysian Open, Penang Open, Merdeka Tournament, Causeway Scrabble Challenge, multiple 700+ point games, and new records) 

Honourable mention: 

Aaron Chong (Penang YMCA) 

Foo Fang Hai (2nd CNY Tournament) 

Gan Yi En (Malaysian Youth Scrabble Championship) 

Leroy Ong (Taylor’s Inter-College) 

Loh Vern Sern (MYSC Playoffs) 

Pui Cheng Wui (Malaysian MENSA) 

Criteria: Must have won at least one tournament 

Most Active Player: William Kang (eight tournaments, 114 games) 

Honourable mention: 

Tan Jin Chor, Gan Yi En , Wendy Lee Suk Ling, Yeap Gim Sai, Jocelyn Lor  

Criteria: Most tournaments participated in the year 

Jocelyn Lor, Martin Teo, Sean Chung 

Criteria: Must not have won any tournaments 

Best Junior Player: Gan Yi En 

Honourable mention: 

Alex Hong Wern Juin, Brian Lim Daqing, Loh Vern Sern, Ong Suanne 

Criteria: Must be 18 years or below on 1 Jan, 2006. Interschool Championship team and individual results and performance on senior circuit.  

Best Newcomer: Chin Yang Xin 

Honourable mention: 

Sue Wye Luun, Ricky Dang, Khoo Beng Way, Chow Xin Wei 

Criteria: Highest rating achieved at the end of the year by an individual who started playing the same year 

Most Improved Player:  

Ker Jen Ho (+432 rating points) 

Issac Low (+429 rating points) 

Honourable mention: 

Alex Hong Wern Juin, Chin Hon Yew, Ian Tay Zhi Xian  

Criteria: Biggest gain in rating during the year (need not be one tournament)