UGANDAN CAULDRON
Hiya folks
The International boiling Scrabble crucible of the 5th WESPAC Nairobi Qualifier took place in
Kampala at the end of May. These tough 18 matches were held at Makerere University Business
School (MUBS).
DAY ONE
GAME 1
JIMMY ATEGEKA (UGANDA)
Uganda’s Most Improved Player Jimmy Ice Cool Ategeka, fresh from terrorizing the opposition
in Tanzania, started by BATTING (72) a thousand with AZON (37). Quackle agreed with my
decision to retain CR from my CDDLNRR agonizing rack change. Chasing the game, I got
PACY (30) with FYTTE (50). The effervescent Jimmy Ice Cool wanted to PWN (23) me but he
lived to regret not blocking my desperate, last gasp CREOLIST (71).
Whew!
EDWIN-MUGISHA 399 JIMMY ATEGEKA 347
GAME 2
CHRIS NTEGE (UGANDA)
Out of the frying pan and into the fire as the Chosen One collided with Chris the Enforcer Ntege.
Chris, built more like a Rugby Union centre, is a hunky 6 feet 2 inches and weighs in at a
muscular 100 kilos. He boasts the best Ugandan record of anyone at a World Championship.
Chris the Enforcer got WOOLIER (78) on me. I was able to stroke ROOINEK over WOOLIER
for a handsome 79 but Chris proceeded to take AIM (18) at me with ZINC (30). I was forced to
scram for COVER (45) with NOISIER (70), SHALY (40), BEZIL (45) and CALX (29) which
outpaced his METH (27) PRESENTS (61).
EDWIN-MUGISHA 447 CHRIS NTEGE 360
GAME 3
EDGAR ODONGKARA (UGANDA)
My tough pairing start continued as Uganda’s National TD, Edgar the Dragon Odongkara was up next. The Ferrari-loving Edgar has no AWE (23) for the Man of Destiny and he tends to enjoy our encounters, calling me his indentured PEON (28).
The Living Legend needed to get lucky midway through this ding dong battle, balancing for baby bonuses EMETINS (72), TINDERS (71) and FAITOURS (83). Edgar the Dragon got to RESTYLE (82) and I avoided getting INANE (53) as I went on to VEX (39) the youthful doctor with LUDIC (27 + 5) and TIGLIC (27 + 5).
EDWIN-MUGISHA 482 EDGAR ODONGKARA 393
GAME 4
DAVIS APUULI (UGANDA)
Ugandan Scrabble is only getting better and better, as evidenced by the explosive emergence of talent like the young David the Machine Apuuli. This 6 foot 6 basketballer known as the Machine has been reading around the clock and backing this up with intense daily practice.
He woke me up with JAVA (28) and went EEEW! (35) before dunking on me with NUTRIAS (69). The Immortal was in disbelief at the racks I was picking but after KEMPT (22) I was able to barely hang on with MUDIRIA (81) and AGGRY (36). I hit the front with SILICATE (70) but the Machine got me in a losing TIZ (22) with the backbreaking PARTNERS (70) and INFLATER (67).
DAVIS APUULI 429 EDWIN-MUGISHA 389
GAME 5
LIMO KIPKEIMOI (KENYA)
Captain Kenya, the stylish Limo, has had a meteoric rise, holding fort at the African Championships in Accra, Ghana and leading the powerful Team Kenya in Tanzania.
Captain Kenya found his VIBE (48), erupting in breathtaking fashion with OUTGIVE (75), LANDERS (74), JEFE (46) and HOWE (39). He racked up 300 in his first 5 moves. I cracked under the TENSION (89) despite my DESEX (63), QORMAS (36) and EYRY (33). Limo was able to get away with getting scared of LAUREATE which he placed on the board then removed to play EAUX (22) instead. I vainly attempted to take advantage with NONARIES (74) but Limo went on to WIN (17) it with PLATIEST (78).
LIMO KIPKEMOI 483 EDWIN-MUGISHA 455
GAME 6
GREENS KAMUGISHA (UGANDA)
Two consecutive defeats were already threatening to wreck the Eagle’s day as he tumbled down the leaderboard.
Greens aka the Behemoth aka the Monologue smoothly used the IODInE (24) vowel dump to balance for DEPUTIES (62). After WEX (41) I got HIP (31) with SURGIER (81). The Behemoth tried to show me a CLEAN (20) pair of heels with his TANKER (34) and FEASTER (66). My BLAY (24) and strategic ultra-defensive FLOES (27) forced the Behemoth into trying to go out, la la salaama, with HALfMAST.*
A valiant attempt.
EDWIN-MUGISHA 418 GREENS KAMUGISHA 366
GAME 7
DUKE MICHIEKA (KENYA)
His Lordship Duke Michieka had been in Uganda a week in advance, so serious was he to acclimatize.
I had a prickly start, cobbling together COXAE (28) and TRANQ (28). His Lordship built up a head of steam with MEADOW (51) as he called me a CHIMP (34). The tide turned as he missed the Y hook for MEADOW and he hit a brick wall midway through the match despite his LAWNIeR (20) dump. After I stroked MEADOWY, I tried to escape with the win with PITTANCE (85) and PERGOLA (76). The Duke’s VISORS (34) and SETLINES (59) proved inadequate.
EDWIN-MUGISHA 491 DUKE MICHIEKA 364
GAME 8
PAUL KIZZA (UGANDA)
Paul Kizza the Buccaneer was mourning the recent passing away of James Bond, Sir Roger Moore himself, The Spy Who Loved Me. Thus, this Pirate of the High Seas can be forgiven for not being at his best.
With A View to A Kill, I was off to the races with QI (34), ARTICLE (73), JONES (38) and EMBOX (72). The Buccaneer, steering his Jamaican boat called Octopussy, decided to Live and Let Die with ESTRONE (69) and EBON (52). The vowel-heavy POORI (22) and kIAAT (10) held me down for a moment until I made like a Moonraker and SEIZED (82) utter control.
EDWIN-MUGISHA 499 PAUL KIZZA 283
GAME 9
LAWRENCE ONYOIN (UGANDA)
Lawrence de Lorenzo, Uganda’s Head National Coach, is on an upward curve and he threw the chunky VaTIC (15) to balance for DEPAINTS (86). I got ABOARD (24) with ALIENEES (74) after my HEELBAlL and HElLBENT got blocked. This contest got closed up, very tactical fast as de Lorenzo – also Scrabble Uganda’s Vice-President- made MONEY (28). KUDU (18) and ENTIRES (71) gave me a fragile lead which de Lorenzo hunted down with his DJINS (68). He nearly stole the game with the visionary SEaboard (30) extension.
EDWIN-MUGISHA 399 LAWRENCE ONYOIN 395
GAME 10
GERIA RICHARD (UGANDA)
Geria, the Lion of Arua, WINED (26) first up. It allowed me to DEFREEZE for a humongous 116 marks. The Lion promptly went on to JAPANIZE for a barnstorming 106. I hit the front again with EROSIONS (62), however this seesaw affair took another twist as Geria SPRAINED (74) my chances. I wanted to GAGE (38) but Geria exposed his leonine VAGARY (34).
Holding the beautiful CEIOSX? I figured I was going to unleash chaos through a floating R with EXORCIST for a whopping 114 but the Lion is a mind reader. He shut down such lofty plans, cruelly blocking with FLUES (47). I had to settle with EXOTICS for a mere 77. I exclaimed VOILE! (39) as I avoided getting butt-naked KAAL (36) but blundered as I missed the UNtwine (30) extension. His DETAINER (66) ensured I very deservedly got buried in this match.
Afterwards I overhead the excited Lion bragging about his first tournament-rated win over WESPA’s Shining Light in 15 games.
GERIA RICHARD 514 EDWIN-MUGISHA 477
DAY TWO
GAME 11
ROSE KISEMBO (UGANDA)
If the Great One hadn’t screwed up the final game of Day One I would have slept tournament leader on spread with 8 wins and 2 losses. Instead, I slept 4th with 7 wins 3 losses, putting myself under pressure. Matters were set to get worse, a lot worse.
Rose is not only the First Lady of Ugandan Scrabble; she emerged as the Queen of Africa at the African Champs in Ghana. Her scores of QADI (28) and HYE (35) had me crying out OCH (24) as I struggled to get going with qIVIUT (36). The First Lady caught fire with OVERING (77), AFF (31), DRAWS (49) and SNEEZED (76). I failed to ZIP (28) along, miserably limping with YEARD (54), MUTI (23), SAXE (30) and LOCATOR (76).
ROSE KISEMBO 436 EDWIN-MUGISHA 376
GAME 12
SSALI STEPHEN (UGANDA)
I looked to be cruising, posting JUBE (19), KULA (30), PAVAN (35) and SNORTED (79). But life in the hotbed of Uganda is tough and Ssali Silent Assassin Steven hit back with the triple triple MARRYING (167), turning me into PUTTY (28) in his hands.
The Eagle was suddenly 110 marks down with all to do. I tried to hunt down my opponent but the Silent Assassin lived up to his moniker.
SSALI STEPHEN 488 EDWIN-MUGISHA 435
King of the Hill
GAME 13
ROSE KISEMBO (UGANDA)
The Man of History had started the Day with two disastrous defeats and was sliding out of contention, falling to 6th. 5 losses in my first dozen matches were simply too many. For those who follow such details, I realized part of my troubles were I picked 6 blanks in my first 12 games. That’s 6 out of 24.
I opened with AZALEA (50) but the First Lady PARADED (74) her smarts with KYND (38). She then took an AX (39) to me with her LOBO (31) QUINT (37). Feeling the WESPAC Qualifier slipping away especially as I danced with beauties like rADII (14) and TEEId (24) I dug deep. Africa’s largest vocabulary needed a POSSE (44) of THREE (39), TWICERS (39) to get out of INFERNAL (62) trouble.
EDWIN-MUGISHA 484 ROSE KISEMBO 377
GAME 14
EDGAR ODONGKARA (UGANDA)
A KoH repeat for the most potent player in the game against the menacing Dragon Edgar. He breathed fire with HIDED (30), OX (40) and HIJRA (30). I went POW (32), balancing for EROTICS (74), AIRLINE (71), KEHUA (44) and NERITES (71). He failed to FIZ (36) with SADIRON (78) and VINEW (27).
EDWIN-MUGISHA 452 EDGAR ODONGKARA 394
GAME 15
LIMO KIPKEMOI (KENYA)
I chose to open with HONDLE (28) over HOLDEN then had UNKOSHER BACON (31). Captain Kenya, Limo, ran like the wind with XI (34), ATTIRES (74) and EQUIP (78). Captain Kenya then ran into a rare rocky patch and I took full advantage, with my GADJE (30) UNIFIERS (64), AVINE (34), POOF (48) and ERGATIVE (72).
EDWIN-MUGISHA 477 LIMO KIPKEMOI 354
GAME 16
GERIA RICHARD (UGANDA)
WESPA’s Shining Light simply had to keep on winning otherwise I would suffer my first tournament loss of 2017!
It was fortunate I was able to open with GENUINE (68), MODELING (80) and ARTERIAL (68). Geria, the Lion of Arua, tried to DECREASE (63) my lead with JISM (39) and WAXY (46) as he called me MYOPIC (42). After OESTRAL (78) I got uncharacteristically ungentlemanly with F$CK (51) before rediscovering my Scrabble manners with DZO (35), VAIRY (52) and BONK (26).
Geria’s WAITE (30) and ROSETTE (63) fell short.
EDWIN-MUGISHA 550 GERIA RICHARD 363
GAME 17
GERIA RICHARD (UGANDA)
The Lion Geria was back but there was scarcely a change of fortunes as he got AWARER (30) with TOUSIER (73), YUCAS (20), KILN (36) and not much else.
Initially OYEZ (32) and BEALING (72) allowed me to keep pace but I loved how I tactically shut down this contest early on, tying my opponent down. Absolutely refusing to let him breath, until at the time of my choosing I burst the board wide open with VINTRIES (72) when the Lion was powerless and never looked back, getting HOME (32) with XED (27).
EDWIN-MUGISHA 458 GERIA RICHARD 323
GAME 18
CHRIS NTEGE (UGANDA)
The Phenomenon had brilliantly won 5 on the bounce and suddenly I was on Table One, in control of my destiny as I had an opportunity to fight for this Qualifier in the final game.
Chris the Enforcer Ntege called me a YUTZ (32) and unleashed his nipping FOXIE (40). After dumping RUBBISHY tiles I turned into a SCOWLER (75). The Enforcer cooled off as it turned out later there was NOPLACE for his blocked SPINOUT and I took advantage, getting FERVID (30) with TRAILED (92), SLIOTARS (77) and the triumphant LEHAIMS (77).
The Enforcer attempted to stop the bleeding with UNITERS (76) and YOWE (33) but AGAPAE (29) proved the icing on the cake for me.
EDWIN-MUGISHA 545 CHRIS NTEGE 380
Notes
- 13 wins out of 18, tournament sperm count spread of 1 178, Bingo Merchant Honours, surviving the Scrabble Cauldron.
- 66th Championship in 169 career tournaments. The winningest player in the game.
- I remain unbeaten in 2017. Unbeaten in Kenya and Uganda (or anywhere else!) in nearly 200 days. What ho!
- I played the first WESPAC Qualifier in January in Northern Uganda and won and thus I repeated the feat. As you can see, dear wise reader, participating in 2 Qualifiers out of 5 is not enough therefore I simply won’t make our official two-man Team. However, there’s the potential Last Chance Qualifier participation - and guaranteed win (since I shall remain unbeaten in 2017 all the way down to November!) - so we don’t need to panic.
Cheerios
PHILLIP EDWIN-MUGISHA
SULTAN OF MOMBASA
KENYA SEED ONE (no longer; due only to inactivity)
UGANDA SEED ONE (debatable; also due only to business interests)
REPRESENTATIVE OF 5 BILLION HUMANS
CAUSEWAY CHAMPION, 2017