Nairobi, and spent the time revising some hooks and some unusual 4's.

Nairobi international airport isn't the most organised airport I've been

to, and after successfully guessing which baggage carousel my bag would

appear on, I later met Dr. Patrick Litunya, my host, who had kindly

invited me to stay in his home in Machakos, a town some 80km outside of

Nairobi. Although Patrick is a good driver (with consummate pothole

dodging skills), I still felt my blood pressure rising on our journeys

to and from Nairobi. Drivers are very gung-ho and have obvious mistrust

for one another, with much hooting and flashing of brights being the

order of the day. Still, this provided a welcome adrenalin rush to get

the day going, often after too little sleep the night before.

The competition was meant to start on Thursday the 17th, but some

logistical problems caused it to be delayed until Friday the 18th, so

Patrick, Dennis Omulo (former Kenyan WSC top seed) and I played a few

games in Machakos. Patrick played ULNARIA, AGENETIC, MOTIONAL, TECTITE,

UNLIVES and the really nice FUBSIEST. Dennis played INTRORSE, FEATURES,

SPINODES and the lovely DECIDUAE against me. I played the following:

DETAINEE (holding AEEEINT), TILTABLE, FLIGHTED (twice), TRAVELOG,

TERRIBLE (thru an R), TENONING (holding EGINNNO), SOLIDAGO, and

RATOonED, a neat 8 letter word 4-timer thru 2 adjacent floaters (thru

'ON' on the board). We went to bed too late, of course, but arrived at

the competition on time the next day, just as the city's nightmarish

rush hour traffic was building up.

The ASC venue was the Nairobi YMCA, and though I recognised a few faces

from previous World Championships, the throng of 58 players plus

officials was mostly alien to me. One face I picked out quickly was that

of my old nemesis, Dr. Mike Gongolo from Kenya, whom I'd sworn to try

and beat for once (Mike nuked me in the last two WSCs). The atmosphere

was friendly and jubilant, and it was clear everyone there comfortable.

Subtle glances by players at familiar and unknown opponents provided an

undercurrent of apprehension, the way race horses must feel on the

starting line. I soon found out that the large group of fancy white

T-shirt adorned players were the Tanzanian team. There were at least 15

of them, and I felt a bit embarrassed that I was the only player from

SA. The poignant consolation in this regard was that I was automatically

"team captain". I hardly recognised any of the Nigerians, and I remember

thinking "if these guys have supplanted the old stalwarts I met at a

previous African Champs, they must be pretty hot stuff…" As for the

Kenyans, all I could remember was struggling against them at the WSC,

and also the stories from the legendary Larry Benjamin telling me how

those guys just killed him with four letter words he'd never heard of.

GAME 1:

The first game was a bit delayed, and when the pairing was read out, I

was glad to get a chance to play Mike Gongolo (though this was a tough

first opponent in a Swiss draw). On moves 6 and 7 Gongolo played CATENAS

and DeITIES back to back to go 125 points ahead, and I thought "here we

go again…". I fought back with my only S in the form of STEARIN for 87

and picked up 5 points when he challenged (P)EEVE. At the end he thought

I had no I, and he opened with MUN, hoping to play JINs/MUNI for about

60. I played NOILY in the spot for 34, and after catching 4 points from

his rack, won by 1 point! The Gongolo jinx was broken!

(My letters: S ZX)

GAME 2 (Henry Morara - Kenya)

I had INQUIRE, SHITTED and CARNIeR, and extended his GOoDIES to

GOoDIEST to win by 143.

(My letters: S? JQX)

GAME 3 (Jack Omondi - current Kenyan National Champ)

I played the natural OUTDONE and his only bingo was INCITEd. At one

stage I held S?HBRWN, and elected to play WReN(C)H thru a floating C for

34, leaving BS - probably the right mov

e on a tight board. I challenged

his attempted GASEFIE(R) off (it's GASIFIER) and fortunately I knew not

to challenge when he played the false-looking FEGS next move. I won by

43.

(My letters SSS? JX)

GAME 4 (David Kangethe - Kenya)

David started strongly with ZIBETH for 60. I held AEELNY?, and after

some pondering, played EN(T)AYLEd thru his T. 2 racks later I held

CIIIRST, and played IRITIC for 24 instead of LIRI for 8 from an L, my

only real other choice. My slim lead was extended when I played SAPLING

for 92, and I hung on to win by 42.

(My letters S? JX)

GAME 5 (Macharia Kimani - Kenya)

In this game I had some of my worst tiles ever. I started with ADEIIUU,

and considered playing ADIEU for 12, leaving IU - a very bad leave. I

elected to rather change and keep ED. Macharia played HEAVED for 34 and

I picked QYGBN to go with my ED. I played (H)EDGY (26) from an H, hoping

for better tiles. My next rack was BEENNNQ. I changed all but EN and

picked EECCO, for a lovely rack of CCEEENO. I played off ECCE, he

bingo'd with ALUNITE, and I picked ENOS to hold EEENNOS. I played off

ENE, played GONEFS for 37 next, and two racks later found myself with

EIIOOOM. I played MOOI and after picking from the bag held AAEEOUV. I

changed for the third time (a new personal record), and bingo'd next

move with SWANNEd. He played SPILLeRS for 85 and I lost by 87. I'd had 4

racks with 6 vowels.

(My letters: SS? And Q, which I'd changed and repicked)

GAME 6 (Lukeman Owolabi - my first Nigerian opponent)

He played EOSInIC, and I got in ReTIRAL and RETAXES to win by 127. I'm

embarrassed to say I extended RETAXES to PRETAXES by adding PAVER above

it for about 90, but it wasn't challenged and he said he would have done

the same with the P he held, as the spot was too tempting in the absence

of certainty about PRETAXES. It sounded like it could possibly be a

verb.

(My letters SS? ZX)

Day one had started late, so only 6 games were played, and Patrick and

I were pretty chuffed with our day one 5-1 records.

GAME 7 (Chrys Placca - Ghana)

Chrys is the top Ghanaian player and was the only non-Kenyan,

non-Nigerian I played. He started with RELAX (40) and extended it to

relaxANT 2 moves later for 45. I got in ZAP (36), vETERAN (76), J(E)NNY

(51), from IIIGOT?: IG(N)ITIOn (66) and SWIFTESt for 104, all in the

first 5 moves, going 179 ahead. Chrys scored a lot of clever 30's and

40's, but I held on to win by 143.

(My letters SS?? JQZ)

GAME 8 (Dennis Ikekeregor - Nigeria)

When I first met Dennis I thought he had all the charm of a Kenyan

immigration official, and I was tempted to write him off as another Dale

Carnegie dropout [1]. However, I soon warmed to his straightforward,

almost abrasive manner and good playing skills. He dominated board 1 for

much of day 2 and is a hard man to beat, as I was to find out. He

started with back to back bingos: PROnELY and the natural ALANINE.

Holding AAADET?, I spotted vA(N)ADATE thru his N, which was the blank of

PROnELY. He scored well, bingo'd again with DITCHER and despite one more

bingo from me, I lost by a hefty 90. Dennis and I became good pals at

the end and I even allowed him to wheedle $5 out of me on the last day.

(My letters S? ZXQ)

[1] For those younger than about 30, Dale Carnegie wrote the book (and

ran courses on) "How To Make Friends And Influence People"

GAME 9 (Ayox Fash - Nigeria)

He started with JEWEL (46) then ATO(N)Y for 32. I played MUREX (49)

then DU(r)AtIVE (61) and later DE(F)RAUdS (62). Although I won by 52, I

went 3 minutes over time and was fortunate to still win by 22!

(My letters SS?? X)

GAME 10 (Patrick Litunya - Kenya)

Patrick is the number one seed for Kenya, and has a prodigious word

knowledge borne out of studying some 2 hours plus a day, and putting in

heavy weekend game sessions with the other big boys. It was a slugfest

from the word go: In the first 6 moves he got PLANTED, GLAS(S)IER and

the lovely OrTHIC(O)N. I countered with VIAND, AVOI(D)ERS and

WEIGEL(A)s. After a spate of 30's

and 40's from both sides I eked out a

27 point win.

(My letters: SS? XZQ)

GAME 11 (Segun Durojaye - Nigeria)

I played sTOWAGE and MONGER(E)D to his RAMPOLE and SENDALS. He tried a

nonword near the end, lost a turn, and I won by 50.

(My letters S? ZXJ)

GAME 12 (Sanni Moshood - Nigeria - African champ 2000)

Sanni is a true champ. He's polite, humble and has levels of knowledge

rarely seen. A true gentleman, his final position (9th) didn't do

justice to phenomenal skill. He can squeeze a board tighter than an

overly affectionate anaconda on steroids, and makes it hard to score. I

had 4 E's this game. My better moves were (T)AJINE (60), (EX)ITS (42)

and extending GYPS to GYPSY by adding WIRY for 34. He got BEEFIeR (80)

and KEViL (59) then NEPHE(W) (32) at the end to win by 94.

(My letters SS J)

GAME 13 (Stanley Njorogo - Nigeria)

Stanley cruised with REUsING, R(E)LATION and VISITER. I had an S from

rack 2 but couldn't get any combinations that worked. On the second last

rack I was 140 behind. I opened with CH, and picked E? from the bag, and

played out with LE(V)aTORS for 86. I lost by 77.

(My letters SS? X)

GAME 14 (Tunde Adigun - Nigeria)

After a slowish start, we both scored a few 30s and 40s. Tunde played

(S)INTERED from an S. I held the tiles EEMQST?. I saw the possibility of

playing MESQu(I)TE with this, but there was no floating I. I played

QuEME parallel to SINTERED, starting above the I for 69 points. My next

rack was DHINSTT, but I managed to hook the D onto QUEME and use his E

to play QUEMED/DENT for 33. He played HORSE for 43, and I played

HELIAST/HORSES for 92. I won by 91.

(My letters: SSS?? JQ)

GAME 15 (Chinede Okwelogu)

I had four racks with no vowels here. From AILNOR? I started with

cLARINO and later got DRONIES(T) onto a T. He played a nonword on move

6, scored well generally but wasn't able to bingo. I won by 43, having 2

S's on my rack when the game was over.

(My letters: SSS? )

GAME 16 (Manase Otieno - Kenya)

This was an interesting game and extremely tense, because Manase,

though having had no S's or blanks, scored 2 natural bingos and played

Q(U)AIL for 68 to my 2 bingos using S's and blanks. He played REVERIN(G)

and the nonword REWATER. I thought about WATERER/REWATER long and hard,

since I knew I'd played one of them incorrectly before. I must have been

thinking about DEWATER and maybe UNWATER when I mistakenly decided

REWATER was the correct one and let it go. This is the only phony bingo

I let thru in the competition, and it could have cost me the game.

However, a big VEZI(R)S, STEnDED and OUrEBIS inched me to a 31 point

win.

(My letters SSSS?? ZX)

I ended day 2 with 12 out of 16 wins, lying third after two other

players also on 12. Things were looking good so far....

DAY THREE:

A ruthless last 8 games of pure King Of The Hill, and the title was up

for grabs.

GAME 17 (Dennis Ikekeregor - Nigeria)

Dennis took an early lead with STRAIN(E)R. I noticed that he could have

hit the TWS by playing TRANSIR(E) one place to the left. I replied with

the a natural from ACEGNRT: CATER(I)NG. Next move he put down QUInINA(S)

to reclaim the lead. I had ABLOSTU, and tried a 4-timer OUTBLAST, which

was challenged off. He then proceeded to shut down all bingo lanes by

playing CLINES onto STRAINER. At that point I was 51 points behind,

holding ADEEST? with nowhere to put down a 7 or 8. I noticed that there

were 2 separate floaters, a T and an I, and I played S(T)EAD(I)EsT thru

them - a 9 letter word 4-timer for 86! He played BEPI(T)Y to catch up,

cleverly opening spots for big X plays. I barely managed to block and

won in the end by 28.

(My letters S? JZ)

GAME 18 (Sanni Moshood - Nigeria [African Champ 2002])

I could see Sanni was struggling in the beginning. He started with PH

and I replied with TOWZY (48), YEAsTED (69) and W(Y)ND (45) in the first

3 moves. After move 6 I was up 197 to 87 and I picked EIILNRT. Now I had

a dilemma: I could play NITRILE and risk a 9-timer comeback or play

conservatively. After N

ITRILE the scores would be 263 to 87 in my

favour, and I figured that an average nine-timer is about 120-145

points, which would still leave me ahead, so I took the chance. Sanni

laid down Sti(N)KERS with the K on the DWS for 194 to put him in the

lead by18! I played QAT (38) and he got a neat TAF(I)A for 38. I held

BEGNORV on a closed board, 4 points behind, and elected to play GROV(EL)

onto EL, for 42, thinking this would give me a good chance at a win. I

didn't spot the lurking X spot though, and he played COAX, making O(DA),

(ST)A(IN) and (TA)X(A) into the bargain for 51! This put him 12 points

ahead, holding only RUNS and able to play out next move. My tiles were

BENOSUU, and after some thought I played UNSOBE(R) onto the R of GROVEL

for 30. This won me the game by 14 in the end, but I was surprised when

one of the other Nigerians came up to me and said "Why didn't you just

play BU(R)NOUSE thru the R of GROVEL?" Uh..Helloo…I'm not that hot on my

8's with 2 U's already. But very well spotted, and let's face it: I need

to do more work on my 8's.

(My letters S? JZQ)

GAME 19 (Macharia Kimani - Kenya)

He played cONGERS and I fitted in GAROTES. But for a fairly closed

board, on the previous move I would have played SORO(R)ATE or

TEAROO(M)S. I held AAAHNRV with no real scoring spots. I tried ANVAR

(mixed it up with INVAR) and he challenged me off. He played the last S

and blank in WINeRI(E)S to win by 39.

(My letters: SS ZJ)

GAME 20 (Patrick Litunya - Kenya)

Patrick started with SEEDMEn, but I got RACIEST and later SLEDGER. A

tight endgame saw me win by 61.

(My letters: SS? JZ)

GAME 21 (Macharia Kimani - Kenya)

I had TERCIOS, and he later had ESTROnE and NUTRiAS back to back. Only

my timely blocking of OB by converting it into D(OB)Y saved me from

another bingo against me. I won by 35.

(My letters: S JQZ)

GAME 22 (Macharia Kimani - Kanya)

He drew first blood with PiNHEAD. Holding ARSTTT?, I played T(I)TRATeS.

He scored three 40's in a row with XI, (A)DVERSE and CLO(C)K and I was

64 points down. Holding DEMRRSU I first thought of MURDERS, but with no

place played SMURRED. On rack nine I was again behind, holding AEHILSW.

I immediately spotted SHAWLIE/WHAISLE but only had a floating G, N, O or

R to play thru. I thought long and hard, and the word SHERWALI popped

into my head. Again a confusion with another word - SHERWANI, and I was

challenged off. I played WHE(E)L for 38, picked Z and Y, and after he

played BEAN for 32, I hooked SIZY onto BUS to make BUSS for 44. He

challenged and I got the extra 5. I squeezed out a win of 8 points in

the end.

(My tiles: SSS? JZ)

GAME 23 (Patrick Litunya - Kenya)

Patrick started with LOD, and holding AAFILM?, I played FAMI(L)iAL. He

bingo'd back to back with STEANED and SOBER(I)NG. I saw the 4-timer

FARINHA - didn't fit. With ADEFIOR I saw FOEDARI(E) and FORE(S)AID -

didn't fit. With IOORRW? I saw WOORaRI - no place. With BEKIRU? I saw

REBUK(I)nG - just didn't fit. From a floating C I was ever so close to

CLOUDILY and CASUALTY, and my time was ebbing away slowly but rapidly. I

was holding HALITE? and the board was tighter than miss Olympia's

gluteus maximus. I played LITHE for 39, and went over time. Patrick

blocked my only out play with his TYEE, and I won the game by 5 points

and the African champs for the the first time! Unbelievable!! Hang

on…..My time penalty cost me 5 points so I ended up losing by 5!!!

All I could think was "Oh my God! My one chance to win the ASC and I may

have blown it!" Patrick and the Kenyan team were elated as it looked

like the final game would be between him and me for the title. I was

emotionally shocked, but summoned some inner calm for the

oh-so-important final game.

(My letters ?? Q)

GAME 24 - THE MOST IMPORTANT GAME OF MY LIFE SO FAR (Opponent: Dr.

Patrick Litunya - Kenya)

I'm holding EGINORX, second to play and I'm begging for a floating T to

play OX(T)ERING. He changes so I drop OX, keeping EGINR. He bingos just

above it with HANDLES. I've just picked RY and my

rack is EGINRRY. I

spot RE(D)RYING thru his D, and consider (S)ERRYING from his S. Both are

correct. I opt for ERRING(L)Y thru his L, though - it's challenged and I

gain 5 points. With 2 vowels I drop BLIVE for 25. He plays UNT(R)UER,

obviously dumping U's, and my next pick is DLMPTYZ. The board is already

very tight, so I drop YL(E)M for 26, and he bingos with the natural

NIOBITE, hooking under the UN of UNTRUER. I'm 40 points down but come

back with ZAP for 38. He plays RE(Z) onto my Z on the TWS line for 36,

and with BDESTTV on my rack, I'm forced to change. He hits me with a big

(Y)AWL from the Y of YLEM for 30 and I'm 70 points behind, but holding

the letters ACEIOST. From the S of HANDLES I play (S)OCIATES for 72.

Patrick squeaks into the lead by 4 points after ANOA, and my letters are

AAADR??. From the previous day's game analysis I immediately spot

tAnADAR, and take no time in playing it, hoping to draw a challenge. He

challenges and I gain another 5. I'm exactly 70 points ahead, and the

board is blocked for bingos, but the tenacious dr. Litunya captures the

western TWS with KITHES for a hefty 56 points! I'm 14 points ahead and

there's one in the bag. I'm holding DGIMOUV and the Q is unseen! There's

only one open I for QI, and I have to decide whether or not to block it.

I notice that even if the I is blocked, I can play (E)QUID from a

floating E if I get the Q. I figure he's a bit more likely to have the Q

so I shut it down for maximum score. I pull a G from the bag and I've

never been so happy to see a 6 letter rack of DIGGUV in my life! On

reflection I should have left the Q spot open, played just the M off for

18 and had a guaranteed (E)QUID if he blocked the I. If that had

happened, though, I might have ended up stuck with the V. My legs were

tingling as I carefully played out and won by 44 points - with plenty of

time to spare!!

(My letters: S?? JXZ)

MY STATS:

S's : I picked 43 out of 96 (5 less than the average 48/96)

Blanks : I picked 26 out of 48 (2 more than the average 24/48)

J's : I picked 14 out of 24 (2 more than the average 12/24)

Q's : I picked 10 out of 24 (2 less than the average 12/24)

X's : I picked 11 out of 24 (1 less than the average 12/24)

Z's : I picked 14 out of 24 (2 more than the average 12/24)

Generally, I think I had a tough draw, having had Michael Gongolo as my

first opponent in a Swiss draw, and having had to play King Of The Hill

for the last 8 games out of 24 when starting the last 8 games on board

2.

After a protracted break, the prize giving was held, and everyone from

number 58 upwards was called up and heartily cheered as they received

their certificates. The awards MC and provider of background wit was the

ever-smooth Joseph Ikawa. He kept on referring to himself being "in the

bedroom" with this player and that player, and just when I was starting

to get the wrong idea about him, I discovered that being "in the

bedroom" means being on any table other than the first row. The basic

analogy, I was told, is that the bedroom often needs a bit of extra

stimulation to get the necessary levels of excitement going.

Hmmm…..speak for yourselves already….. The very last row of tables in

the hall is known as the Presidential Suite - a "room" so comfortable, a

guy just doesn't wanna leave……

So what does it feel like being African Champ? Just great. Hard to

believe, yes, but just fine indeed, thank you. I realise that I had a

good competition and that I probably played above my normal level, even

thought my stats (above) show that my key tile picking was almost spot

on average. I also played far more nonwords than I usually do. I think

it's as Joel Sherman said recently: In any competition with a number of

good players who could win, it's often the one who has that extra bit of

clarity, inspiration or luck on the day that ends up with the trophy. It

was an amazing competition with a sense of camaraderie that made the WSC

pale in comparison. My win was a huge honour for me and a historical one

for South Africa, and

I'd like to thank everyone involved. Well done to

each and every player, especially those who received awards, and I'll

see you in Tanzania in 2004, with a decent sized SA team!

Regards,

Trevor Hovelmeier

(aka THOV)