World Scrabble Championships mired in cheating controversy as Thais miss out

[rooster59]

World Scrabble Championships mired in cheating controversy as Thais miss out

 

 

Yet more cheating has occurred at the top level in the world's most popular word game - Scrabble.

 

At the World Scrabble Championships in Torquay, England, an African player was sensationally tossed out after organizers claimed he was caught cheating on camera in a live internet stream to enthusiasts around the world.

 

Alexius Quashie, believed to be from Ghana, was playing UK expert Brett Smitheram on the top table at the time he was caught peeking in the bag and apparently returning an unwanted letter. 

 

Organizers Mindsports International kicked him out but have so far not commented publicly. 

 

The latest cheating incident came after former UK champion Allan Simmons was banned for three years in 2017 and Thai number one Pichai Limprasert was suspended for a year. 

 

Players who look in the bag while drawing tiles can gain a significant advantage even with just one preferential letter of the seven that must be picked. The bag is supposed to be held above eye height with the head turned away but this is sometimes flouted.

 

The director at the tournament Amy Byrne frequently reminded players of this protocol.

 

Fellow African Michael Quao said on Facebook that Mr Quashie is not a cheater. He said that the situation arose because there were two bags, one inside the other. When the player's hand entered the wrong part of the bag he needed to remove it and reinsert it.

 

He threatened legal action against the organisers MSI.

 

MSI chairman Dave Brannan declined to comment to Thaivisa last night.

 

Meanwhile Thai representatives in Torquay Puttapong Moonsarn and Gerry Carter, originally from the UK but now resident in Bangkok, had disappointing last days at the world championships' qualifying rounds.

 

Though both made the top twenty they failed to make the playoffs that are being staged on Saturday.

 

The final will be held in a hotel in London on Sunday with world number one Nigel Richards of New Zealand the favorite to win for an unprecedented fourth time. 

 

Gerry Carter and Puttapong Moonsarn  

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-10-27

[canuckamuck]

You would think in the top level of a sport they might have moved the tech beyond having a bag full of tiles and a promise that the players won't peek.

[TConthePC]

There is only one word to describe it. It is worth 14 points,  CHEATING. 

[farang62]

seems like the "rules' need changing, I would like to know how you cheat in Scrabble. 

[Phuketshrew]

3 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

You would think in the top level of a sport they might have moved the tech beyond having a bag full of tiles and a promise that the players won't peek. 

Scrabble a sport? Whatever next, a world sleeping championship? (mind you, I know a few Thai's that would be pretty good at that too ???? )

[Justgrazing]

15 hours ago, rooster59 said:

He said that the situation arose because there were two bags, one inside the other. When the player's hand entered the wrong part of the bag he needed to remove it and reinsert it.

He did what .!

This tourno' should be played in Pattaya .. 

[malt25]

1 hour ago, farang62 said:

seems like the "rules' need changing, I would like to know how you cheat in Scrabble. 

Try reading the OP again. Pretty clearly stated.

[Darcula]

16 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The bag is supposed to be held above eye height with the head turned away....

Do you know how exhausting that would be for a scrabble player?

[Oxx]

1 hour ago, Justgrazing said:

This tourno' should be played in Pattaya .. 

 

The Thai police would raid it, lock up the players and confiscate the tiles.

[shackleton]

anyone who is caught cheating at Scrabble  could be scarred  that's 10 points for life 

now they have me at it  

[Bundooman]

So I wonder if Gerry Carter and the Thai  guy lost out on words like Rooster', 'UKpensions' or 'Taxation'?

[Russell17au]

4 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

He did what .!

This tourno' should be played in Pattaya .. 

most of them would not be able to find the bag let alone put their hand in it unless of course it had hair around it

[malt25]

3 hours ago, Russell17au said:

most of them would not be able to find the bag let alone put their hand in it unless of course it had hair around it

Hair around it  ?????  how long since you been to Patts ???

[Russell17au]

18 minutes ago, malt25 said:

Hair around it  ?????  how long since you been to Patts ???

Never been there and not interested in going either

[Guest]

If you feel that you need to cheat in a game, you are taking it too seriously. 

[bendejo]

On 10/27/2018 at 5:59 AM, rooster59 said:

Torquay, England

 

Did they have the tournament at Basil Fawlty's place? ????

 

It's not very clear in the pic, put is the alleged Ghana-ian the same guy who did the phony sign language at Mandela's memorial?

 

 

[Peasandmash]

an African player was caught cheating. ... Like good ole Martin used to say, don't judge a man by the color of skin, judge him on his character.

[malt25]

10 hours ago, oilinki said:

If you feel that you need to cheat in a game, you are taking it too seriously. 

Others might think if you're not trying to cheat you're not really trying ???

[melvinmelvin]

On 10/28/2018 at 5:40 AM, Justgrazing said:

He did what .!

This tourno' should be played in Pattaya .. 

 

there is no wrong part of the bag in Pattaya