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Back to 2012 Prague MSF SCRABBLE ME Live Coverage

2012 Prague MSF SCRABBLE ME Commentary: Round 1

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Go to: Before the Tournament, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5, Round 6, Round 7, Round 8, Round 9, Round 10, Round 11, Round 12, Round 13, Round 14, Round 15, Round 16, Round 17, Round 18, Round 19, Round 20, Round 21, Round 22, Round 23, Round 24, After the Tournament.

Sandy Nang (USA) has the bye this round, but she doesn't hold on to her 1-0 +75 lead over the field for too long. At the end of the first round, it's Sam Kantimathi (USA) in the lead at +179, followed by Adam Logan (CAN) +154 and Alastair Richards (AUS) +148. No surprises there!

Sam, who played Rangi Collins (AUS) again in the first round, just like in the Early Bird, does not feel moved to comment on his "Collins" game this time.

I am finding the noise of the backgammon players shaking their dice in cups oddly dissonant against the gentle hiss of tiles shaking in bags. I can only imagine what the bridge players must be thinking.

Camera crews are starting to record the action, as part of a series of shows Mind Sports International is producing based on this event.

The organizers have finished reworking the prize distribution. As with the Early Bird, because the player rating distribution varied considerably from what was anticipated we have combined the originally planned divisions and redistributed the prize fund in what we hope is the spirit of the original distribution, while returning the €10,000 guarantee.

The top four prizes remain €3,000, €2,000, €1,000, €500 and the fifth place rises by €50 to €300. The 41-player field will be divided into seven rating prize classes of 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 and 6 players; in the six-player divisions, the winner will receive €300 and the runner-up €150, not to be combined with other prizes. These substantially expanded rating prizes replace the former Intermediate division and New Player prizes; the Placings prize remains €500.