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2009 WSC Player Roster:
Detailed, Geographical

[ ]

Represents Photo Name Rating
[flag]
Australia
[photo]

David Eldar

20, Student

Melbourne, Victoria

Monopoly, walking fast in the rain, wearing new vests and hats

Victoria 2003; 2007 Causeway; 2006 (3rd) King's Cup; 2006 WYSC; 2007 Australia NSC; 2008 Masters

Rating: 2088

Record: 11th (2005), 11th (2007)

[flag]
Australia
[photo]

Naween Fernando

30, Auditor

Kew, Victoria

Cricket, Poker, Internet Skillz

1990 1992 1994 1995 1996 Bahrain; 1992 1994 1995 1997 Gulf; 1999 Channel News Asia; 2001 Sydney Masters; 2005 Australia; (3rd) 2005 WSC

Rating: 1986

Record: 23rd (1995), 19th (1997), 13th (1999), 11th (2001), 8th (2003), 3rd (2005), 31st (2007)

[flag]
Australia
[photo]

Andrew Fisher

44, Chartered accountant

Camberwell, Victoria

Crosswords, choral singing

Various tournament wins in Australia and UK, including Nationals, CSIM, Vics, BEST, BMSC, ABSP Masters

Rating: 1973

Record: 20th (1991), 20th (1995), 22nd (1997), 5th (1999), 5th (2001), 29th (2003), 21st (2005), 16th (2007)

[flag]
Australia
[photo]

Trevor Halsall

43, Actuarial Analyst

Melbourne

restaurants, newspapers, the definitions, politics, movies.

1994 Australian NSC; 2005 Australian Masters

Rating: 1897

First-time competitor

[flag]
Australia
[photo]

Peter Kougi

24, Student

Elsternwick, VIC

Electronic Music, Soccer, RMS Titanic

(5th) 2009 Sydney Masters, Winner of 10 local tournaments

Rating: 0

First-time competitor

[flag]
Australia
[photo]

Edward Okulicz

28, Postgraduate Student

Darlington, NSW

Trivia, music, squash, politics

2001 Australian NSC; (2nd) 2008 Causeway Challenge; 2005 NSW Champion; City of Sydney Masters; (2nd) 2004, 2008 Trans Tasman

Rating: 2087

Record: 23rd (2001), 13th (2007)

[flag]
Bahrain
[photo]

Victor Ikawa

34, Geomarketing

Manama

Bird watching, forestry, plant identification

2000 Kenyan Champion

Rating: 1731

First-time competitor

[flag]
Bahrain
[photo]

Irfan Siddiqui

30, Marketing professional

Manama, India

Sports, travelling, reading, movies, playstationing

(3rd) 2006 iGate International tournament; (14th) 2006 Causeway

Rating: 1754

First-time competitor

[flag]
Canada
[photo]

David Boys

45, Programmer Analyst

Dorval, QC

Golf, Poker, Softball, Sitting down, Sleeping

1995 WSC; 2003 CNSC

Rating: 2043

Record: 3rd (1991), 1st (1995), 11th (1997), 3rd (1999), 39th (2001), 16th (2003), 7th (2005), 17th (2007)

[flag]
Canada
[photo]

Andrew Golding

44, Programmer/Analyst

Verdun, QC

Scuba diving, choral singing, pinball

2006 Montreal

Rating: 1834

Record: 37th (2003)

[flag]
Canada
[photo]

Ron Hoekstra

41, Accountant

Kentwood, MI, United States

sports, music, languages

2000 CNSC

Rating: 1959

Record: 45th (2001), 61st (2003), 50th (2005), 37th (2007)

[flag]
Canada
[photo]

Tony Leah

60, Labour Union Educator

Ajax, ON

labour and socialist history, books and music

(2nd) 2005 CNSC

Rating: 1774

Record: 89th (2007)

[flag]
Canada
[photo]

Max Panitch

34, Researcher

Toronto, ON

baseball, photography

Ottawa (2002, 2003)

Rating: 0

First-time competitor

[flag]
Canada
[photo]

Dielle Saldanha

21, Student

Richmond, BC

field hockey, shopping, running, reading

1st place- div 6, 2002 NSC; div 2, Portland 2005

Rating: 1832

First-time competitor

[flag]
Canada
[photo]

Mark Schellenberg

30, Line Cook

Vancouver, BC

Cooking, frisbee, golf, tennis, poker

2003-01 Calgary, AB; 2003-01-25/26 Calgary, AB; 2003-05 Calgary, AB

Rating: 1913

Record: 53rd (2007)

[flag]
Canada
[photo]

Joel Wapnick

63, University Professor

Montreal, QC

writing

1999 World Champion; 1983 North American Champion; 1998 Canadian Champion

Rating: 2061

Record: 27th (1991), 2nd (1993), 15th (1995), 36th (1997), 1st (1999), 2nd (2001), 17th (2003), 33rd (2005), 4th (2007)

[flag]
England
[photo]

Paul Allan

39, Physics teacher

Coventry, West Midlands, United Kingdom

Juggling

Rating: 2014

Record: 9th (2003), 12th (2005), 42nd (2007)

[flag]
England
[photo]

Phil Appleby

51, Technical Editor

Lymington, Hampshire, United Kingdom

Golf, good food, being a dad

1990 BMSC; 1991 UK NSC; 1993 UK Masters; 3 times UK top-rated player; 2003 2006 BEST

Rating: 2000

Record: 33rd (1991), 12th (1995), 14th (1999), 14th (2003), 41st (2005), 43rd (2007)

[flag]
England
[photo]

Craig Beevers

28, Bits and pieces

Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, United Kingdom

Sport, photography, internet

Winter Matchplay 2006, GM 2009

Rating: 2004

First-time competitor

[flag]
England
[photo]

Martin Harrison

30, Assistant Procurement Officer

Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire

Music, Films

Spring Matchplay 2008, Festival of Scrabble 2009

Rating: 1936

First-time competitor

[flag]
England
[photo]

Harshan Lamabadusuriya

30, Doctor

Farnham Royal, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Cricket, reading

2003 UK NSC; 2005 BMSC; 2008 BEST; 2008 UK Masters

Rating: 1950

Record: 56th (2001), 17th (2005), 55th (2007)

[flag]
England
[photo]

Lewis Mackay

24, Bank clerk

Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Chess, poker, cricket, computers, reading, language, music, TV comedies

2005 ABSP Expert award; 2009 ABSP GM award; 2007 ABSP Highest Rated Player award; various tournament victories

Rating: 2211

First-time competitor

[flag]
England
[photo]

Mikki Nicholson

31, Cynic

Carlisle, Cumbria, United Kingdom

Smoking, Sleeping, Vesting

2006 Durham Grand; 2008 Festival of Scrabble; (2nd) 2008 UK Open; (2nd) 2008 UK Masters

Rating: 2019

First-time competitor

[flag]
England
[photo]

Mark Nyman

43, Oxfam Volunteer

Knutsford, Cheshire, United Kingdom

5-a-side football, golf, entertaining my kids

1993 (2nd) 1999 WSC; 1993 Exeter; 1992 1996 2002 BMSC; 1995 Thailand Open; 1995 1997 2000 2003 2004 UK Masters; 1998 2001 2002 2004 UK NSC

Rating: 2008

Record: 22nd (1991), 1st (1993), 17th (1995), 5th (1997), 2nd (1999), 4th (2003), 52nd (2005)

[flag]
England
[photo]

Phil Robertshaw

31, Library Assistant

Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

Travel, food, reading, sports, crosswords, quizzes

(6th) 2006 NSC; (2nd) 2007 BMSC; (39th) 2007 WSC; 2009 Easter Matchplay; (2nd) 2009 UK Open; 4 other UK tournament wins

Rating: 2010

Record: 39th (2007)

[flag]
France
[photo]

Herve Bohbot

41, GIS engineer

Montpellier, France

Lexicography

(2nd) 2004 (1st) 2005 (2nd) 2006 (2nd) 2007 France Matchplay Champion (in French :-)

Rating: 1611

Record: 87th (2003), 93rd (2005), 94th (2007)

[flag]
Ghana
[photo]

Michael Akonor

35, medical doctor

Accra

karate reading draughts music abstract thinking

Several national open tourneys; (2nd) 2008 national masters champs; (3rd) 2008 Grand masters

Rating: 1850

First-time competitor

[flag]
Ghana
[photo]

Chrys Placca

Age withheld, Teacher

Accra

Playing piano and organ, sports enthusiast, lover of cats, former consumer

1998 1999 2008 Ghana NSC; 2006 2008 Grandmaster

Rating: 1849

Record: 28th (1995), alternate (2001), 40th (2003), 22nd (2005)

[flag]
Ghana
[photo]

Michael Quao

40, Management Consultant

Accra

Chess

Scrabble Grandmaster; Ghana NSC (5 times); (4th) 2006 ASC

Rating: 1969

Record: 35th (2001), 50th (2003), 15th (2005)

[flag]
Guyana
[photo]

Abigail McDonald

29, Desktop Publisher

Georgetown

Reading

Rating: 0

First-time competitor

[flag]
India
[photo]

Sherwin Rodrigues

20, Student

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Watching movies and TV, listening to music

2003 Oman NSC; 2008 2009 India NSC; (2nd) Sri Lanka International

Rating: 1932

Record: 70th (2005), 78th (2007)

[flag]
Indonesia
[photo]

Ferdy Anthonius

39, Lecturer

Jakarta

Chess, badminton, swimming, watching films, reading books

2002 2003 2004 2006 2008 INSC

Rating: 1696

Record: 49th (2003), 98th (2005), 79th (2007)

[flag]
Ireland
[no photo]

Kevin McMahon

24, Student

Dublin

Watching cartoons, writing stories, playing board games

All-Ireland Champion 2007 & 2008

Rating: 2018

First-time competitor

[flag]
Japan
[photo]

Warodom Geamsakul

30, System engineer

Osaka

Trivia quiz

1999 2006 Tokyo; 1998 2001 2004 2006 Kobe

Rating: 1397

First-time competitor

[flag]
Kenya
[photo]

Michael Gongolo

42, Veterinary surgeon

Nairobi

Sudoku, Theatre

Kenyan NSC

Rating: 1861

Record: 30th (1999), 13th (2001), 70th (2003), 30th (2007)

[flag]
Kenya
[photo]

Patrick Litunya

47, Dentist

Nairobi

Football

(4th) 1998 (7th) 2000 Pan-African; several times Kenyan NSC

Rating: 1974

Record: 67th (2001), 15th (2003), 57th (2005), 6th (2007)

[flag]
Kenya
[photo]

Willy Mwangi

37, Businessman

Nairobi

(four times) Kenya NSC

Rating: 1956

First-time competitor

[flag]
Kenya
[photo]

Allan Oyende

28, Civil Engineer

Nairobi

Football (The premiership), Reading, Chess

Rating: 1872

First-time competitor

[flag]
Kuwait
[photo]

Rohaina Tanveer

38, Medical Technologist

Salmiya

reading, painting, cooking

last 17th WSC 2005, London and Causeway Challenge, 2007

Rating: 1575

Record: 97th (2005)

[flag]
Malaysia
[photo]

Vannitha Balasingam

37, Subeditor

Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan

Vagabonding

(2nd) 2003, 2009 Malaysian Open

Rating: 1893

Record: alternate (2007)

[flag]
Malaysia
[photo]

William Kang

14, Secondary school student

Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Football (Soccer), Reading, Computer games

Rating: 1714

First-time competitor

[flag]
Malaysia
[photo]

Jocelyn Lor

Age withheld, occupation withheld

Kuala Lumpur, Selangor

Ballroom dancing, Table Tennis

Rating: 1730

First-time competitor

[flag]
Malaysia
[photo]

Suanne Ong

17, Student

Georgetown, Penang, Singapore

Writing, reading, and life, in general

Rating: 2007

Record: 12th (2007)

[flag]
Malaysia
[photo]

Michael Tang

42, Media Executive

Singapore

Reading Autobiographies

1998 Singapore Scrabble Open Champion; 2009 Singapore National Champion

Rating: 1697

Record: 65th (1999), 58th (2001)

[flag]
Malaysia
[photo]

Kian Hung Yeo

29, Hotelier

Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory

Board games, golf, writing, wei qi, weightlifting

Rating: 1946

Record: 74th (2005)

[flag]
Malta
[photo]

Theresa Brousson

46, Sales

Swieqi

Squash, running, boating

2006 2007 2008 2009 Malta Champion; 2009 Malta Ladies Squash Champion

Rating: 1950

Record: 35th (2005), 26th (2007)

[flag]
Malta
[photo]

David Delicata

31, Retail Shops Owner

Swieqi

Football, Snooker

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Malta NSC

Rating: 1694

Record: 74th (2001), 33rd (2003), 82nd (2007)

[flag]
Netherlands
[photo]

Anand Buddhdev

35, System Engineer

Amstelveen, Noord Holland

Programming, reading, cooking

Rating: 1701

Record: 86th (2005), 74th (2007)

[flag]
New Zealand
[photo]

Joanne Craig

50, Actuary

Sydney, NSW, Australia

Bushwalking, Travel, Sailing

(2nd) 2006 Australian NSW Match Play; (3rd) 2007 (5th) 2008 2009 NZ NSC; (2nd) 2008 QLD and VIC Championship

Rating: 1898

Record: 90th (2007)

[flag]
New Zealand
[photo]

Jeff Grant

56, Writer

Hastings

Tennis, Word Play

1981 1983 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 2000 2001 2003 2007 NZ NSC; 1990 1992 1993 1997 2007 NZ Masters; (3rd) 1995 WSC

Rating: 1981

Record: 17th (1991), 24th (1993), 3rd (1995), 13th (1997), 41st (1999), 33rd (2001), 13th (2003), 59th (2005), 63rd (2007)

[flag]
New Zealand
[photo]

Blue Thorogood

48, Driver

Christchurch, Canterbury

Chess, Snooker

(20th) 1993 WSC; 2004 NZ NSC

Rating: 1874

Record: 20th (1993), 43rd (1995)

[flag]
New Zealand
[photo]

Howard Warner

51, Plain English consultant

Auckland

classical music, film, hiking

2000 2001 2003 2004 2006 2008 NZ Masters; 1999 2003 2005 2006 NZ NSC; 2002 Trans-Tasman Challenge

Rating: 2024

Record: 33rd (1999), 19th (2001), 20th (2003), 18th (2005), 22nd (2007)

[flag]
Nigeria
[photo]

Dennis Ikekeregor

32, Civil Servant

Asaba, Delta

traveling, reading, lawn tennis

(12 times) National Opens; 2004 2006 African Champion

Rating: 1994

Record: 41st (2003), 66th (2007)

[flag]
Nigeria
[photo]

Wellington Jighere

26, student

Benin, Edo

Moviegoing

2008 ASC; Nigerian National Open

Rating: 2003

Record: 3rd (2007)

[flag]
Nigeria
[photo]

Chinedu Nosike Okwelogu

44, Tournament SCRABBLE, English Language Teaching, Civil Service

Kano

Reading, Table Tennis, Gymnastics

1994 2001, 4 more times Nigeria NSC; (2nd) 2000 (3rd) 2008 ASC; (Bronze) 2008 Causeway

Rating: 0

Record: alternate (2001)

[flag]
Nigeria
[photo]

Ayorinde Saidu

Age withheld, hydrologist cum geoinformatics system analyst

Ikorodu, Lagos

scuba diving and polo

Rating: 2003

First-time competitor

[flag]
Northern Ireland
[photo]

Rik Kennedy

33, Company Secretary

Belfast, Antrim

Drinking Guinness, reading about language, playing guitar

Represented Ireland at the 4 Nations tourney 2007 & 2008

Rating: 1848

First-time competitor

[flag]
Oman
[photo]

Cecil Fernandes

60, Electrical Engineer

Muscat

Space, Astronomy

2001 Gulf Champion; 2005 2007 NSC

Rating: 1544

Record: 83rd (2001), 82nd (2005)

[flag]
Pakistan
[photo]

Rodney Judd

Age withheld, Banker

Karachi

Play Classical Rock Guitar

1999 PAK NSC

Rating: 1787

Record: 78th (1999)

[flag]
Pakistan
[photo]

Rashid Ateeq Khan

41, Doctor

Karachi, Sindh

travel

1990 1997 2001 2005 Pakistan; 1995 CDC Masters Tournament

Rating: 1832

Record: 48th (1997), 69th (1999), 71st (2001), 83rd (2005)

[flag]
Pakistan
[photo]

Waseem Khatri

21, Student

Karachi, Sindh

cricket, tennis, listening to music, chill with friends

2008 2009 NSC, IGATE 2008

Rating: 1694

First-time competitor

[flag]
Philippines
[photo]

Chris Abordo

31, nurse/Microbiologist

Quezon City, Metro Manila

Reading, Singing

2002 Gulf; 2000, 2001 Bahrain

Rating: 1790

Record: 77th (2001), 64th (2003)

[flag]
Philippines
[photo]

Roger Parchamento

33, Electrical Engineer, College Instructor

Baguio City, Benguet

Basketball, Chess, Watching NBA, Reading

2008 NSC, 1st Word for Word, 6th 2005

Rating: 1674

First-time competitor

[flag]
Poland
[photo]

Bartosz Pieta

30, Data Reporting Specialist

Swarzedz, Wielkopolska

Tennis, Snooker, Literaxx, Backgammon

(3rd) 2007 Polish Open; (1st) 2009 Polish Open

Rating: 0

First-time competitor

[flag]
Qatar
[photo]

Anthony Gomes

50, Supervisor

Mapusa, Goa, India

Table tennis, chess

Rating: 1313

First-time competitor

[flag]
Romania
[photo]

Mihai Pantis

26, Software Developer

Cluj-Napoca, Cluj

Running Marathons

National Champion - 2007, 2008, 2009

Rating: 1718

First-time competitor

[flag]
Romania
[photo]

Adrian Tamas

30, Teacher

Cluj Napoca

Writing music, table tennis, blogging, learning foreign idioms

2006 2007 J2008 apanese NSC

Rating: 1868

Record: 36th (2007)

[flag]
Saudi Arabia
[photo]

Ricardo Gonzalez

52, Aviation Staff

Dhahran, Eastern Province

Reading, singing

1997 1999 SA NSC; 2003 Gulf ST; (3rd) 1999 Bangkok Open

Rating: 0

Record: 62nd (1999), 75th (2003)

[flag]
Scotland
[photo]

Helen Gipson

48, Lady of Leisure

Duns, Scottish Borders, United Kingdom

Gardening, hedgerow foraging, jam making, knitting, dog walking - my life is just an adrenalin rush

1998 BMSC; 2006 2007 2008 Scottish Open; 2007 Summer Matchplay; 2009 UK Open

Rating: 2067

Record: 49th (1999), 11th (2003), 29th (2005), 15th (2007)

[flag]
Scotland
[photo]

Neil Scott

36, Medical statistician

Aberdeen

Board games, piano

1995 1998 2001 2009 Scottish NSC

Rating: 1951

Record: 24th (1995)

[flag]
Scotland
[photo]

Allan Simmons

52, Scrabble consultant/author

Eyemouth, Berwickshire

Rock Guitar/Bass, Gardening, DIY

1994 2007 UK Masters; 1987 1988 1991 2008 BMSC; 2002 2003 2005 Scottish NSC; 2005 Scottish Masters

Rating: 1814

Record: 25th (1995), 21st (2001), 75th (2005), 40th (2007)

[flag]
Singapore
[photo]

Siu Hean Cheah

45, Work for a pharmaceutical company

Singapore

Board games

2007 Singapore NSC; 2002 2004 Australia NSC; 2002 Penang Open

Rating: 1926

Record: 61st (2001), alternate (2003), 10th (2005), 33rd (2007)

[flag]
Singapore
[photo]

Marlon Prudencio

38, IT Professional

Singapore

Badminton; Bowling; Table Tennis; Photography

4th - ICT Penang Open 2009

Rating: 1889

First-time competitor

[flag]
Singapore
[photo]

Ricky Purnomo

31, Project Manager

Singapore

Euro boardgame, reading, music

2002 Singapore National Champion

Rating: 1777

First-time competitor

[flag]
Singapore
[photo]

Ming Hui Hubert Wee

22, Student

Singapore

travel

2005 (2nd) Singapore Open; (3rd) 2007 (3rd) 2008 King's Cup

Rating: 1972

Record: 7th (2007)

[flag]
South Africa
[photo]

Dylan Early

39, Project Manager

Kensington, Johannesburg, Gauteng

Squash, Hiking, Wei Qi

1996 1997 1998 SA NSC; 2004 2005 SA Masters; top-rated player in SA as of WSC 2005; (6th) 2004 ASC

Rating: 1897

Record: 61st (1999), 72nd (2005)

[flag]
South Africa
[photo]

Trevor Mark Hovelmeier

40, Doctor

Johannesburg, Gauteng

computers

2001, 2005, 2009 SA NSC; 2001 2008 S.A. National Grandmaster; 2002 African Champion

Rating: 1893

Record: 73rd (1999), 52nd (2001), 53rd (2003), 87th (2005), 34th (2007)

[flag]
South Africa
[photo]

Yusuf Oyekunle

41, Retail Manager

Cape Town, Western Cape

Reading, soccer and golf

1998 Nigerian NSC; 2007 SA champion; 2007 2009 SA Grandmaster

Rating: 2011

Record: 10th (2007)

[flag]
Sri Lanka
[photo]

Shaila Amalean

51, Housewife

Colombo

Reading, travelling, cooking

2000 2005 Scrabbler of the year; 2001 All-Island Scrabble Championship; (runner-up) 2004 2005 Premier Players

Rating: 1616

Record: 79th (2005)

[flag]
Sri Lanka
[photo]

Lakshan Wanniarachchi

30, Banker

Colombo, Western Province

Cricket

2002 2003 2005 Sri Lanka NSC; (5 times) Premier Players; (4 times) Scrabble Player of the Year; highest ranked player in Sri Lanka since 2002

Rating: 1815

Record: 94th (1999), 80th (2003), 80th (2005), 81st (2007)

[flag]
Sweden
[photo]

Marc Roddis

36, Teacher

Rönninge, Stockholms län

Having fun with my children

2009 Swedish champion at English Scrabble

Rating: 0

First-time competitor

[flag]
Tanzania
[photo]

Mushtak Esmail

52, Physician

Dar Es Salaam

Soccer, Reading

Tanzania Scrabble Champion 2002-2009; Chairman, TSPA

Rating: 1617

Record: 89th (2003), 99th (2005), 95th (2007)

[flag]
Thailand
[photo]

Pichai Limprasert

22, Student

Bangkok

watching movies

Rating: 1725

First-time competitor

[flag]
Thailand
[photo]

Pakorn Nemitrmansuk

34, Architect

Bangkok

Architecture

1992 2003 Thailand Champion; (2nd) 2003, (2nd) 2005 WSC

Rating: 2005

Record: 40th (1999), 16th (2001), 2nd (2003), 2nd (2005)

[flag]
Thailand
[photo]

Komol Panyasophonlert

Age withheld, Student

Bangkok

Internet, Sudoku, Go, Books

2002 Thailand Student Champion; 2003 Thailand Match Play Champion; (6th) 2004 NSC; (6th) 2005 WSC; (2nd) 2007 King's Cup

Rating: 1966

Record: 6th (2003), 18th (2007)

[flag]
Thailand
[photo]

Marut Siriwangso

29, Employee

Samutprakarn

soccer

Rating: 1867

First-time competitor

[flag]
Thailand
[photo]

Panupol Sujjayakorn

24, Employee

Bangkok

Soccer, Sudoku

2002 Thailand Match Play Champion, 2003 World Champion

Rating: 1961

Record: 1st (2003), 16th (2005), 50th (2007)

[flag]
Thailand
[photo]

Charnwit Sukhumrattanaporn

30, Marketing

Bangkok

Movies

1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 Thailand Grand Prix; 1996 Thailand Champion; (2nd) 2001 US West Coast Championship

Rating: 2092

Record: 33rd (1997), 14th (2007)

[flag]
Trinidad and Tobago
[photo]

Leslie Charles

65, Retired accountant / school principal

Trincity

Reading

1994 2004 2005 National Champion; 2006 Regional Champion

Rating: 1764

Record: 86th (1999), 63rd (2005), 77th (2007)

[flag]
Uganda
[photo]

Phillip Edwin-Mugisha

30, businessman, author

Kampala

Soccer, Cricket, Reading, Politics, Economics

Uganda independence cup champion

Rating: 1633

First-time competitor

[flag]
United Arab Emirates
[photo]

Akshay Bhandarkar

29, Financial Services

Pune, Maharashtra, India

Travel, music, reading

1996 1999 2007 2009 Gulf; 2002 2003 2004 2005 Indian NSC; 1993 1997 Bahrain NSC; (5th) 2007 WSC

Rating: 1901

Record: 26th (1995), 8th (1997), 57th (1999), 21st (2003), 26th (2005), 5th (2007)

[flag]
United Arab Emirates
[photo]

Ralph Lobo

46, Project Engineer

Dubai

2005 2006 Gulf Champion

Rating: 1868

Record: 36th (2003), 67th (2005), 41st (2007)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Nick Ball

30, Astronomer

Victoria, BC, Canada

Reading, road trips, armchair motor sports fan

8 UK tournament wins; 1994 UK Schools Championship winning team

Rating: 1974

Record: 31st (2005)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Nathan Benedict

29, Professional Poker Player

Tucson, AZ

Poker, Yoga, Crosswords, Travel

2007 Arden Cup; 2008 Phoenix, AZ

Rating: 1990

Record: 32nd (2007)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Brian Bowman

27, playboy billionaire

Villa Hills, KY

philanthropic soirees, fighting crime

Winner of 7 US tournaments since July 2008

Rating: 1846

First-time competitor

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Marty Gabriel

57, Retired

Charleston, IL

tennis, golf, softball, pool, ping pong, birds, writing

Touch Football All-American (nine times) ; National Touch Football League championship team member (seven times); Scholar/Athlete AWard

Rating: 1966

Record: 64th (2007)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Jason Idalski

26, Magazine editor

Warren, MI

Puzzles, reading, sports

Member of winning 2009 Can-Am team; five Div. 1 tourney wins in U.S.

Rating: 0

First-time competitor

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Sam Kantimathi

Age withheld, Aerospace Engineering Entrepreneur, Maker of SamTimer and other useful wordgame accessories

Sacramento, CA

Hiking, Photography, International Travel, Chess, Jogging, Meditation, Making Boards, Tiles, Clocks, Racks, TileBags,...

1994 Thai Cup; (27th) 1995 Superstars; 1997 $10,000 Manila; (22nd) 2003 All*Stars; Guinness world record holder for highest-scoring opening move (BEZIQUE, 124); Brilliancy Prize, Chicago NSC

Rating: 2002

Record: 71st (2003), 29th (2007)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Jason Katz-Brown

22, Software Engineer

Cambridge, MA

Can opening

2006 Boston Area Tournament Champion

Rating: 2025

Record: 60th (2005), 44th (2007)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Mark Kenas

56, Devil's Advocate

Madison, WI

canoeing

Rating: 1879

Record: 66th (2003), 51st (2005), 68th (2007)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Jim Kramer

51, Proofreader

Roseville, MN

Tennis

Starred in the hit movie "Scrabylon"; 2006 U.S. Scrabble Open Champion

Rating: 1933

Record: 81st (1997), 3rd (2001), 5th (2003), 61st (2005), 24th (2007)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Robert Linn

66, Financial Advisor And Money Manager

Potomac, MD

tennis, ping pong, travel

15 Division 1 Tourney wins; 1994 (9th) Thailand; 1989 (3rd) Australian Open

Rating: 1876

Record: 31st (2003), 67th (2007)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

John OLaughlin

29, Software Engineer

Cambridge, MA

food, music, computers

Baltimore, MD Sep 2007

Rating: 1986

Record: 28th (2003), 14th (2005), 28th (2007)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Sam Rosin

16, High School Student

Bernardsville, NJ

Tennis, golf, listening to music, etc.

Rating: 0

First-time competitor

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Geoff Thevenot

39, Copy Editor

Austin, TX

composing and recording music, tennis, reading

2006 US Scrabble Open (runner-up); member of U.S. team at 2007, 2009 CanAm and 2007, 2009 WSC

Rating: 1907

Record: 21st (2007)

[flag]
United States
[photo]

Dave Wiegand

35, Mortgage Underwriter

Portland, OR

Bridge, Hiking, Music

(9th) 2001 WSC; (2nd) 1994 (3rd) 2000 (6th) 2002 NSC (1st) 2005 (1st) 2009 NSC; 2004-05 Seattle, WA; 2004-06 SWILLINS; 2004-09 Portland and numerous other Western US tournament

Rating: 2048

Record: 17th (1999), 9th (2001), 55th (2003), 8th (2005)

[flag]
Wales
[photo]

Neil Green

29, Concierge

Cardiff, United Kingdom

Comedy writing, music, Sunderland AFC, Nintendo

2003 2009 Cardiff; 2004 NSCT; 2008 Weston-Super-Mare

Rating: 1761

Record: 85th (2005)

[flag]
World Champion
[photo]

Nigel Richards

Age withheld, occupation withheld

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

1997 NZ NSC; 1999 NZ Masters; 2007 WSC

Rating: 2079

Record: 8th (1999), 47th (2005), 1st (2007)

[flag]
World Youth Champion
[photo]

Charnrit Khongthanarat

15, student

Bangkok, Bangkok

soccer

Rating: 1902

First-time competitor

[flag]
Zambia
[no photo]

Patrick Mulemena Mpundu

46, Businessman

Lusaka

Pool, sightseeing, making new friends

Rating: 0

First-time competitor