Singapore Open 2016 - will Nigel dominate again?
The Singapore Open Scrabble Championship 2016 will be held from November 12-13. Nigel Richards has been dominant in this competition since 1998 when it was first held, having contested 12, and won 11, of the 16 Opens so far. Given Nigel's ongoing consistency of form - he has won the last four King's Cups in Thailand since 2013 - he is expected to win this competition again.
However, with the increasing skill level of players both in Singapore and internationally, he may face a stiffer challenge this year. The Open Category consists of 12 rounds Australian draw followed by 4 rounds King of the Hill. Considering Nigel's pattern of wins during tournaments we can consider that he is often not the fastest off the blocks. His momentum really picks up during the last four to six games of any tournament. By the time the competition enters the King of the Hill stage, he has usually built up a sizable spread advantage as well, which provides a psychological advantage.
This year, the Singapore Open also includes a Novice Category, (for players without any competitive/professional playing experience - i.e. with no ratings in any country) as well as a Schools section. More information and registration forms for the competition can be obtained at: http://www.toucanet.com/sosc16.html . You can also write to dorai@insgp.com if you have queries.
Singapore Open Scrabble Championship winners almanac
| 1998 | Michael Tang |
| 1999 | A Ganesh |
| 2000 | Nigel Richards |
| 2001 | Nigel Richards |
| 2002 | Nigel Richards |
| 2003 | Nigel Richards |
| 2004 | Nigel Richards |
| 2005 | Andy Kurnia |
| 2006 | Tony Sim |
| 2007 | Nigel Richards |
| 2008 | Nigel Richards |
| 2009 | Nigel Richards |
| 2010 | Nigel Richards |
| 2011 | Aaron Chong |
| 2012 | Nigel Richards |
| 2014 | Nigel Richards |
| 2016 | ? |
Current champion, Nigel Richards, collecting his prize. Will he win again?