So. For the record, here are some of Carl's geniusy notes:
When the game begins, the room is filled with the sound of rumbling scrabble tiles, this noise punctuates the game as players put their hands into bags to pick titles.
Players personalise their bags, embrioded names, tapestry, thomas the tan engine etc.
When a player wants to challenge an oponents word, it is written on piece of paper and waved. This is collected and handed to the adjudicator.
Some players want absolute silence, Daryl has played in a shopping mall in thai land "it's not that quiet then, you just have to get on with it"
Some players customise their boards, one man had dolphins and whales on his, "it was bloody awful, like playing on a jigsaw"
Helen(52) is the highest rating woman in the world, she began playing at 10, at 12 her naval father got angry when ashe played a 2 letter word which he was sure didn't exist, it was ZO. He later took her to the naval clubs where she played the officers for money. She rarely lost.
One woman flew in from spain just to see her friends and play, she won £20.
Joyce is 82, she compiles the times crossword, she was countdown's first champ. She has won many scrabble tournaments.
Daryl(55) is also a countdown series winner and has a very high rating. He claims the lower rated players don't like to talk to them, a kind of inverted snobbery. He has written books on scrabble and has advised tv companies about the game. When countdown began they mailed all the scrabble clubs for contestants. Hidden behind the celebrity wall would be a scrabble champ tipping the celeb on the longest word.
Robert just has a good memory, he's a london cab driver , give him a date and he'll tell you something about. "16th April" said Daryl, "charlie chaplins birthday" came the reply.
All these people are banned from playing scrabble with the family. "It's just pointless"
A youngish champ was once asked by an elderly lady if he was over 16, he was, she then played FELLATIO.
One player said "if i'm 250 points behind i'll try and find a rude word play".
______________________________________________________________________________
Comments