PHENOMENON: RETURN AFTER 5 YEARS

The Kenneth Kaheru Memorial Scrabble Tournament hosted at Jinja Golf Course was the scene of my fateful return.

The morning kicked off with a prayer. Much to his surprise, Geria “The Lion of Arua” was assigned the duties. Geria muttered,

“Me, prayer?”

Announcing that he had procedurally been inducted into the Christian sacraments he launched into a passionate prayer that ended in an unexpected twist by calling upon the Divine Creator to shatter and break Kenyan hopes in this Championship.

Bernard Amuke was scandalized. Martins Mutahi, a Captain of Industry, told me straight he refused to say Amen to such a prayer.

DAY ONE

Game 1

AUSTIN KIIZA (UGANDA)

My very first rack after half a decade away was ACqUIRE (72). Austin The Falcon Kiiza is an intense, calculating young man with a bright future. He probably hangs out with Hiphop artist Izza Kizza of Interscope Records.

Austin battled with AMOEBA (28), trying to escape the YOKE (30) of unbalanced racks until The Falcon could choose SAUTOIRE (70) over OUTRAISE.

I refused to let anything DISTRACT (70) me as ADZE (58) and the Hebrew GIMEL got me home.

EDWIN-MUGISHA 461 AUSTIN KIIZA 328

Game 2

MARK OWUOR (UGANDA)

This was my first meeting with the tall Mark “Sibwuor” Owuor, a golfer who is built like a Rugby center half. He is a Philosopher with an interest in African History.

I scampered early with COMARBS (79), and VEINULET (68). Mark VOGUED (30) with WAITE (34) MAIZE (58) and SOSATIE (65).

It was for nought as UNGRADED (71), YOWE (30) and LINTIER (70) kept the Living Legend ahead.

EDWIN-MUGISHA 509 MARK OWUOR 361

Game 3

GODWIN MURUNGI (UGANDA)

The East, Central and African (ECASA) number 4, Godwin “Dewyne” Murungi, brings formidable talent to the board. He is an important and renowned Researcher.

I was KEDGY (26) with JOLES (40) as Godwin jabbed back with ONIONY (28), QIN (32) and HIANT (38). I said BAH (31) to his scoring run as I seized control with TWANGIER (76) and RETREADS (72). Godwin called me a TWERP (52) as he found MABE (29), GONEF (38) and UNITIZES (68).

However AGUIZE (51) helped me finish the match ELATEDLY (89).

EDWIN-MUGISHA 525 GODWIN MURUNGI 362

Game 4

ALLAN OYENDE (KENYA)

Television star Allan Ombaso Oyende has spent the last 5 years storming down from his luxury Rongai fortress and destroying all competition before him. When the cat is away, the mice shall play!

Initially Allan struggled with LOUIE (12) and NOYAU (12). I was off to the races with LEXICON (82) but multiple ECASA Champ Allan kept pace with UNFITTED (77). I eschewed SCARVED for CADAVERS (76).

Allan found TOYO (27) and the hefty HAIK (68). After BOWR (40) my blunder in this match was that while holding AHIPNU? I stupidly looked for eights – as in a floating A for EUPHONIA or a C for the CAPUCHIN monkey. There was no eight or nine – this board was sealed tight. So I “balanced” RAH (37) missing the optimal play, the seven DAUPHIN by a million miles!

I came next move with UNPILING (75) but Allan had been allowed to prepare AIRTRAMS (77). I was cooked.

ALLAN OYENDE 454 EDWIN-MUGISHA 434

Game 5

EDGAR ODONGKARA (UGANDA)

Edgar the Dragon Odongkara had jetted in First Class, sampling Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage, and was picking up Championship play where he left off.

My problems started early. The margins are so fine at the highest level. I played WItHEROD (68) instead of DOUgHIER. The issue is Doctor Edgar’s first move was GAWCY (16), my WItHEROD allowed him to plunder PEIZED (84). The Dragon softened me up with MALAX (37).

I landed MISATONE (70) but my SPORTIER (72) gave Edgar QUATE (78). He rubbed his JAVEL (53) into my eyes. Even though I scored with ESTRONE (64) and YOGI (47) the Dragon’s RIBSTON (22) and LATENING (85) floored me.

EDGAR ODONGKARA 510 EDWIN-MUGISHA 435

Game 6

MARTINS MUTAHI (KENYA)

Two quick defeats in a row. I had to stop the rot.

My FADEUR (20), WHIO (23) and BISQUE (56) were not enough at the start. Martins “Smartex” Mutahi, had SHOWN (28) a strong hand with CRYPT (30), QUINO (60) and ABLEGATE (61).

The Chosen One was fortunate that after dropping the chunky VaKIL (24), I balanced for LEISTER (75), SEAZING (116) and DILUTION (72).

Martins Mutahi assured me - because we were going to meet again in this tournament - that I had signed my death warrant.

EDWIN-MUGISHA 540 MARTINS MUTAHI 341

Game 7

DON-ELIJAH KAGIRI (UGANDA)

While I was struggling Richard “Slippery” Kaweesi was flying up the field. Furthermore, Scrabble Coach Ron Porcupine Lwebuga was cock-a-hoop that one of his protégés, Ivan of Zana Club in Entebbe, had just felled the great Dr. Michael Gongolo in a humongous upset.

I had to focus against the talented Don-Elijah. My scores ARRIVED (76) HEADILY (76). The hardworking Don fired back with TENTIER (72) and GISM (38).

My RaVIOLI (35) dump allowed me to follow up with TRINKET (76), and WYND (29), PROPHET (76) and GASTREA (65) let me escape the Dangerous Don.

EDWIN-MUGISHA 522 DON-ELIJAH KAGIRI 330

Game 8

DANIEL MUHANGUZI (UGANDA)

Future World Champion Daniel “Goonya” Muhangizi awaited. He comes from a family of brothers who are all hardcore Scrabblers. The youngest one of them has read all the V-words in the dictionary from three-letter Vs to the 10-letter Vs!

I got TOADIEST (75). Daniel was QUICK (36) with it finding VEILIER (65) and AXONE (34). I ran with ELATIVES (70), JEON (78) and FRIZES (86). Daniel later felt he dropped the ball missing a game-changing SPRAYIER but he did land EMERITAS (64) which got cancelled out by my GOLDENER (69).

EDWIN-MUGISHA 537 DANIEL MUHANGUZI 365

Game 9

TARUS KIPRUTO (KENYA)

The soft-spoken, quiet Tarus Kipruto, also known as TKayK, is a Kenyan Masters Division Champion. He is also the incoming Technical Director of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), having been mentored by the legendary Muema “Damu”Muumbi.

This turned into a knock-down, drag-out fight. TKayK tried to ZAP (46) me with RAMILIES (80) and QUOTH (34). I got BUSY (22) with ERASION (67) but in a war of attrition it was all about blocking his endgame bingo for dear life.

EDWIN-MUGISHA 382 TARUS KIPRUTO 343

Game 10

LAWRENCE ONYOIN (UGANDA)

Fresh from starring in a WESPA event across the border, Scrabble Coach Lawrence DeLorenzo exploded with the Buddhist ZENDO (50). I dealt with the chunky APAGOGe (22).

Chief Larry Onyoin made things FROTHIER (65) with GRODY (19) and NIXIES (68). I turned to JAPAN (44), BAPU (24), LENIENTS (68) and another anonymous bingo for 70 (it starts with a B, then there’s a CH somewhere in the middle, I give up, I can’t read my handwriting!)

Anyway, I was losing this until a brilliant endgame finishing sequence rescued affairs.

EDWIN-MUGISHA 409 LAWRENCE ONYOIN 404

DAY TWO

Game 11

BERNARD AMUKE (KENYA)

The most potent player in the game was going to sleep overnight with a scorecard of 8 wins 2 losses. Insane spread, and I was second in the leaderboard. Of course, this is no surprise to the Die Hard Fans.

5 years hasn’t added any wrinkles or grey hair to the hunky Bernard “Beast wa East” Amuke. He is still looking cool.

I started feeling LOWLY (30) having to dump the double double OUABaIN (30). This affair went sideways when holding a bingo-friendly rack, Bernard wrote a bad word. I challenged it off but got too clever by deciding not to play my own face value bonus. I had REINFORM or RENIFORM but feared I was going to give him SLATIEST or a plethora of other options.

So I stupidly stayed FIRM (27) keeping RINE looking to starve him of his bingo. Much to my surprise, Bernard immediately threaded LATESTS (81) through the eye of a needle in a spot I simply didn’t think through enough. And here’s the UNFUNNY thing – I never picked up a balanced rack thereafter while Beast wa East hammered me with scores like CHIMB (51) and TREZ (80).

BERNARD AMUKE 514 EDWIN-MUGISHA 325

Game 12

MANASE OTIENO (KENYA)

Out of the frying pan into the fire against multiple ECASA Champion Manase Seaman Otieno. This redoubtable Word Warrior was the defending Champion of this event.

Either side of ZEBRA (43) and QUIN (36) I came with WRETHING (87). The baby bonus BOOTIES (70) followed soon after. Manase the Seaman meanwhile couldn’t get out of JAIL (22) with what he described as he most abominable unbalanced racks he had ever held in his life. Ever.

EDWIN-MUGISHA 424 MANASE OTIENO 293

King of the Hill

Game 13

EDGAR ODONGKARA (UGANDA)

Edgar the Dragon was fighting hard for his heir, his BOY (20) Prince.

TSARINA (71) and ZIN (52) sent the Doctor on his way. My MOILERS (73) was followed by GUIMP (39). Despite my INLAY (47) and LACTATED (74) the fire-breathing Dragon left me with no WISP (52) of a chance exploding with GANOF (29), ERGOTIC (83) and LOATHES (94).

EDGAR ODONGKARA 509 EDWIN-MUGISHA 434

Game 14

LAWRENCE ONYOIN (UGANDA)

Chief Larry Onyoin caused me MANY (20) problems early on with ENSLAVE (78) and MEATH (39). I almost blew a FUZE (38), struggling with ACTIN (35) and NIQAB (19) before EMPRISES (61) and OVERTOOK (90) gave me hope.

But Lawrence DeLorenzo never lost his HEAD (44) as either side of OUTRIDE (75) and YIELDING (77) he smashed me, choosing POPJOy (62) over JOyPOP.

LAWRENCE ONYOIN 527 EDWIN-MUGISHA 356

Game 15

ISAAC MABINDA (UGANDA)

Isaac Jonathan Mabinda is an International Master in both chess and the Beloved Sport Scrabble. Against a prolific genius like this I had to be on my toes.

Issac put me under early pressure with ONSTAGE (68) and I cracked like a rotten egg trying HADITHS with two Ds. I was forced to regroup next move with SHITHeAD (74) which is a rude word for a fool – which is what I was.

Isaac danced a GAVOT (38) with ZINC (54) and QUEAN (66) but I survived with VILLEINS (105), OLEASTER (68) and PREVISED (69).

EDWIN-MUGISHA 475 ISAAC MABINDA 377

Game 16

FRANCIS WACHIRA (KENYA)

Pioneer and record-breaker Francis Wachira is the very first founding Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) President! He is also the acclaimed multimedia Publisher of cultural and historical works across the African Continent including the Kenya Book of Records.

He decided to INJECT (30) a fierce pace with HOX (51), FAUT (23) and WAQF (38). I scrambled after the CURIA (20) dump to land EVICTED (81). I was fortunate when Francis’ RENEWS (44) opened for my LEMONIER (83).

He found TYKE (42) and IRIDEAL (79) but JUBA (29), ZORIS (55), ENGORGED (77) and PASTURE (76) saw me home.

EDWIN-MUGISHA 512 FRANCIS WACHIRA 414

Game 17

GERIA RICHARD (UGANDA)

The Man of Destiny had gotten his mojo back. I was now up against the Lion of Arua, Geria.

Geria had been honoured in Ghana.

He had been clothed in a Paramount Chief’s outfit worn with a velvety wrap draped around the body over one shoulder, leaving the other shoulder bare. This Chief’s outfit was made by the noble Akan people out of a rich, heavily textured Kente fabric. (In Nigeria it would have been traditional hand-woven Igbulu by the Esan folks of Edo State).

Geria had gold placed upon him.

Geria been ceremoniously placed on a horse and paraded on an Ashanti Royal Beach.

In this match he started with the double double DEMAGOGS for a humongous 98 points and never looked back. I JAWED (48) and played SITZ (33) but my blunder was “balancing” NIM (19), missing LIONISM by a million miles. I came next move with SOILURE (73) then BOWER (43) and SHIRTED (87). But the damage was done and Geria laid waste to me with DUALISED (93).

GERIA RICHARD 453 EDWIN-MUGISHA 406

Game 18

DAVID KIMANI (KENYA)

David Zombify Kimani is an adventurer, a lover of life and a passionate lover of fast, high-performance Sports cars.

He had been prowling the playing hall as one of a number of Kenyans telling me they wanted The Phenomenon’s point. In the first place, I never believed I would fall so low down the leaderboard to actually meet him but here we were. Frankly, I also didn’t believe that were we to tangle, I could possibly lose a game to David Kimani aka Kienja.

Someone should have warned me that Zombify had, in my absence, won a tournament in Uganda, cleaning out Allan Oyende and Edgar Odongkara by the River Nile. Someone should have told me David had depanted* Nigel Richards for 500 playing stuff like MESOZOAN.

This game swung on me not being WISE (42) enough to avoid misrembering YAUTIA. I wrongly wrote it with an E somewhere. BAWR (32) and VANITAS (85) could not save me as Zombify used GAZED (36), PIER (39) and his beautiful Polynesian women, the VAHINES (104), to control the board thereafter, minute by MINUTE (20).

DAVID KIMANI 427 EDWIN-MUGISHA 359

- Notes

- Kenenth Kaheru’s Mum, the elegant philanthropist Stella Kaheru, presided over the closing ceremony as the Chief Guest. She paid a touching tribute to her son Engineer Kenneth Kwamya Kaheru after whom this event was named. He was an accomplished Ugandan hydropower dam builder.

Uganda President Nelson Kyagera said this was going to be an annual WESPA International event.

- For me, carelessly losing the last games was disastrous. I finished a very unfamiliar 13th out 85. Spread of + 733. Average Game Score of 446.

- The winningest player in the game fails to add to 72 Championships in 176 career tournaments but that’s okay. On to the next International WESPA-gazetted event - Scrabble @ the Entebbe Beach: The Redemption.

Seriously – that’s what’s it’s called.

Cheerios

PHILLIP EDWIN-MUGISHA

REPRESENTATIVE OF 5 BILLION HUMANS

Don’t really know what other global events are on so I can’t, as I usually do, call myself Champion of them.