- But Mohabir and Gonsalves score upset wins

After the first day and eight rounds of action in the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players (GASP) 2009 national championships held at the Malteenoes Sports Club pavilion, Moen Gafoor sat atop the leader board with seven wins and a spread of 883.

But he was forced to share the spotlight with two wildcard entrants in Anand Mohabir and Carmen Gonsalves who scored two upset victories each with Gonsalves recording a win over Gafoor in their matchup.

Abigail Mc Donald also recorded seven victories but with a spread of 541, is in second place while five other players including current champion Fred Collins and third seed James Krakowsky have six wins.
Collins occupies the third position with a spread of 730.

But the highlight of the day belonged to the 18-year-old Government Technical Institute (GTI) student Mohabir who created the first of two upset victories when he defeated Krakowsky by 454 points to 352 in the third round.
He returned in the sixth round to take care of fifth seed Colin Chichester by a mere six points.
The final score read 365 to 359.

But despite his two upset wins, Mohabir only managed to record one more victory for three wins and a spread of -33.
Gonsalves created her first upset in the second round by beating Floyd Carmichael who currently sits in the fifth position with six wins and a spread of 370.

Concentration time! Competitors in the Guyana Association of Scrabble Players 2009 national championships at the Malteenoes Sports Club pavilion yesterday. (An Orlando Charles photograph)

She later followed that win with another upset victory this time over tournament leader Gafoor.
She ended the day’s play with four wins and a 317 spread.

The tournament will culminate this weekend at the Bank of Guyana Sports Club with eight more rounds on Saturday and nine on Sunday.

The presentation of prizes will take place after the tournament concludes.
The winner is set to receive $50,000 and a trophy.