A Scrabble Legend Returns

[@wanderer15]

Hey folks, couple extra notes on this episode! - I'd like to apologize for using the incorrect "Americanized" pronunciation of Pakorn's name. I asked several of my friends in the tournament world for their advice on how to pronounce it and I wasn't able to reach a comfort level with the authentic Thai pronunciation. - As of the release date of this video, Pakorn remains interested in competing in the Bangkok International tournament, but he is not 100% confirmed. I discovered this midway into the editing process. I've wanted to make a video about the Pakorn/Nigel match for a long time anyway, so not that big a deal, but let's hope he's actually able to get out and play! - One important nuance I didn't get into in this video: just as we rightly praise Nigel for becoming French World Champion without speaking the language, we should also marvel at Pakorn for (spoiler) becoming English World Champion despite the fact that it's not his first language. This topic deserves its own video someday, but I didn't forget about it!

[@galoomba5559]

To be fair, speaking a language as a second language and not speaking it at all are very different.

[@alexpotts6520]

I vaguely remember seeing about this somewhere, that Pakorn held when Nigel Richards played GRIFTERS but (correctly) didn't challenge. One thing with these Thai players is they are liable on occasion to challenge words that any English speaker (and not just a tournament Scrabble player) would recognise.

[@michaelcarst6958]

If we all have to apologize every time we (slightly) mispronounce a name that is not from your native country, we would be non stop apologizing (I'm from the Netherlands and I'm pretty sure that a large part of the world population would not be able to pronounce our words/names right) We all know that you would always do your best to pronounce names as true as possible to how it's suppose to be spoken. No need to apologize Will! Keep up the awesome content!

[@reginaldforthright805]

It’s fine will. No one cares how it’s pronounced

[@WestsideGunnnn]

Fun fact: Nigel Richards’ name anagrams into EIHRNALCGSDRI, which is just nonsense.

[@wanderer15]

Excellent observation

[@reality3166]

rájoila bælera

[@skippitysmithsonshorts]

Pakorn Nemitrmansuk's name anagrams into SUKMATIMRNENNARPOK, which is also nonsense

[@CastoriAlter]

I copypasted "EIHRNALCGSDRI" into the google search engine. I got "original" as my search result

[@JH-ty2cs]

@@skippitysmithsonshorts You could tell me that's a normal Thai name and I'd believe you

[@Cats83747]

not enough points is insane 😭😭

[@johndave8017]

especially against nigel

[@reality3166]

Four

[@twiggy1664]

:3

[@Botanica94]

Here is the note from the official online annotation: "Pakorn pretends to play DINE for 21, then says it's not enough points and puts down PALU-" 😂 Personally, I woulda played DINE and held on to PALU (great bingo letters), but I guess I don't blame him for taking the 146 extra points

[@404-usernotfound6]

'noo, an archaic adverb meaning now' as someone from scotland I can assure you it is very much still in common use lol

[@irakyl]

You know Will, I don't know if anyone has ever told you this, but similar how to Gothamchess brought chess to a bigger audience on youtube, you also popularised Scrabble like no one has done before. Congratulations on this

[@wanderer15]

Thanks man. You’re like the Arnold Schwarzenegger of KZbin commenting.

[@sethdavila7367]

Scrabble low-key is more interesting than Chess. Too bad life's more like Chess than a game of Scrabble so it ends up being less popular.

[@ciscoortega9789]

I love love love these kinds of commentated games. It feels valuable to me as a player learning, but also it's just so engaging and interesting to watch

[@NoName-fo7mz]

Nope

[@harvestedvoltage4324]

@@NoName-fo7mzWho tf asked

[@thegodofpez]

I had the honor of spending several days with Pakorn as Win Inthara is a great friend of mine, and Pakorn stayed with him for the 2008 National Championship in Orlando. His English was actually pretty impressive! He loves the ladies. 😂 I’m so glad he’s back! Playing him was an honor. 🤟

[@wanderer15]

I played him only once back in 2010 (of course, he beat me). But he was super nice and funny as well!

[@bowlofwhiskey]

not enough points 💀💀💀

[@AlexeysCarcassonneChannel]

what a slowroll xD

[@bowlofwhiskey]

@@AlexeysCarcassonneChannel wait i played you on woogles

[@AlexeysCarcassonneChannel]

I do play there quite a bit, yes

[@AlexDings]

3:18 lol. I wouldn't see that even if I drew it. Nigel sees it before he doesn't draw it

[@wanderer15]

It really never gets old: analyzing a Nigel game, getting to a position where he does something kinda weird, and then finally figuring out what he was up to and just shaking my head in amazement.

[@BrettMKW]

I know this wasn't the topic of this video but Hubert Wee almost having a 50% record against Nigel despite almost 100 games is also extremely impressive.

[@davidstone9981]

Great video as usual, Will! Here's a fun story about one of the few times I played against a Thai player: It was back in the 1990s, and I played RULY, only to have it challenged by an opponent who barely spoke English. I was pretty sure it was good, but that word only got allowed later, and it was correctly challenged off. Later, I played GROSSEST, and I was again surprised when my opponent challenged. He had studied many bingos but didn't recognize this one, and since he didn't really speak the language, he didn't know that GROSS compares.

[@VictoryNotVengeance]

Will your videos are great! As a casual Scrabble player myself it’s always very educational learning new words, watching some of the best in the world go toe to toe!

[@TheRealVenusian]

I’ve heard that there’s a lot of good Scrabble players from Thailand because the king promotes it as a sport and as a way to learn English, is that true? Would love to see a video about it if so! Could have a great title for the algorithm too: “Why Are So Many Great Scrabble Players From Thailand?”

[@mesavor]

@@TheRealVenusianthere's a documentary about it here but unfortunately it's in thai kzbin.info/www/bejne/haqpe4d7hK2Xn5Ysi=0ytnvLU2BDrYUKWb As far as i know the king doesn't promote it. I think ithis move was pushed by many companies namely Brands, a food supplement company who was the main sponsor for the King's cup for more than 10 years, and many schools supported the move. Actually the guy who speaks at the beginning of the documentary is Pakprn himself.

[@TheRealVenusian]

@@mesavor Thank you! Looks like it’s subtitled in English so I’ll check it out :)

[@kb27787]

Heh, it's actually very interesting. What we get is players who better their English by studying a very particular set of words (useful words on the board and common bingos). It's amazing to see them plop down all sorts of obscure words no one outside the community knows, and then making challenges on VERY common words any native speaker would immediately recognize, but are a rarer draw in Scrabble due to the letter composition. (I recall a top Thai player making a challenge on "gruesome" as a bingo their opponent played). Mind you, English is a mandatory subject in schools, so these players do speak English to some extent, so it's not exactly like Nigel playing French Scrabble.

[@Prolean_]

That's interesting

[@vendredi5]

Yet another excellent video, Will. I knew Pakorn was an excellent player (I just observed that I'm only 1-5 against him) -- but I didn't realize he'd won the World Championship, and quite a stunning way to win it!

[@evanyurko3640]

I’d seen some of those games on crosstables before and always wanted someone to break them down haha! Great video as always Will. Exciting to see both Nigel and Pakorn coming out of the woodworks again and back in competition. Hope Pakorn is able to play in the tournament

[@klawiehr]

*pushes up glasses, the glare turning them white* Not enough points…

[@sgrey9181]

Would make for a great anime battle

[@birichinaxox9937]

Yep anime af

[@HazhMcMoor]

That final Botanical already looks like an anime climax

[@RodriOnTheRoad]

Great video of the goat of Scrabble talking about Nigel Richards

[@leredrasscul]

Nigel "Just know all the words" Richards

[@Botanica94]

Pakorn appears to be the Scrabble trash talk GOAT. In addition to "not enough points", he once faced a rack of A-A-E-J-N-Y-blank and played, through an open R, the incredible "maryjane" for a bingo, while making the following comment: "This is my girlfriend's favorite activity" 😆

[@fall_in_frost6488]

Glad to see the legend from Thailand gets the spotlight!

[@AOOA926]

4:40 unlike hiarnets lol

[@Botanica94]

I approve of Pakorn's last bingo

[@WordsWithFrentz]

I spotted BOTANICA immediately, but that’s only because it came up in a crucial moment for me recently (see my Word Cup annotations, round 30).

[@richarddeoude2572]

Would be interesting to know if there is any poker aspect to scrabble. Do you look for "tells", when your opponent views their new tiles? Did they just pick up UVU or two blanks? Also are there any strategies that involve bluffs - ie playing something to give the impression you do/don't have particular tiles so that they play in a certain way?

[@wanderer15]

Great question. Personally, I find myself busy enough handling the normal word-finding and play-choosing aspects of the game that I can barely pick up on tells of this nature, but it's absolutely something that could be done in this game as it is in poker.

[@SasmithaXD]

Imagine your opponent playing a few tiles, and all of a sudden, he says not enough points and begins laying down a nine timer

[@Manigo1743]

Why is it that most high level scrabble players have last names that would score 300+ on a scrabble board? :-)

[@jamismiscreant7514]

There a chess grandmaster Benjamin finegold that says the harder the name is to pronounce the stronger the player is. It seems that advice transfers to scrabble

[@jessehammer123]

@@jamismiscreant7514Wesley So would beg to differ. :)

[@birbthetopicman2851]

⁠@@jessehammer123and magnus Carlsen. And Bobby Fischer

[@HazhMcMoor]

Own name should be eligible for play!

[@jamismiscreant7514]

@@birbthetopicman2851 he’s magnus Øen Carlsen

[@dentonyoung4314]

What a fabulous match. it would be awesome if Pakorn really does make his return.

[@Kennypuff123]

I like the bar for the letters in the bag 😁

[@MinhAIPet]

4:34 I R NETS

[@kicking222]

"Unlike HIARNETS" What a callback.

[@Erikuzuma]

Is it just me, or are many of the best Scrabble players in the world from Southeast Asia?

[@wanderer15]

Not just you - many fearsome Scrabble players from that region!

[@mesavor]

Most thai names have Sanskrit roots kinda like Indian names in specific regions. That's why they're so long and kinda difficult to pronounce for westerners.

[@xl000]

I am shocked Truly shocked At 0:20

[@ManyNestedTree]

Amazing! Will there be a watch the event online?

[@wanderer15]

I haven’t heard of a plan for a stream, unfortunately. They do take a fair amount of planning and execution, but even if there’s no stream, I’m hopeful for some recorded games.

[@t3cchan]

I'm curious why Thailand has so many amazing scrabble players. I'd love to see a video on the history of Thai scrabble, or something to that effect.

[@choenix42]

Hi Will, I was fortunate enough to be playing Scrabble in Malaysia around the mid-2000s. I recall many epic battles between Nigel and Ganesh. Ganesh frequently got the upper hand as well! Do you have much information on whether Ganesh is still active as a player?

[@craiglarimer1173]

Fantastic video! Thank you

[@ของลิงของลิง]

I love you from thailand

[@fesh]

8:04 the aggressive feesh

[@jellomochas]

7:35 Why didn't Pakorn play FIQH#, at either 3G or 5K?

[@Xadreco]

added 2012, 3 years after this game

[@Aj_Comaling]

Hello I’m 14, From the philippines I will play scrabble at October 13 as part of a district meet. There was a tournament at my school last friday and i won by 441-146 and 303-204. Are there any tips that could make me better?? Thanks in advance :))

[@wanderer15]

Seems like you’re already doing great! If you have the time and interest, just try to learn a few more words each day and you’ll continue to improve.

[@jurkustudios]

Hope you will cover some of their games.

[@bearfinn]

Finally our Thai people got the spotlight yayyy! Wish to see you on the Bangkok tournament too!

[@SpaceRaccoon22]

I love how winrate vs Nigel is used to benchmark scrabble players

[@shr1mpleTV]

The plot thickens

[@JonCardwell-m8p]

Name the only word besides quiz you can spell with one q and one z in the same word on a triple word score like I did in my youth? 66 pts!

[@MinhAIPet]

Quezal(s), quetzal(s),etc.

[@arcieplays9040]

WESPA has Nigel’s head to head record against Pakorn at 42-41, and Hubert at 48-47; is this an unreliable source? If so, where should I go to find reliable stats :)

[@Gqvinos]

omg will released another banger

[@fngf3501]

4:30 Nigel intentionally making an error to prove he is human

[@xchomphk.9788]

what scarbble engine do you use?

[@SBYAAS]

Love the vids will! Can’t wait to broadcast the championship! Let us know if you are competing anytime soon!

[@GarrettHapp]

love ur videos man

[@among-us-in-tetris]

how much of a difference would KAZOo had made in 7:30?

[@wanderer15]

Good eye! Unfortunately ZE was not valid at this time (assuming I’m looking at the same spot you are). Also, it does give some nice scoring opportunities back in addition to using up the blank, so it’s a close call.

[@JustKillam]

New Nigel content 😮

[@harrisoncaldwell4541]

Trailblazer for this game man. Keep it up .

[@DCBeers]

ive seen enough from this channel to know that nigel clears

[@DCBeers]

turns out, he did in fact, not clear LOL

[@HazhMcMoor]

I'm actually anxious the entire time, hoping that Pakorn clears. Thank God he did

[@bowlofwhiskey]

yes

[@pichatejongsiriluk2505]

Where is Nigel now?

[@theefficientguy7202]

Im litterly in thailand(patong) now and then hes coming when i leave😢

[@NoisqueVoaProduction]

1:58 A 4x3 rectangle! How cool! Are there other cool rectangles in Scrabble history??

[@galoomba5559]

Will has made a video on a 7x3 rectangle

[@woonxiongping6985]

are the comments bots?

[@Zoogleas]

4:30 -- I clearly don't understand this gaffe by Nigel here. Why would he play PIG and not JIG in the same spot for well over 50? I doubt the J is going to be that instrumental in a comeback of 200 points, but rather a bingo more so, in which case a leave of CEIP seems better than CEIJ? Then again, it's Nigel, and as one world champ once said, he always has a reason for his plays...

[@Berg8793]

I think it's because in the cases of both PIG and JIG, it makes an overlapping word of IR, which isn't a valid word.

[@jellomochas]

I think it's because he meant to play PEG

[@reality3166]

nagol negitemal

[@socksygen]

Hamburger

[@leiz8048]

meow

[@Cats83747]

Hello Leiz

[@leiz8048]

hii

[@fesh]

meow

[@bowlofwhiskey]

@@leiz8048 are you leiz real official twow cat real official

[@loust1264]

nyaaaa

[@rahatsaqib6118]

I am first here

[@Manigo1743]

Wow. You must be very proud of yourself.

[@Jkfgjfgjfkjg]

Trash talking your opponent *during* the game should result in an instant disqualification. It’s disrespectful no matter how good you are.

[@mnm1273]

Nah, it's hilarious