SCRABBLE - The Last Word Newsletter

2 0 1 3 N S C D I V I S I O N 3 W I N N E RDivision 3 Winner: Andy HoangBy Whitney Gould; photo courtesy of Patricia Hocker, NASPAHe’s only 15, but Andy Hoang already has animpressive history of big wins at NationalSCRABBLE® tournaments. Andy is one of onlythree players to have twice won the National SchoolSCRABBLE Championship (with partner ErikSalgado in 2009 and 2012). Two years ago, at hisfirst National SCRABBLE Championship, in Dallas,the then 13-year-old came in 5 th in Division 4. Thissummer in Las Vegas, the soon-to-be 10 th graderplaced first in Division 3.But Hoang’s performance as a player wasn’t theonly thing that got attention in Las Vegas. The Cary,North Carolina native was also noticed for hisgracious remarks at the award ceremony in which he thanked everyone for coming, and paid tributeto those who support School SCRABBLE. Among those he singled out was Katya Lezin, Hoang’sopponent in his final game of the tournament and a SCRABBLE mentor. SCRABBLE bloggerSherrie St. John called it "one of the most touching moments" of the tournament.Afterwards, Lezin paid back the compliment, saying "I knew I was in trouble against him in the finalgame because I was busy eating a muffin and schmoozing with other players before the game whilehe was sitting at the table, studying long lists of words."Hoang didn’t expect to take home the $2000 prize. He came in seeded #44 with the goal of finishingin the top ten. "I never thought I could truly win the entire tournament," he said. But early successespropelled him forward. "After every day I’d get more motivated, and I’d go back to the hotel andstudy for a few hours." He ended with a record of 23-8 and a spread of +1519.Hoang’s most memorable plays of the 5-day contest included ABAMPERE, which he rememberedfrom the first page of the SCRABBLE dictionary. After putting down his letters through a B that wasalready on the board, "I put on my best neutral face," the teen recalled. The play wasn’t challengedand Hoang racked up 64 points. Another profitable play was DIESTER in his game against Lezin,which "hooked to a lot of words."Hoang hones his SCRABBLE skills by reading the SCRABBLE dictionary at least 15 minutes a dayon most days. He increases his study time to one hour a day before a tournament. He also studieslists of words that can’t be pluralized by adding an S. "You win more challenges that way," heexplained. The teen doesn’t play on-line, saying the majority of his games are face-to-face contestsagainst his brother 14-year-old Kenny "whenever we’re free." The family competitions paid off:Kenny Hoang finished seventh in Division 4 in this year’s Nationals.So, what’s ahead for the SCRABBLE prodigy? Hoang hopes to be either a physician or musicprofessor someday. And he plans to keep playing SCRABBLE. "Before I’m 18, my goal is to playDivision 1." 25