On the podium

Mid-year tournament results:

• In the 32-game European Open, held in Malta, 6–9 May, local Theresa Brousson took out the title with 25 wins, ahead of Chinedu Okwelogu (Nigeria) on 23 and Mikki Nicholson (England) on 21.
• The Malta International Scrabble Open (MISO) was held straight afterwards, at the same venue. It was won by Helen Gipson (Scotland), with 18 out of 24, followed by Evan Cohen (Israel) 17.5 and Mikki Nicholson (again) 16.
• The 20-game Penang Open, in mid-June, was the all-Nigel show. He won 17 games, well ahead of Sam Kantimathi (US) on 14 and Malaysian Yeo Kian Hung (Henry) on 13.5.
• The King's Cup in Bangkok has been a Nigel benefit over much of the last decade and this year was no different — though he didn't get it all his own way.
• Nigel's run came to an end in the 4th Sri Lanka Open, where young Pichai Limprasert of Thailand had as blinder. He won 21 games out of 26 — three ahead of Nigel and Alistair Richards (Aust), no relation.