Two Sri Lankans have a way with words
In 2002, British-born Chris Hawkins and Austin Shin established the Guinness World Record for the most number of Scrabble points scored within 24 hours, marking 162,171 points. Two Australians broke that record unofficially when they scored 170,682 points in July. And last week, two Sri Lankans broke both records when they scored 196, 564 points playing 224 games within the time frame of 24 hours.
Yeshan Jayasuriya (left) took fourth place at the World Youth Scrabble Championships
Scrabble is a word game that celebrates its 64th anniversary this year, a game well loved by word aficionados around the world. Lakshan Wanniarachchi, 33 and Yeshan Jayasuriya, 17 are both well versed members of the Sri Lanka Scrabble League. Lakshan has won the Sri Lanka Scrabble National Championship seven times and has represented Sri Lanka in many Scrabble competitions around the world, while Yeshan is an emerging Scrabble player who was placed fourth in the World Youth Scrabble Championships 2011.
“We are exhilarated that we were able to break a Guinness world record,” said Lakshan of their achievement. “A lot of hard work has gone into this effort, by a lot of people, which resulted in us breaking the record. We believe that Scrabble in Sri Lanka will be put on the map due to this effort, and that’s a very gratifying reward!”
They set forth with the idea of beating the previous records at 8 p.m. on November 10 at the Bayleaf Restaurant, Colombo 7.
Lakshan Wanniarachchi is a seven-time Scrabble National Championship winner. Pix by Hasitha Kulasekera
Flanked by fellow Scrabble League members and several officials including the Warden of S. Thomas’ College Mt.Lavinia Professor Indra De Soyza and Managing Director of Sampath Bank PLC Mr. Aravinda Perera, the two players played well into the early hours of the next morning and right on till 8pm on November 11 when the 24 hour time frame came to an end.
The official record of 162,171 points was broken in the 185th game, approximately 19 hours and 45 minutes into the attempt while the unofficial record of 170,682 points was broken in the 195th game, approximately in 20 hours and 45 minutes.
Lakshan scored approximately 52per cent of the points while winning 139 games and Yeshan scored 48 per cent of the points and won 85 games.
The officials, witnesses and timekeepers for the event were office bearers of the Sri Lanka Scrabble League – the sole authority for Scrabble in Sri Lanka recognised by the World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA).
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