Losing world title wasn’t easy: Moiz

Last year’s scrabble championship winner more determined to improve.

KARACHI:

Despite losing the World Youth Scrabble Championship (WYSC) title in Colombo this year, former champion Moizullah Baig said that he is still determined to make a mark at the international circuit.

Moiz, who finished 22nd at the three-day event in Sri Lanka, admitted that it was hard for him to see his title slip through his hands this year, but the defeat strengthened him.

“Losing the title wasn’t easy,” the 17-year-old told The Express Tribune. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t live up to the expectations, but I’m more determined now. I’ve already started practicing since we returned to Karachi on September 1.”

Moiz became the first Pakistani to win the WYSC last year, with Pakistan finishing as the top team in the event. However, this year, only two Pakistani players managed to secure places in the top 10.

“I wanted to give my all, but the pressure got to me,” said Moiz. “This year, I believe that the players were much more prepared and highly competitive.”

The teenager said that he learnt more in Colombo than he had in Dubai last year and the biggest highlight for him was giving strong competition to the World Champion Nigel Richards in the Sri Lanka Open.

“I learnt from Richards a lot. Losing to him by just three points felt like a win to me. The tour was longer so I interacted with more people and grew as a person.”

Moiz will be competing in the world championship in London in November and is hopeful of challenging for the top spot.

“I can become the world champion one day,” he added. “I’m going to practice hard, learn more words. The competitors at the world championship are more experienced but I know I can beat them one day.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 4^th, 2014.

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