Bob Jackman
Twice Australian National Champion
Holder of Highest Game Score record in Australia
WSC Representative: 1993, 1995, 1999, 2003
Trans Tasman Representative: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004
Age: 54
Occupation: Records manager
Location: Sydney
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A family affair
Bob is married to Liz, who he met through the fledgling
North Shore Scrabble Club in 1989. They honeymooned at the 1996 Norfolk
Island Scrabble festival. Bob has two grown-up sons from a previous
marriage. Both Michael (25) and Justin (23 were regular tournament
players as youngsters. Bob also enjoys playing tennis and barracking
for the Sydney Swans in Aussie rules football, and has recently become
a regular City to Surf participant.
Bob has been president of ASPA (NSW) for over 12 years
and also served a stint as National Coordinator of CASPA a few years
back. Bob's vision has helped the game progress enormously in NSW
and throughout the country. He is also a co-founder of the
TransTasman Challenge, a biennial event between Australia and New
Zealand. Indeed, Bob turned in the strongest performance in the
initial event in 1996, to claim the once-off title of 'Australasian
Champion'.
More than 2000 games
Bob never rests on his achievements. He has
notched up an incredible number of tournament games in Australia over
the last ten years or so — more than 2500 at last count. Bob has
won State titles all over the country as well as two national
crowns. Many Aussies have tried — and failed — to find a weakness
in Bob's powerful all-round game. He has also performed strongly in
overseas events. Bob keeps a detailed record of his performances
against all other players. Few can boast a 50% win/loss ratio
against him. Bob earned his place in the Aussie world team in
2003 with a narrow win in the final round at the Australian
Championships in Adelaide. He overcame an early nine-timer to seize a
memorable win over John Holgate, a five-time world rep.
Edward Okulicz vs Bob Jackman, Adelaide, 2003
Team Australia 2004
Player profiles
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Websites and Publications
Bob keeps three websites up-to-date with useful
Scrabble-related information. His SOWPODS International website has
been operating for many years, and is the source of useful word lists,
ratings and tournament software and the unofficial International
Ratings. Bob has rated every international event since 1993 into the
system, often having to manually recreate the tournament to rate it.
Bob also maintains the Scrabble NSW website on behalf of ASPA (NSW).
Comprehensive records of all NSW tournaments since 1997 are included on
the site. The other website maintained by Bob is the NSW School
Scrabble site, a source of information for schools wishing to join the
existing NSW network.
Bob is also the author of the popular series of word
booklets by word length, from threes through to eights.
Scrabble Highlights
Australian rep at World Championships: 1993 (56th), 1995
(37th), 1999 (26th), 2003 (39th)
Australian Champion: 1993, 2003
Australian Captain, Trans Tasman Challenge: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002
Runner-up, Asia-Pacific Championships, 1998
NSW Winter Masters Champion: 1995, 1998, 2002, 2003
NSW State Champion: 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2004
SA State Champion 2001
Vic State Champion 1995, 1998
Qld State Champion 1996, 1997, 2001
ACT State Champion 1993, 2001
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