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Practice makes perfect for Scrabble champ

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LONDON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The new champion of Britain's National Scrabble Championship says he has been working toward the accomplishment for 34 years.

Allan Simmons, 51, said after winning the final of the 37th annual British Scrabble tournament that more than three decades of practice helped him defeat fellow finalist, 27-year-old Craig Beevers, The Daily Telegraph said Monday.

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"I have had many more years experience playing than him and it's so hard to get to the final, so I thought I had to go for it but I think there were points where I was a bit cautious and did not take my chances," Simmons said after Sunday's event. "At a normal tournament I think I would have been a bit more relaxed."

Simmons, who is ranked seventh among competitive Scrabble players in Britain, told The Daily Telegraph the tournament win and its grand prize of $1,740 was a dream come true.

"It's the peak of one's playing career," he said.

The Telegraph said Simmons won the final decisive game in the match with the word "sheering."

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