Triple ward score for Doc Scrabble

Dec 28 2005 By Alison Dayani

BIRMINGHAM Children's Hospital doctor Harshan Lamabadusuriya is notching up triple scores for his bedside manner.

That's because the 26-year-old junior doctor is king of the board games at the trust after being named one of the best scrabble players in the world.

Harshan, from Kings Heath, had a real night on the tiles at the World Championships in London when he came in the top quarter out of 104 contestants from 30 countries.

The doctor's abilities are also a big scorer with young patients like Marshal Gormley.

The four-year-old, who has been in the Children's Hospital since June undergoing more than 30 operations, was able to forget his health worries during a quick game.

Harshan added: "I thought I'd kept it secret from my colleagues here, but somehow they found out and were following the games on the internet live as I was playing them in London.

"When I got back I found they'd put up a big notice congratulating me in Scrabble letters on the wall. I was very chuffed." He added: "Scrabble is quite mathematical really.

"I find it stretches my mind, my memory and is quite useful for studying medicine."

Harshan started playing when he was 14 at a school Scrabble club and went on to compete in five tournaments a year.

He played 24 games alongside fellow scrabble buffs at this year's three-day tournament and was delighted to be ranked 17th in the world.

The World Games were won by mathematician Adam Logan, aged 30, from Canada. ..SUPL: