Start with EARTH. That gives you __R_H at bottom right, and you know there's an E there almost certainly at second letter. So it's gotta be MERCH or PERCH. I figured PERCH was more likely given the kind of words usually used. Then for bottom left you're on __R__ knowing that there's a C and an A. Wanted something with an S thinking if nothing else that it might help the other words. Didn't use an M yet on that opening 50/50, so why not use it now. Giving SCRAM.
There's the 2 & 3. I then went with POINT for top right, obviously gave me all the letters for PINOT. So that was a 5. Then at top left I have _ON__ found. Lots of stuff ruled out at this point, so tried BONGO and now I have _ON_O and know it begins with G. GONZO gets me over the line for an 8.