2013 CNSC

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Commentary: Round 17

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Go to: Before the Tournament, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5, Round 6, Round 7, Round 8, Round 9, Round 10, Round 11, Round 12, Round 13, Round 14, Round 15, Round 16, Round 17, Round 18, Award Ceremony, Final Round 1, Final Round 2, Final Round 3, After the Tournament.

Round 17

Tony Leah (Ajax ON) interrupted a conversation between John Chew and Lisa Kessler to ask "Are there any six-letter front-extensions to -SKY?" John replied right away with the only one, which was surprisingly apropos* * BUTTINSKY

Ever patient spouses are gathered in the foyer waiting for their other halves. Merran Dunlop and Percy Fernando.

Randall Thomas (Calgary AB) has a nice play in his game with Juraj Pivovarov (Calgary AB): GROSZY for 78, but the rest is all Juraj: OUTSHoUT for 61, TRANsFER for 60, and DELETION for 70.

Morris Greenberg (Brookline, MA) vs. Geoffrey Newman (Brampton ON): DEFAcING was Geoff's and MAROONS was Morris'. He comes out of the playing room and announces, "This next game is my last TWL game. I'm switching to Collins." I ask, "Did you win that game? I'm just writing it up now." He said, "No, and you want to know why? Because I could not go out with VOR# which is perfectly acceptable in Collins." I said, "okay."

Sue Tremblay (Carlsbad Springs ON) vs. Sary Karanofsky (Cote Saint-Luc QC): EmIGRATE and SPILLEd.

Lou Cornelis (Stoney Creek ON) vs. Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC). GALVANIC, AROUSERS, GENOIsE, and the anagram of EUCDFK. When the game was over I asked Joel about that last word and he said, "Well, I played it, but he won the game."

A big game for Mark Edelson (Toronto ON) this round. H employed four bingos: ABrADED for 86, URIDINE for 71, VITTLES for 70, and CANNULA for 86. He won, 449-338, but I think RHaMNOSE for 66 by Allen Pengelly (Waterloo ON) was the play of that board!

Jim Nanavati (Burlington ON) vs. Jason Ubeika (Mississauga ON). Though Jim got down AREnOUS and INFESTeR from the I, it was Jason's game. He played YEARLONG, TASTIER, and ZERO on the triple through for 69 through the R in Jim's last bingo.

Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON) is having a good time in his gem with Yvonne Lobo (Mississauga ON). It is not over yet, but I see his NIOBITES for 70, PEERIES for 75, and GUaRANTY for 86.

I can hear them talking back and forth a bit. John Robertson (Cambridge ON) has just played and Heather McCall (Toronto ON) is holding him. She decides to challenge and they go the machine. I hear him grumbling something about "it's a sports term for pete's sake" and he takes HOGLINE* off the board. Heather has played oRGANZA for 78 and John has DATELeSS for 62. After the game, he tells me it is a perfectly acceptable curling term. I think he needs to petition the dictionary committee.

Max Panitch (Toronto ON) is sitting quietly at a just finished board. He says, "I'm 2-4 today. I am doing terrible." But, I point out that he is in the top row of games so terrible is relative.

Roger Cullman (Toronto ON) vs, Lilla Sinanan (Stoney Creek ON): INHALES is on the board.

Jesse Matthews (Kelowna BC) vs. Mike Ebanks (Calgary AB): MOUNTERS, SHRIvEL, HERNIAE, and WEENY are on the board.

Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) played Kristiina Overton (Maxville ON) this round and won the game. Kriistina liked FRAcTUS (played by Robin). At one point, had the stars been in alignment, Robin could have gotten down FYLFOTS. A word she's studied but not yet had a chance to play. She has ambition, that one.

This round is over and it is clear that Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) won't be in the finals, sadly. But, on the plus side, she has been asked to emcee the finals coverage tomorrow. She's done it before and she's great at it. She told John she'd love to do it and she said, "I have just the dress to wear." Can't wait to see her!

John Chew writes:

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) is Gibsonized on spread, because there is no combination of game results with 250-point spreads that can lead to his failing to be one of the top two finalists. He therefore plays the highest-ranked player who cannot through a similar series of 250-point spread outcomes reach the lowest ranked, tenth prize place, Glenn Dunlop (Brantford ON).

It's worth noting that Adam has cleverly minimized his effort as usual, finishing Round 17 at 504 points ahead of Ross Brown (Ottawa ON), a scant four points above the Gibsonization threshold.

Adam has played the next ten players at least once, and third-ranked John Stardom (Ottawa ON) a second time. Curiously, John has played neither Ross nor fourth-ranked Zev Kaufman (Toronto ON), and is paired with Ross this round. The right to challenge Adam for the championship will go to whichever of Ross, John or Zev ends up with the best record after this round. They are each 12-5 and respectively +701, 670 and 604.

Back to Sherrie: Hearty congrats to Adam Logan (Ottawa ON)!

Chris Lipe writes:

Jackson Smylie (Toronto ON) and Jason Broersma (Caledon ON) are having a smashing time of it. Jackson put the mouse on LIEVE to play ASHY/LIEVES# for like 51, and then hit ENTITIES. Then the next two turns -- follow me here -- LAW went over top of ENTITIES, then POLIO through the L in LAW, then down from the A in LAW Jason played ADD fitting the first D between the I in POLIO and ENTITIES, making IDENTITIES. Sweet play.

"Psst" says Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON) as I walk by. He shows me his rack -- ELL?TIO -- and point to the F that is obscured so as to make the bingo unplayable. Sadness.

Jeremy Hildebrand (Ottawa ON) is sitting there looking at FRIGGED. It doesn't play. Sadness.

Heather McCall (Toronto ON) is looking at AEINRST. John Robertson (Cambridge ON) opens up a juicy S hook on the triple lane. POW! RETAINS! Happiness and joy!

ATTN MIKE THELEN: Andrew Golding (Verdun QC) comes up to me and says, "One of my last racks was ABHKOSV. Guess which letter I looked for on the board." (1)

Sometimes a word will stick a song in my head. Yesterday, I think it was Lilla Sinanan (Stoney Creek ON) had played TREASURE and suddenly I have "Pleasure Little Treasure" running through my head for the rest of the round. Today, I see Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) playing Kristiina Overton (Maxville ON) and FRACTUS is on the board. For some unknown reason, now I'm hearing the Sanctus from Bernstein's Mass in my head.

One round to go. Many cookies to go. C -- it is for Chris, and also for Cookie, and that, my friends, is good enough for me.