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NASC 2015 Commentary: Round 18

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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, Round 19, Round 20, Round 21, Round 22, Round 23, Round 24, Round 25, Round 26, Round 27, Round 28, Round 29, Round 30, Round 31.

Round 18

Michael Early (Fort Worth, TX) finished his game with Robin Levin (San Francisco, CA) quickly and made his way to the internet table. He got the change to play DIGERATI and is now 7-11. Since it is lunch time, I told him he should go get a soda at 7-11! I crack myself up!

At table 1 in division 4, Hannah Rozear (Durham, NC) put down BEAStING# through the I. Her opponent, Jack Peters (Nantucket, MA) didn’t raise an eyebrow. Perhaps he is a secret Collins player, too! I see POINtED on their board.

Mina Le (West Palm Beach, FL) vs. Jason Ubeika (Mississauga ON). Both quiet and calm players, it was hard to tell whose clock was running or even who won when they were eventually finished. She won by a bit, 462-454. I see his LAMSTeR and her TAILBONE, DiANOIA#, and ORDINES.

So, a rematch for Becky Dyer (Austin, TX) and Evans Clinchy (Boston, MA). Even with her second crack as him, he won this game, too. She got down TIDELANd and he played OOCYtES and SALVAGEE though the V (what a find!). It turns out this last bingo won him the game. I see TITULAR, but it wasn’t a bingo. A 446-360 Evans win. In post-game chat, they were discussing their favorite weird Collins past tenses. Evans had to spell this one slowly for me, repeatedly. In Collins, the past tense for GLANCE is YGLAUNST#. Okay...

Will Anderson (Croton, NY) defeats Joe Edley (Port Jefferson, NY) this round, 437-385. The board is a bit changed from endgame chat, but I can see headlong, TRIFORIA, and REcURVED.

I hear Lynda Wise (Toronto ON) say, “Well done,” to Chloe Fatsis (Washington, DC) and I have to stick my nose in. Glancing over Chloe’s scoresheet, I see she played AILERON for 66 and DUsTIER for 73. Lynda got down DRAINERS for 63. Lynda signed the game result slip and explained almost apologetically, “There is a cookie called almond sandies*. And it was my only hope to try it.” I assume this means Chloe called off her attempt at playing that word. A 427-313 win for the School SCRABBLE phenom.

Michael Bassett (Port Clinton, OH) had his hands full with Cooper Komatsu (Los Angeles, CA) this round. I see Michael’s NEPETAs and a late-game bingo of INPOURED from the I. Cooper played ERASIONs and LUCULEnT. Both of these players are left handed, and noticing this helped me to see something unique about Cooper. He writes on the right side of the board with his left hand. Most left-handed players keep their scoresheet on the left side, but he crosses over his body to write on the right side. Interesting! Anyway, after the game was over and Cooper was long gone off to lunch with his buddies, Michael sat there an looked over the game. He offered to explain some of this thinking. He knew he was higher-rated than Cooper, but something about the way the young man put down LUCULEnT made him wonder. He held Cooper for a long time, but decided not to challenge. After the game was over, Cooper explained that in addition to being a terrific SCRABBLE player, he is also a spelling bee contestant and he’d learned that word in his spelling bee studies.

Nicole Kazarian (Worcester, MA) got down KERATINS for 89 early in her game with Dan Horowitz (Wilmington, DE). I caught them at about the halfway point because her SCRABBLE-themed necklace drew me over to her table. She was being held for the play of VAND*/AWN/DYED. He let the play go after a bit and the game progressed. I moved on, but came back later to learn that she’d won, 412-359, by keeping the board closed, she told me.

Alan Stern (Shadow Hills, CA) sat down to play Matthew Ridout (Lexington, KY) this morning and Matthew said, off the cuff, “Pick both the blanks and amaze me!” And, talk about wish fufillment, Alan DID pick both the blanks! He slapped down sTOKiNG and went on to win the game.

Their game in progress, I see HOTLINES and bUNDLES on a board between Eli Shupak (Toronto ON) and Dave Krook (Mississauga ON).

LEcTERN jumps off a Nola Hembrook (Marshfield, WI) vs. Bill Ewing (Missoula, MT) board.

The only bingo I can see is SEPARaTE and Linda Oliva (Lisbon, MD) played it in her game with Stephanie Sugano (Roseville, CA). Linda also played the stinker MANICY*! Despite reworking the endgame options, they both agreed that there was no way Stephanie could have won. A 379-374 win for Linda.

I stop by the annotated game 1 in Collins. Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR) and Austin Shin (United Kingdom) are transfixed on the board, barely moving. Lisa Kessler, Austin’s annotator, wrote in my notebook, “what’s noticeable about this game is the utter quiet and stillness of them both.” This was exactly what I had observed! Great minds! Dave ended up winning this matchup, 529-384.

Mark Francillon (Marlboro, VT) vs. Cecilia Le (San Francisco, CA). I see URGENTLY, REGIStRY, and DIALOGUE (blank L). It looked like Cecilia was down to one second left on her clock. In the endgame, he confessed a real desire to play BEANERS*, which he’s glad he didn’t because it isn’t good in any dictionary. Mark’s win, 371-352.

I want to take some notes about the Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) vs. Orlet Bullock (Barbados) game and Robin Pollock Daniel literally shooed me away. She said, “I got it.” It is great to have all the help that Jesse and Robin bring!

Jesse Matthews writes:

For this round’s edition of Spot That Bingo:

*1 CILOOOT? (Trey Wright (Sierra Madre, CA) versus Kolton Koehler (Portland, OR)) (not the play with a blank G) *2 FGLNORSU (Maneck Contractor (Kenner, LA) versus Lee Brooks (Arlington, TX)) *3 AADEIPU? (Carlene Wallis (Sparks, NV) versus Gwen Stewart (Ellicott City, MD))

Jason Broersma (Caledon ON) tells me he had a crazy morning. He lost to Tony Leah (Ajax ON) by one point this morning, but upon recounting it was discovered that Tony Leah misscored* by 1 point so they ended up tieing instead. In another game with Mohammad Sulaiman (United Arab Emirates) Jason made an out play of PENE# that tied the game at 403, but Mohammad challenged the play. In CSW there is a 5-point penalty for an incorrect challenge, so when PENE# was ruled acceptable Mohammad was given a 5-point penalty and as a result Jason won the game rather than tieing the game. Talk about living on the edge!

Lynn Dreyer (Tacoma, WA) and Cornelia Guest (Bethel, CT) have had a great game. Cornelia is quick to point out Lynn’s lovely play of RAFFISH (84) as we start to talk about their game. Lynn says the game was close in the pre-endgame, so she decided to make a play to open the board up. Cornelia was sitting ready with BASTiNG (75) and then Lynn was not able to use the triple word score lane that had been opened up, so Cornelia got down COLZA for 69 and that sealed the deal. Another interesting play from the game was RELATED by Cornelia for 73, which Lynn then extended later to UNRELATED for a nice score of her own. Cornelia took this game 498-381.

Francina Bailey (Wilmington, CA) and Laurie Holz (Los Angeles, CA) are just wrapping up their game. Laurie says that she drew well this game after having a tough morning, getting three bingos (CORNIEST, FEEDINg and ENtITLE). Francina scored well with RESCAN*, getting a phony past her opponent in the process.

Francina tells me that this is her first Nationals tournament ever. She has played for 1 1/2 years at the Los Angeles Scrabble clubs and has only played in two local tournaments before this tournament. She says it’s been an off day for her but that she is learning lots and considers it an honour to play with the “Scrabble gods”. Francine says that she wants to analyze each loss and that she has lots of lists to study. She’s also set out a goal for herself: she’s the lowest seed in her division, but she wants to make it into the Top 20 next year in Indiana. We wish you the best of luck Francina, and welcome to the tournament Scrabble family!

Laurie says that this is her third Nationals. She shares her awe of the school Scrabble kids competing here in Reno. She says that playing them is quite tough because they are fearless players. When I ask Laurie to clarify, she says that they are unafraid to play words they are uncertain of. Laurie comments on their excellent sportsmanship, that they are well-mannered and good-natured, win or lose. I can’t help but agree - it has been a privilege to watch!

*1 OCOTILLO *2 FURLONGS *3 DIAPAUSE

Robin Pollock Daniel writes:

Some nice words played in Division 1 of TWL. Joe Edley (Port Jefferson, NY) vs. Will Anderson (Croton, NY) boasts hEADLONG for 77, TRIFORIA for 74, and REcURVED for 74. After the game, Will checks out Zarf, proclaiming, “Wow, there’s only one nine (letter-word) with that rack", and Joe wastes no time proffering FIORITURA. Sweet. Hopefully that mitigates his 437-385 loss. Um, not likely.

Patricia Barrett (Houston, TX) vs. Matthew Tunnicliffe (Ottawa ON). I see RATTING, which is extended to DRATTING/ABODE, FESTiVE for 61, and RECHoSEN down row O for 86.

A great game between David Pearl (Long Beach, CA) and Nigel Peltier (Portland, OR), with Nigel emerging victorious, 464-421. David hooks GYRO to make MAnKIER/GYRON, MANKIER being a newly-acceptable word, and Nigel takes the bait and challenges unsuccessfully. But no one ever said life is fair, and Nigel proceeds to bingo-bango-bongo with DAcOITS (77), ANIMATED (67), and TEDDERS (69). He also got down BOLLIX, the X hitting the triple letter, for 62. David was ready to pounce on POURED at 15C, intending to extend it to VAPOURED, but Nigel got to it first, playing INPOURED for 33.

In CSW play, Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) took on Orlet Bullock (Barbados). The game was plodding along with unexciting plays, when suddenly everything just exploded. Joel hooked QUOIT to make JEEPS/QUOITS at H1 for 66, and Orlet responded by playing TUSKIEST for 86. A few turns later, Joel got down LEAVENED for 90 at 2G, and was able to play above the ENED in LEAVENED to the triple word score, TOPAZ for 63, making TE, ON, PE, and AD in the process. Holding a blank, Orlet boldly played IMBRuTED for 68 at B8, despite the X still being unseen, and Joel, having picked ADNORT? out of the bag, slapped down TORNADo for 86. “It’s a good thing you played IMBRuTED,” said Joel after the game. “Otherwise, I was going to play TeARDOWN” through the W at A14. Because playing a triple-triple through a floating W in seventh position is just another day at the office. Big win for Joel, 515-357.

Division 1 Round 18 Auto-Commentary

Panupol Sujjayakorn (Thailand) stays in the lead for the 3rd consecutive round, 14-4 +1077, on a 9-game winning streak. Jesse Day (Berkeley, CA) is +571, on a 4-game winning streak, hovering at #2. Laurie Cohen (Tempe, AZ) is 1 game behind at 13-5 +769, on a 6-game winning streak, #3 climbing from #6. Orry Swift (Houston, TX) is +500, #4 climbing from #7. Thomas Reinke (Middleton, WI) is 2 games behind the leader at 12-6 +1096, #5 falling from #3. Will Anderson (Croton, NY) is +925, #6 rising from #8. Joe Edley (Port Jefferson, NY) is +717, on a 3-game losing streak, #7 dropping from #4. Matthew Tunnicliffe (Ottawa ON) is +706, #8 up from #11. Chris Cree (Dallas, TX) is +664, #9 down from #5. Jason Li (Dollard-Des-Ormeaux QC) is +16, #10 rising from #12.

In Class B: Thomas Reinke (Middleton, WI) is the lead, 12-6 +1096. Chris Cree (Dallas, TX) is +664, #9 falling from #5. Charles Reinke (Middleton, WI) is 1 game behind at 11-7 +591, #11 sliding from #10. Darrell Day (Richardson, TX) is +296, #14 climbing from #18. Joshua Sokol (Montreal QC) is 2 games behind the leader at 10-8 +451, #18 up from #26. Leesa Berahovich (Berkeley, CA) is +318, #22 rising from #27. Manop Phiphatboonserm (Thailand) is +56, #25 jumping down from #20. Patricia Barrett (Houston, TX) is -68, #26 jumping down from #19. Jim Burlant (Grapevine, TX) is -149, #28 tumbling from #21. Nigel Peltier (Portland, OR) is -476, #32 climbing from #38.

In Class C: Ross Brown (Ottawa ON) is the lead, 10-8 +304. Jeff Fiszbein (South Lyon, MI) is 1 game behind at 9-9 -78, #38 leaping up from #43. Greg Heidler (Waialua, HI) is -299, #40 up from #46. Alec Sjoholm (Lynnwood, WA) is 2 games behind the leader at 8-10 -43, #46 falling from #42. Reid Hattaway (Moscow, ID) is -92, #48 rising from #52. Marlene Milkent (Hattiesburg, MS) is -171, on a 3-game winning streak, #49 climbing from #57. Terry Kang Rau (Hudson, NY) is -319, on a 3-game losing streak, #50 dropping from #44. Bruce D Ambrosio (Los Angeles, CA) is -354, #53 leaping up from #59. Tasha Asberry (Cordova, TN) is -643, #54 leaping up from #61. Amnuay Ploysangngam (Thailand) is -827, #55 dropping from #48.

High Win: Cesar Del Solar (Albany, CA) 588-356 vs. Amnuay Ploysangngam (Thailand). Low Win: Norases Vesdapunt (Stanford, CA) 359-342 vs. Nick Meyer (Berkeley, CA). High Loss: Kolton Koehler (Portland, OR) 479-551 vs. Trey Wright (Sierra Madre, CA). Low Loss: Maddy Kamen (Covina, CA) 236-473 vs. Chris Tallman (Vancouver BC).

Division 2 Round 18 Auto-Commentary

Jeff Martin (Albuquerque, NM) stays in the lead, 14-4 +1105, on a 5-game winning streak. Howard Pistol (Oakland Park, FL) is +1014, remaining steady at #2. Kevin Bowerman (Chapel Hill, NC) is 1 game behind at 13-5 +894, on a 3-game winning streak, remaining steady at #3. Chris Williams (Vancouver BC) is 2 games behind the leader at 12-6 +560, on a 3-game losing streak, remaining unchanged at #4. Carlene Wallis (Sparks, NV) is +347, #5 leaping up from #10. Tod Taylor (Seattle, WA) is +263, #6 climbing from #14. Kit Morehead (Berkley, MI) is +254, #7 up from #11. Paul Avrin (New York, NY) is +226, #8 up from #12.

In Class : In Class B: Jeff Martin (Albuquerque, NM) is the lead, 14-4 +1105, on a 5-game winning streak. Tod Taylor (Seattle, WA) is 2 games behind at 12-6 +263, #6 climbing from #14. Kit Morehead (Berkley, MI) is +254, #7 up from #11. Guy Ingram (Ellenwood, GA) is 2.5 games behind the leader at 11.5-6.5 -60, #9 falling from #5. Mark Peltier (Seattle, WA) is -93, #10 falling from #6.

In Class C: Paula Catanese (Mountain View, CA) is the lead, 11-7 +470. Elizabeth Ralston (Los Angeles, CA) is +84, #23 leaping up from #30. Gwen Stewart (Ellicott City, MD) is -7, #24 jumping down from #15. Diana Grosman (Reisterstown, MD) is 0.5 games behind at 10.5-7.5 -371, on a 3-game winning streak, #25 up from #33. Edward Gowash (Fort Worth, TX) is 1 game behind the leader at 10-8 +379, #29 jumping down from #22. Carolyn Easter (Birmingham, MI) is +20, on a 3-game losing streak, #35 jumping down from #28. Cynthia Pughsley (Oakland, CA) is +4, #36 dropping from #29. Linda Oliva (Lisbon, MD) is -203, on a 4-game winning streak, #37 rising from #43.

High Win: Tod Taylor (Seattle, WA) 512-353 vs. Chris Williams (Vancouver BC). Low Win: Gerry Greenside (Las Vegas, NV) 316-311 vs. Edward Gowash (Fort Worth, TX). High Loss: Carolyn Easter (Birmingham, MI) 412-449 vs. Paul Avrin (New York, NY). Low Loss: Ruchi Gupta (Knoxville, TN) 281-471 vs. Michael Baker (Portland, OR).

Division 4 Round 18 Auto-Commentary

Hannah Rozear (Durham, NC) seizes the lead, 14-4 +693, on a 4-game winning streak. Jennifer DeWaelsche (San Antonio, TX) is 1 game behind at 13-5 +710, #2 down from #1. Chan Fonseka (Dublin, CA) is 2 games behind the leader at 12-6 +653, on a 3-game winning streak, #3 improving from #5. Jack Peters (Nantucket, MA) is +641, #4 sliding from #3. Richard Banker (Ankeny, IA) is +606, #5 slipping from #4. Peter Hopkins (Toronto ON) is +545, hovering at #6.

In Class B: Jennifer DeWaelsche (San Antonio, TX) is the lead, 13-5 +710. Richard Banker (Ankeny, IA) is 1 game behind at 12-6 +606, #5 falling from #4. Jack Allard (Pryor Creek, OK) is 2 games behind the leader at 11-7 +231, on a 4-game winning streak, #9 climbing from #13. Jim Laris (Altadena, CA) is -34, #11 down from #8.

In Class C: Jack Peters (Nantucket, MA) is the lead, 12-6 +641. Dustin Brown (Fairfield, CT) is 1 game behind at 11-7 +666, #7 rising from #9. Donna Leigh (Menomonee Falls, WI) is 2 games behind the leader at 10-8 +391, #13 dropping from #10.

High Win: Dustin Brown (Fairfield, CT) 515-307 vs. Deanna Stacy (Des Moines, IA). Low Win: Sylvia Strong (Valparaiso, IN) 326-281 vs. Wendy Wilkinson Ridout (Ankeny, IA). High Loss: Jack Peters (Nantucket, MA) 381-417 vs. Hannah Rozear (Durham, NC). Low Loss: Jamie De Jong (Ottawa ON) 232-480 vs. Peter Hopkins (Toronto ON).

Division 3 Round 18 Auto-Commentary

Bill Ewing (Missoula, MT) remains in the lead for the 11th consecutive round, 15-3 +926. April McCarley (Austin, TX) is 1 game behind at 14-4 +617, on a 3-game winning streak, #2 improving from #3. Charles Dupont (Seattle, WA) is 2 games behind the leader at 13-5 +1176, #3 falling from #2. Greg Feldkamp (Cleveland Heights, OH) is +687, on a 4-game winning streak, #4 improving from #6. Chloe Fatsis (Washington, DC) is +399, on a 4-game winning streak, #5 climbing from #7. Lynda Wise (Toronto ON) is +317, #6 falling from #4.

In Class B: Carol Tillson (Silver Spring, MD) is the lead, 11-7 +349. Claudia Finn (Seattle, WA) is -24, on a 3-game winning streak, #20 climbing from #25. Josephine Flowers (West Memphis, AR) is 0.5 games behind at 10.5-7.5 +489, #22 up from #27. Maureen Morris (Calgary AB) is 1 game behind the leader at 10-8 +436, on a 4-game winning streak, #24 up from #30. Rhonda Morris (Oklahoma City, OK) is +239, #25 jumping down from #20. Zachary Ansell (Los Angeles, CA) is +91, on a 3-game losing streak, #28 sliding from #24. Sonia Wilmot (Littleton, CO) is -152, #31 up from #39. Margo Kuno (Philadelphia, PA) is -174, #32 up from #40.

In Class C: Chloe Fatsis (Washington, DC) is the lead, 13-5 +399, on a 4-game winning streak. Chris Autio (Missoula, MT) is 2 games behind at 11-7 +433, #14 rising from #19. Anne LaDu (Des Moines, IA) is 3 games behind the leader at 10-8 +217, #26 jumping up from #34. Joey Gordon (Fort Worth, TX) is -31, #30 down from #22.

High Win: Betzy Collins (Vaughan ON) 500-350 vs. Joey Gordon (Fort Worth, TX). Low Win: Margo Kuno (Philadelphia, PA) 302-295 vs. Carl Warner (Renton, WA). High Loss: Zachary Ansell (Los Angeles, CA) 415-417 vs. Yolanda Ushry (Fort Smith, AR). Low Loss: Bill Ewing (Missoula, MT) 287-371 vs. Nola Hembrook (Marshfield, WI).

Division CSW Round 18 Auto-Commentary

Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR) stays in the lead for the 5th consecutive round, 14-4 +1081. Evans Clinchy (Boston, MA) is 1 game behind at 13-5 +577, #2 climbing from #4. Becky Dyer (Austin, TX) is 2 games behind the leader at 12-6 +904, #3 sliding from #2. Geoffrey Newman (Brampton ON) is +820, on a 3-game winning streak, #4 improving from #6. Joanne Craig (Australia) is +691, on a 5-game winning streak, #5 improving from #7. Peter Armstrong (Oakland, CA) is +566, #6 dropping from #3. Austin Shin (United Kingdom) is +332, on a 3-game losing streak, #7 slipping from #5. Amit Chakrabarti (Hanover, NH) is +280, #8 climbing from #9.

High Win: Walker Willingham (Bainbridge Island, WA) 593-277 vs. Liz Jackman (Australia). Low Win: Mark Francillon (Marlboro, VT) 371-352 vs. Cecilia Le (San Francisco, CA). High Loss: Steve Polatnick (Miami, FL) 477-485 vs. Robert Linn (Potomac, MD). Low Loss: Lynda Woods Cleary (Princeton, NJ) 194-562 vs. Bob Jackman (Australia).