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NASC 2015 Commentary: Round 2

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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 2

Oh, it is so exciting! The players have begun to figure out the lay of the land and the “director” calls are coming fast and furious! I see black and white referee shirts scurrying around the room.

An update on last round’s color. I did, indeed, see THEREAS*. Ian Weinstein (Coral Springs, FL) explained that his opponent, Scott McManus (Seattle, WA) played it and he held him a good long time. Ian was holding a bingo and he accepted the play. He has won both of his games so far, the second against Paul Erland (Pegram, TN), but they each played three bingos against him. This translates to good games all around!

An excited division 2 leader, Dan Stock, comes up to tell me about FIRELESS for 158. It went down in a Diana Grosman (Reisterstown, MD) vs. Kay Patterson (Fair Oaks, CA) games this round. Got yourself some points there, Diana!

John Robertston, division 1 leader, comes up to tell me about CALLOWnESS on a board. It was on a Nick Meyer (Berkeley, CA) vs Scott McManus (Seattle, WA) board. I walk by later and also see REFECTOR*, REPANELS, and RATFIsH.

Jason Keller (Highland Park, NJ) walks by with two highlights in his game with Mark Miller (Radnor, PA) this round. On the plus side, he got to play EXPONENTS from EX being on the board. Very nice. The second is a regret. Our Jeopardy! champ (he was a 9-day winner last year!) is a high-end TUTOR. And he had TUTORED, but could not get it down.

All this game play is fun, but the real news is about couples, right? I ask Nigel Peltier (Portland, OR) how he’s doing and with the most dreamy eyes, he tells me he is great and then introduces me to Precious, his girlfriend. She returns to work on Monday, but until then she is the number one cheerleader, watching from the sidelines! He admits he’s played only 13 tournament games since the last Nationals. His good buddy, last year’s NSC champ, Conrad Bassett-Bouchard (Piedmont, CA), is constantly trying to get Nigel to join him working on the famous Portland, OR, grilled cheese food truck, but Nigel is busy! He admitted he isn’t such a nerdy introvert anymore. Terrific news!

Marlene Milkent (Hattiesburg, MS) had a bard burner with Doug Brockmeier (San Francisco, CA) this round. In the first five turns there were four bingos: GLOrIAS, WHIRLED, VOYAGING, and RENUMBER. Then midway through the game, they had a bingo-bango-bongo: her BONNIEST, his NOSEDIVE, then her POLITER. She won, 513-476. The kicker? The last tile in the bag: a blank!

Ben Greenwood (Florence, MA) is here this year, but this time with family. His nephew, Jack Peters (Nantucket, MA), is also playing. In order to play at this event, all competitors have to have earned a NASPA rating. So, Jack had earned a rating, about 9 years ago, at one of Ben’s smaller library tournaments in Lexington, MA. At that point, Jack was 8! So, he’s here with a 10-year-old rating that in no way indicates just how good he is now. Look for him in the division 4 standings as the event unfolds!

Division 1 Round 2 Auto-Commentary

Avery Mojica (Overland Park, KS) takes the lead, 2-0 +425. Rafi Stern (Seattle, WA) is +367, #2 improving from #4. Nick Meyer (Berkeley, CA) is +283, #3 whizzing up from #33. Kate Fukawa-Connelly (Lawrenceville, NJ) is +277, #4 sliding from #1. Joshua Sokol (Montreal QC) is +236, #5 climbing from #10. Joey Krafchick (Richardson, TX) is +217, #6 down from #2. Kolton Koehler (Portland, OR) is +179, #7 zooming up from #36. Trey Wright (Sierra Madre, CA) is +176, #8 zooming up from #23. David Whitley (Monrovia, CA) is +174, #9 falling from #7. Joel Sherman (Bronx, NY) is +168, #10 dropping from #6.

In Class B: Avery Mojica (Overland Park, KS) is the lead, 2-0 +425. Kate Fukawa-Connelly (Lawrenceville, NJ) is +277, #4 slipping from #1. Joshua Sokol (Montreal QC) is +236, #5 jumping up from #10. David Whitley (Monrovia, CA) is +174, #9 sliding from #7. Sal Piro (New York, NY) is +121, #12 whizzing up from #24. Thomas Reinke (Middleton, WI) is +118, #13 slipping from #11. Darrell Day (Richardson, TX) is +59, #20 soaring from #32. Chris Cree (Dallas, TX) is 1 game behind at 1-1 +143, #25 zooming up from #49. Jim Burlant (Grapevine, TX) is +85, #27 whizzing up from #45. Jeremy Hall (New York, NY) is +25, #29 tumbling from #13.

In Class C: Terry Kang Rau (Hudson, NY) is the lead, 2-0 +78. Tasha Asberry (Cordova, TN) is +68, #18 down from #16. Marlene Milkent (Hattiesburg, MS) is +51, #21 rocketing up from #31. Greg Heidler (Waialua, HI) is +48, #22 leaping up from #29. Joel Elkins (West Hollywood, CA) is 1 game behind at 1-1 +119, #26 whizzing down from #3. Jeff Fiszbein (South Lyon, MI) is -11, #37 tumbling from #9. Robert Kahn (Plantation, FL) is -15, #39 leapfrogging up from #51. Tom Bond (Everett, WA) is -28, #41 collapsing from #26. Amnuay Ploysangngam (Thailand) is -92, #46 whizzing up from #68. Asif Ali (Norman, OK) is -105, #47 plummeting from #17.

High Win: Sal Piro (New York, NY) 549-463 vs. Matt Canik (Austin, TX). Low Win: Tasha Asberry (Cordova, TN) 325-309 vs. Jon Shreve (Denver, CO). High Loss: Doug Brockmeier (San Francisco, CA) 476-513 vs. Marlene Milkent (Hattiesburg, MS). Low Loss: Scott McManus (Seattle, WA) 268-543 vs. Nick Meyer (Berkeley, CA).

Division 2 Round 2 Auto-Commentary

Kevin Fraley (San Jose, CA) takes the lead, 2-0 +349. Chris Williams (Vancouver BC) is +341, #2 rocketing up from #31. Carlene Wallis (Sparks, NV) is +228, #3 up from #9. Connie Creed (Philadelphia, PA) is +224, #4 rocketing up from #15. Amnon Igra (Sacramento, CA) is +222, #5 up from #11. Michael Baker (Portland, OR) is +212, #6 soaring from #41. Howard Pistol (Oakland Park, FL) is +190, #7 whizzing up from #26. Edward Gowash (Fort Worth, TX) is +188, #8 slipping from #5. Matthew Ridout (Lexington, KY) is +183, #9 dropping from #4. Dave Leifer (Alpharetta, GA) is +164, #10 leapfrogging up from #22.

In Class : In Class B: Connie Creed (Philadelphia, PA) is the lead, 2-0 +224. Amnon Igra (Sacramento, CA) is +222, #5 leaping up from #11. Martin Weisskopf (Huntsville, AL) is +157, #11 falling from #9. Stephen Sneed (Fort Worth, TX) is +126, #14 whizzing up from #29. Mark Peltier (Seattle, WA) is +108, hovering at #16. Jeff Martin (Albuquerque, NM) is +35, #24 rocketing up from #37. James Porter (Cleveland Heights, OH) is 1 game behind at 1-1 +231, #25 collapsing from #1. Vera Bigall (Toronto ON) is +130, #29 dropping like a stone from #7. John Dalton (Dallas, TX) is +70, #33 hurtling up from #77. Kit Morehead (Berkley, MI) is +54, #36 hurtling up from #57.

In Class C: Edward Gowash (Fort Worth, TX) is the lead, 2-0 +188. Elizabeth Ralston (Los Angeles, CA) is +149, #12 zooming up from #28. Paula Catanese (Mountain View, CA) is +96, #19 rising from #25. Bruce Shuman (Wilmington, NC) is +91, #20 rocketing up from #36. Diana Grosman (Reisterstown, MD) is +80, #21 hurtling up from #44. Kent Croswell (Hot Springs Village, AR) is +55, #23 zooming up from #42. Martin Gold (Arlington, VA) is 1 game behind at 1-1 +107, #30 whizzing up from #62. Carolyn Easter (Birmingham, MI) is +82, #32 leapfrogging up from #58. Katya Lezin (Charlotte, NC) is -7, #44 jumping down from #39. Gwen Stewart (Ellicott City, MD) is -13, #45 sliding from #42.

High Wins: Chris Williams (Vancouver BC) 546-251 vs. Curtis Lee (Jacksonville, FL); Michael Baker (Portland, OR) 546-340 vs. Cynthia Pughsley (Oakland, CA). Low Win: Scott Leifer (Mansfield, MA) 349-302 vs. Arun Methaset (Thailand). High Loss: Glenda Short (Oklahoma City, OK) 452-475 vs. Sam Masling (Washington, DC). Low Loss: Curtis Lee (Jacksonville, FL) 251-546 vs. Chris Williams (Vancouver BC).

Division 3 Round 2 Auto-Commentary

Richard Strick (Santa Monica, CA) takes the lead, 2-0 +291. Sander Post (Ottawa ON) is +289, #2 soaring from #27. Dave Krook (Mississauga ON) is +264, #3 leapfrogging up from #15. Charles Dupont (Seattle, WA) is +247, #4 climbing from #8. Margo Kuno (Philadelphia, PA) is +241, #5 rising from #13. Mad Palazzo (Richmond Hill ON) is +240, #6 sliding from #5. Whitney Gould (Berkeley, CA) is +235, #7 jumping down from #2. Murray Goldenberg (Winnipeg MB) is +227, #8 rocketing up from #40. Joey Gordon (Fort Worth, TX) is +225, #9 down from #6. Dave Lockrem (Blaine, MN) is +224, #10 zooming up from #35.

In Class B: Dave Krook (Mississauga ON) is the lead, 2-0 +264. Margo Kuno (Philadelphia, PA) is +241, #5 leaping up from #13. Whitney Gould (Berkeley, CA) is +235, #7 jumping down from #2. Carol Tillson (Silver Spring, MD) is +151, #14 soaring from #37. Zachary Ansell (Los Angeles, CA) is +113, #19 climbing from #20. Tom O'Laughlin (Hartland, WI) is 1 game behind at 1-1 +133, #26 rocketing up from #51. Claudia Finn (Seattle, WA) is +102, #28 plummeting from #3. Tina Cur (Lockport, NY) is +34, #33 hurtling up from #53. Alan Mason (Evreka, CA) is +22, #37 leapfrogging up from #55. Betsey Wood (Concord, MA) is +6, #38 falling from #34.

In Class C: Sander Post (Ottawa ON) is the lead, 2-0 +289. Joey Gordon (Fort Worth, TX) is +225, #9 down from #6. Chloe Fatsis (Washington, DC) is +176, #12 falling from #10. Nancy Hanley (Wilmington, DE) is +143, #15 rising from #17. Cathy Poole (Winston-Salem, NC) is +111, #21 tumbling from #14. Chris Autio (Missoula, MT) is 1 game behind at 1-1 +52, #31 soaring from #59. Dan Horowitz (Wilmington, DE) is +38, #32 zooming up from #70. Gloria Miller (Santa Monica, CA) is +27, #34 climbing from #38. Megan McMahon (Worcester, MA) is +27, #34 whizzing up from #45. Jan Lapierre (Cherry Hill, NJ) is +26, #36 zooming up from #80.

High Win: Sander Post (Ottawa ON) 499-263 vs. Maureen Morris (Calgary AB). Low Win: Kay Adam (Volin, SD) 306-288 vs. Marina A Villena (San Pblo, CA). High Loss: Diane Kerner (Beverly Hills, CA) 407-436 vs. Miriam Gregory (Vancouver BC). Low Loss: Eli Shupak (Toronto ON) 215-425 vs. Murray Goldenberg (Winnipeg MB).

Division 4 Round 2 Auto-Commentary

Diana Bowen (Charlottesville, VA) remains in the lead, 2-0 +295. Richard Banker (Ankeny, IA) is +295, #1 leapfrogging up from #11. Hannah Rozear (Durham, NC) is +228, unchanged at #3. Ron Barker (Boise, ID) is +211, #4 up from #9. Peter Hopkins (Toronto ON) is +211, #4 leapfrogging up from #21. Marvin Kraus (Newton, MA) is +205, #6 falling from #5. Jennifer DeWaelsche (San Antonio, TX) is +140, #7 down from #6. Jamie De Jong (Ottawa ON) is +135, #8 dropping from #7. Dustin Brown (Fairfield, CT) is +77, #9 leaping up from #15. Jennifer Hay (Portland, TX) is +53, #10 up from #19.

In Class B: Diana Bowen (Charlottesville, VA) is the lead, 2-0 +295. Richard Banker (Ankeny, IA) is +295, #1 rocketing up from #11. Jennifer DeWaelsche (San Antonio, TX) is +140, #7 dropping from #6. Jamie De Jong (Ottawa ON) is +135, #8 falling from #7. Jim Laris (Altadena, CA) is +43, #11 leaping up from #16. Rachel Gillette (Lafayette, CO) is 1 game behind at 1-1 +61, #16 falling from #13. Janice Konkol (Amherst, WI) is +47, #17 leapfrogging up from #27.

In Class C: Dustin Brown (Fairfield, CT) is the lead, 2-0 +77. Jennifer Hay (Portland, TX) is +53, #10 up from #19. Dawn Mennear (Des Moines, IA) is 1 game behind at 1-1 +43, #19 dropping from #14. Sheng Guo (Amawalk, NY) is +41, #20 improving from #24. Jack Peters (Nantucket, MA) is -4, #26 soaring from #39. Donna Leigh (Menomonee Falls, WI) is -30, #28 jumping up from #37. Keith Forman (El Cajon, CA) is -40, #31 plummeting from #18. Pamela Pudelka (Corpus Christi, TX) is -53, #32 collapsing from #17.

High Win: Richard Banker (Ankeny, IA) 500-274 vs. Francina Bailey (Wilmington, CA). Low Win: Jim Laris (Altadena, CA) 331-319 vs. Mary Fonti (Hallandale, FL). High Loss: Arthur van Tol (Grandville, MI) 387-422 vs. Jennifer Hay (Portland, TX). Low Loss: Karen Kaminski (Demotte, IN) 225-432 vs. Peter Hopkins (Toronto ON).

Division CSW Round 2 Auto-Commentary

Geoffrey Newman (Brampton ON) seizes the lead, 2-0 +455. Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR) is +439, remaining steady at #2. Peter Armstrong (Oakland, CA) is +413, #3 up from #8. Martin DeMello (San Francisco, CA) is +393, #4 climbing from #12. Leslie Charles (Trinidad and Tobago) is +383, #5 leaping up from #14. Tony Leah (Ajax ON) is +356, #6 slipping from #4. Bob Jackman (Australia) is +327, #7 falling from #5. Matthew O'Connor (DeWitt, NY) is +252, #8 leapfrogging up from #19. Jason Ubeika (Mississauga ON) is +217, #9 leapfrogging up from #21. Steve Polatnick (Miami, FL) is +189, #10 leaping up from #15.

High Win: Leslie Charles (Trinidad and Tobago) 571-329 vs. Michael Gincel (Lakewood, NJ). Low Win: Bob Jackman (Australia) 378-309 vs. Pat Schuberg (Australia). High Loss: Sharon Sorensen (Australia) 458-461 vs. Puneet Sharma (Cambridge, MA). Low Loss: Caroline Polak Scowcroft (Australia) 269-476 vs. Matthew O'Connor (DeWitt, NY).