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NASC 2015 Commentary: Round 7

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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 7

In a David Whitley (Monrovia, CA) vs. Tom Bond (Everett, WA) game, 4 bingos were played in a row: AMIRATE, THREAPED through the R, SPANDREL through the A, and GARBLESS through the E.

Jason Broersma (Caledon ON) and Tim Weiss (Jersey City, NJ) are at the challenge computer. CAtHOOD is ruled acceptable and Tim wins 5 more points. Later in the game, I see Tim’s SNOTTER and Jason’s CHOLERIC and UNITISeD#. Jason wins, 475-446.

At table 2 in division 3, Zachary Ansell (Los Angeles, CA) defeated Lynda Wise (Toronto ON), 368-319. He needs today 7-0 and in first place in his division. Not bad for a youngster!

Sander Post (Ottawa ON) and Bill Ewing (Missoula, MT) are sitting over their empty board. I’m told Bill won, 501-316. Sander tells me how he learned a new word in their game by challenging LURDANE.

Many of the kid players gather by the red ropes around the top division 1 and CSW games. Chloe Fatsis (Washington, DC) ends today 4-3 and does Dustin Brown (Fairfield, CT), Cooper Komatsu (Los Angeles, CA), and Sheng Guo (Amawalk, NY). Noah Kalus (New Paltz, NY) is 3-4. They are all so proud of and happy for Zachary Ansell (Los Angeles, CA).

Their game wrapping up much later than others, I see CRABBIESt and SUNDrIES on a board between Cynthia Pughsley (Oakland, CA) and Gwen Stewart (Ellicott City, MD). They are both blocking out the endgame discussions overwhelming the sonic space around them as they play. Great powers of concentration!

Two top women sparring: Terry Kang Rau (Hudson, NY) vs. Leesa Berahovich (Berkeley, CA). Terry opened with URALITE and later got down LIAISON. Leesa played HIPsHOT (Jerry Lerman (Foster City, CA), listening in on their endgame chat while I took notes said in a jokingly helpful way of this play, “I don’t think it takes a C front hook.” I groaned.), OUtRAGE, and the fun dump of CUVETTE. Leesa won, 458-405. I lose though, because I’ve been humming “little red cuvette” for the past half hour.

I overhear Jason Keller (Highland Park, NJ) confess to someone that he had a blank for 8 turns, so I decided to turn around a take a look at his board. I mean, holding a blank for 8 turns is a trick I thought only I could manage! I see that Jason played REVERIFY and ENCASED. His opponent, Kolton Koehler (Portland, OR) played RIBGRASS and TWEEDIER. Kolton won, 443-418. I never figured out where Jason’s blank ended up!

I can tell I was getting tired by the time I stumbled upon the Ian Weinstein (Coral Springs, FL) vs. Conrad Bassett-Bouchard (Piedmont, CA) game, because my notes are all about “he played this and he played that,” but which he is a bit cloudy. I remember Conrad being down by a lot. Ian had played ZYGOMATA to the final A for 100 and PATOOTIE for 70. Conrad got down iNVESTS and ANISOLE, but Ian made an unfortunate endgame draw of the Q out of the bag and could not go out in two plays. Conrad was able to take advantage of this and won the game, 429-409.

Table 2 in the Collins division featured Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR) vs. Jason Ubeika (Mississauga ON). I watched Jason bingo out with LEAChIER and noted his SOUTANES. Dave played NOTARiZE and SPLENIA and won the game, 445-390. Having lost only one game today, Dave winds up 6-1, ahead on spread to the other 6-1, Amit Chakrabarti (Hanover, NH). However, the only undefeated player today is Becky Dyer (Austin, TX) and she ends today in first place.

Over lunch today, Shelley Ubeika, helping Dan Stock out in division 2 this year, regaled us with tales of her fantastic experience at the Kenny Rogers concert last night. She gushed about the great songs, his hits, and his fantastic banter with the crowd (complete with hurling 10 dollar bills at the crowd with every hit he sang!). So, I was delighted to hear April McCarley (Austin, TX) tell me about her evening last night. She was sitting outside the buffet, waiting for it to open, when a friendly stranger walked up to her and said, “Hey, my wife doesn’t want to go. Do you want these tickets?” And he handed her four coveted tickets to the sold out Kenny Rogers show. She had tried all day to get some and there were none to be had. She nearly broke down crying at his generosity. So, she ate a quick dinner and scanned around, looking for others without plans for a swinging Friday night at that late hour. She happened upon Michael Donegan (Austin, TX), Lila Crotty (Metairie, LA), and Tim Crotty (one of our excellent data inputters). The four of them had the most marvelous night together (the free tickets came with 8 drink tickets, too!) and cemented some lasting memories. Her eyes sparkled as she told me about their night. I wished I had gone with them! We both remarked upon the kindness of strangers.

Two fun facts about Dan Stock, division 2 leader. He approached me about halfway through today and said, “So...there are two women in my division that look a lot alike. Could they possibly be twins?” Ding ding ding! Good powers of observation, Dan! Carlene Wallis (Sparks, NV) and Carlynn Mayer (Sparks, NV) are indeed twins! Great to have them both here: they make Sparks, Nevada sparkle! Second fun Dan fact (heck, there are really dozens of them!), he waved his fitbit at me at the end of round 7 and it said 15.7 miles TODAY. My jaw fell. He admitted he’d run 2.5 miles this morning and that had to be factored in, but that is a A LOT of combing the aisles of his large division at this NASC!

We ended today with a clump of 6 players vying for the top spot with their 6-1 records in division 1. Joey Krafchick (Richardson, TX) earns the distinction of being at the top of that heap. Similarly, division 2 featured 6 players at 6-1 with Chris Williams (Vancouver BC) ekeing out the top spot on spread. Both Zachary Ansell (Los Angeles, CA) and Bill Ewing (Missoula, MT) ended today undefeated in division C, but Zach has a bit more than 100 extra spread. And, all alone at her undefeated perch in division C is Hannah Rozear (Durham, NC). Tomorrow is going to be fun!

Division 1 Round 7 Auto-Commentary

Joey Krafchick (Richardson, TX) takes the lead, 6-1 +730. Trey Wright (Sierra Madre, CA) is +436, #2 jumping up from #9. Darrell Day (Richardson, TX) is +394, on a 3-game winning streak, #3 climbing from #7. Conrad Bassett-Bouchard (Piedmont, CA) is +340, #4 climbing from #6. Orry Swift (Houston, TX) is +299, #5 slipping from #1. Jason Li (Dollard-Des-Ormeaux QC) is +286, on a 3-game winning streak, #6 rising from #8. Avery Mojica (Overland Park, KS) is 1 game behind at 5-2 +450, #7 slipping from #3. Ian Weinstein (Coral Springs, FL) is +382, #8 slipping from #4. Joe Edley (Port Jefferson, NY) is +371, on a 5-game winning streak, #9 jumping up from #17. Patricia Barrett (Houston, TX) is +361, on a 4-game winning streak, #10 up from #14.

In Class B: Darrell Day (Richardson, TX) is the lead, 6-1 +394, on a 3-game winning streak. Avery Mojica (Overland Park, KS) is 1 game behind at 5-2 +450, #7 falling from #3. Patricia Barrett (Houston, TX) is +361, on a 4-game winning streak, #10 up from #14. Chris Cree (Dallas, TX) is +346, on a 3-game winning streak, #11 rising from #18. Thomas Reinke (Middleton, WI) is +319, #13 jumping down from #4. Leesa Berahovich (Berkeley, CA) is +194, on a 3-game winning streak, #14 leaping up from #21. Sal Piro (New York, NY) is +138, #15 jumping down from #10. Nigel Peltier (Portland, OR) is +38, on a 4-game winning streak, #17 jumping up from #23. Norases Vesdapunt (Stanford, CA) is -1, #19 down from #12. Charles Reinke (Middleton, WI) is 2 games behind the leader at 4-3 +423, #21 improving from #25.

In Class C: Tasha Asberry (Cordova, TN) is the lead, 5-2 +7. Alec Sjoholm (Lynnwood, WA) is 2 games behind at 3-4 +187, #35 tumbling from #26. Greg Heidler (Waialua, HI) is -8, #40 soaring from #53. Jeff Fiszbein (South Lyon, MI) is -11, #41 sliding from #37. Tom Bond (Everett, WA) is -21, #42 climbing from #50. Reid Hattaway (Moscow, ID) is -22, #43 up from #49. Marlene Milkent (Hattiesburg, MS) is -89, on a 4-game losing streak, #47 down from #40. Ross Brown (Ottawa ON) is -132, #48 down from #42. Terry Kang Rau (Hudson, NY) is -153, on a 4-game losing streak, #50 down from #44. Robert Kahn (Plantation, FL) is -163, on a 3-game losing streak, #52 down from #45.

High Win: Maddy Kamen (Covina, CA) 599-316 vs. Jon Shreve (Denver, CO). Low Win: Scott McManus (Seattle, WA) 356-345 vs. Mark Miller (Radnor, PA). High Loss: Jerry Lerman (Foster City, CA) 482-548 vs. Nick Meyer (Berkeley, CA). Low Loss: Wallace Schultz (Las Vegas, NM) 276-383 vs. Bruce D Ambrosio (Los Angeles, CA).

Division 2 Round 7 Auto-Commentary

Chris Williams (Vancouver BC) takes the lead, 6-1 +690, on a 4-game winning streak. Howard Pistol (Oakland Park, FL) is +493, on a 3-game winning streak, #2 up from #3. John Karris (San Jose, CA) is +423, #3 climbing from #8. Elizabeth Ralston (Los Angeles, CA) is +407, #4 falling from #1. Dave Leifer (Alpharetta, GA) is +361, #5 falling from #4. Mark Peltier (Seattle, WA) is +128, #6 climbing from #10. Jeff Martin (Albuquerque, NM) is 1 game behind at 5-2 +333, #7 whizzing up from #19. Matthew Ridout (Lexington, KY) is +302, #8 zooming up from #24. Jan Cardia (Hockessin, DE) is +291, #9 dropping from #6. Carlene Wallis (Sparks, NV) is +275, #10 climbing from #13.

In Class : In Class B: Mark Peltier (Seattle, WA) is the lead, 6-1 +128. Jeff Martin (Albuquerque, NM) is 1 game behind at 5-2 +333, #7 soaring from #19. Martin Weisskopf (Huntsville, AL) is +153, #13 jumping down from #5. Guy Ingram (Ellenwood, GA) is +30, on a 4-game winning streak, #17 leaping up from #26. Edwin Roth (Philadelphia, PA) is 2 games behind the leader at 4-3 +270, #21 tumbling from #12. James Porter (Cleveland Heights, OH) is +237, #23 hurtling up from #35. Paul Mishkin (San Francisco, CA) is +87, #30 whizzing down from #14. Curtis Lee (Jacksonville, FL) is +76, #31 dropping like a stone from #21. Ryan Chepita (Ottawa ON) is +36, #33 jumping down from #25. John Dalton (Dallas, TX) is +21, #35 rising from #43.

In Class C: Elizabeth Ralston (Los Angeles, CA) is the lead, 6-1 +407. Edward Gowash (Fort Worth, TX) is 1 game behind at 5-2 +203, on a 3-game winning streak, #12 leaping up from #17. Diana Grosman (Reisterstown, MD) is +58, #16 down from #7. Bruce Shuman (Wilmington, NC) is -138, #18 leapfrogging up from #28. Carolyn Easter (Birmingham, MI) is 2 games behind the leader at 4-3 +153, #28 whizzing up from #39. Paula Catanese (Mountain View, CA) is +130, #29 collapsing from #16. Cynthia Pughsley (Oakland, CA) is +45, #32 leapfrogging up from #56. Carol McDonald (Northboro, MA) is +16, on a 3-game winning streak, #36 up from #45. Cheryl Melvin (Grand Rapids, MI) is -8, #41 hurtling up from #53. Gwen Stewart (Ellicott City, MD) is -53, #44 dropping like a stone from #20.

High Win: Jeff Martin (Albuquerque, NM) 555-342 vs. Amnon Igra (Sacramento, CA). Low Win: Carlynn Mayer (Sparks, NV) 326-311 vs. Ryan Chepita (Ottawa ON). High Loss: Edwin Roth (Philadelphia, PA) 451-459 vs. Paul Avrin (New York, NY). Low Losses: Martin Weisskopf (Huntsville, AL) 256-422 vs. John Karris (San Jose, CA); Stephanie Sugano (Roseville, CA) 256-473 vs. Mark Fidler (Waltham, MA).

Division 3 Round 7 Auto-Commentary

Zachary Ansell (Los Angeles, CA) stays in the lead for the 3rd consecutive round, 7-0 +587, on a 7-game winning streak. Bill Ewing (Missoula, MT) is +468, on a 7-game winning streak, still at #2. Ben Greenwood (Florence, MA) is 1 game behind at 6-1 +558, on a 4-game winning streak, hovering at #3. Carol Tillson (Silver Spring, MD) is +409, on a 3-game winning streak, #4 up from #7. Tapani Lindgren (Roseville, CA) is +271, #5 climbing from #10. Michael Machi (Arcata, CA) is 2 games behind the leader at 5-2 +427, #6 rising from #15. Nola Hembrook (Marshfield, WI) is +400, on a 4-game winning streak, #7 leaping up from #12. Dave Lockrem (Blaine, MN) is +324, #8 jumping up from #14. Lindsey Dimmick (Baton Rouge, LA) is +318, #9 tumbling from #4. Margo Kuno (Philadelphia, PA) is +277, #10 zooming up from #21.

In Class B: Zachary Ansell (Los Angeles, CA) is the lead for the 3rd consecutive round, 7-0 +587, on a 7-game winning streak. Carol Tillson (Silver Spring, MD) is 1 game behind at 6-1 +409, on a 3-game winning streak, #4 climbing from #7. Lindsey Dimmick (Baton Rouge, LA) is 2 games behind the leader at 5-2 +318, #9 dropping from #4. Margo Kuno (Philadelphia, PA) is +277, #10 leapfrogging up from #21. Claudia Finn (Seattle, WA) is +252, #14 rising from #17. Kay Adam (Volin, SD) is +34, #22 soaring from #32.

In Class C: Chris Autio (Missoula, MT) is the lead, 5-2 +155. Nancy Hanley (Wilmington, DE) is +148, on a 3-game winning streak, #19 up from #27. Cooper Komatsu (Los Angeles, CA) is 1 game behind at 4-3 +328, #24 up from #33. Sander Post (Ottawa ON) is +156, on a 3-game losing streak, #28 tumbling from #13. Troy Millington (Calgary AB) is +155, on a 4-game winning streak, #29 soaring from #40. Chloe Fatsis (Washington, DC) is +77, #32 down from #24. Cathy Poole (Winston-Salem, NC) is +66, on a 3-game losing streak, #33 tumbling from #22. Nicole Kazarian (Worcester, MA) is +52, #34 down from #26. Dan Horowitz (Wilmington, DE) is +2, #36 whizzing down from #23. Ruth Brower (Hockessin, DE) is -126, #39 hurtling up from #51.

High Win: Troy Millington (Calgary AB) 529-388 vs. Nandini Dickens (Bethesola, MD). Low Win: Ani Migirdicyan (North York ON) 348-323 vs. Greg Harper (Reno, NV). High Loss: Rhonda Morris (Oklahoma City, OK) 414-434 vs. Nola Hembrook (Marshfield, WI). Low Loss: Julia Bogle (Indianapolis, IN) 265-495 vs. Megan McMahon (Worcester, MA).

Division 4 Round 7 Auto-Commentary

Hannah Rozear (Durham, NC) remains in the lead, 7-0 +470, on a 7-game winning streak. Jennifer DeWaelsche (San Antonio, TX) is 1 game behind at 6-1 +505, still at #2. Jim Laris (Altadena, CA) is +137, on a 4-game winning streak, #3 climbing from #4. Jack Peters (Nantucket, MA) is 2 games behind the leader at 5-2 +353, #4 up from #5. Mary Fonti (Hallandale, FL) is +235, on a 5-game winning streak, #5 rising from #9. Marvin Kraus (Newton, MA) is +232, #6 improving from #7. Margaret Hughes (Los Angeles, CA) is +227, #7 falling from #3. Rachel Gillette (Lafayette, CO) is +216, on a 4-game winning streak, #8 climbing from #14. Sandra Finley (Blue Diamond, NV) is +65, on a 5-game winning streak, #9 up from #14. Jennifer Hay (Portland, TX) is +20, #10 rising from #17.

In Class B: Jennifer DeWaelsche (San Antonio, TX) is the lead, 6-1 +505. Jim Laris (Altadena, CA) is +137, on a 4-game winning streak, #3 up from #4. Rachel Gillette (Lafayette, CO) is 1 game behind at 5-2 +216, on a 4-game winning streak, #8 jumping up from #14. Sandra Finley (Blue Diamond, NV) is +65, on a 5-game winning streak, #9 rising from #14. Richard Banker (Ankeny, IA) is 2 games behind the leader at 4-3 +235, #12 down from #6. Paul Rickhoff (Saugus, CA) is +161, #14 tumbling from #8. Debra Bates (Sherwood Park AB) is +84, #16 dropping from #11.

In Class C: Jack Peters (Nantucket, MA) is the lead, 5-2 +353. Margaret Hughes (Los Angeles, CA) is +227, #7 falling from #3. Jennifer Hay (Portland, TX) is +20, #10 rising from #17. Dustin Brown (Fairfield, CT) is 1 game behind at 4-3 +215, #13 climbing from #21. Keith Forman (El Cajon, CA) is +69, #17 dropping from #13. Pamela Pudelka (Corpus Christi, TX) is +24, #19 slipping from #16. Sheng Guo (Amawalk, NY) is -37, #20 down from #12. Dawn Mennear (Des Moines, IA) is 2 games behind the leader at 3-4 -42, #29 up from #34.

High Win: Rachel Gillette (Lafayette, CO) 448-287 vs. Jamie De Jong (Ottawa ON). Low Win: Gil Baker (Chicago, IL) 260-244 vs. Karen Kaminski (Demotte, IN). High Loss: Pamela Pudelka (Corpus Christi, TX) 383-390 vs. Jennifer Hay (Portland, TX). Low Loss: Karen Kaminski (Demotte, IN) 244-260 vs. Gil Baker (Chicago, IL).

Division CSW Round 7 Auto-Commentary

Becky Dyer (Austin, TX) stays in the lead for the 3rd consecutive round, 7-0 +695, on a 7-game winning streak. Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR) is 1 game behind at 6-1 +689, on a 3-game winning streak, hovering at #2. Amit Chakrabarti (Hanover, NH) is +406, #3 up from #5. Bob Jackman (Australia) is 2 games behind the leader at 5-2 +418, #4 slipping from #3. John O'Laughlin (San Francisco, CA) is +373, on a 4-game winning streak, #5 leaping up from #12. Jason Ubeika (Mississauga ON) is +370, #6 falling from #4. Evans Clinchy (Boston, MA) is +342, on a 4-game winning streak, #7 rising from #9. Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) is +334, #8 leaping up from #15. Peter Armstrong (Oakland, CA) is +260, #9 improving from #13. Steve Polatnick (Miami, FL) is +176, #10 climbing from #14.

High Win: Eric Kinderman (Burlington, VT) 578-337 vs. Judy Romann (Bainbridge Island, WA). Low Win: Evans Clinchy (Boston, MA) 372-368 vs. Mina Le (West Palm Beach, FL). High Loss: Leslie Charles (Trinidad and Tobago) 449-486 vs. Steve Polatnick (Miami, FL). Low Loss: Caroline Polak Scowcroft (Australia) 264-508 vs. Cecilia Le (San Francisco, CA).