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NSC 2002 Commentary: Round 17

Congratulations to our new National Champion, Joel Sherman!

See also: video clip 1 (2 MB), video clip 2 (2 MB). (video courtesy Roger Cullman)

Go to: Before the Tournament, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5, Round 6, Round 7, Round 8, 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 23, Round 24, Round 25, Round 26, Round 27, Round 28, Round 29, Round 30, Round 31, After the Tournament.

Round 17

Judy Horn (Reading, MA) had a win against Ken Lambe (Port Huron, MI) this round, 372-343. Larry got down MERIDiAN and Judy played SPEARERS through the E. Judy's husband, Joel Horn (Reading, MA), stopped by to tell me that in his game against Larry Gradus (Margate, FL), Larry tried LONNIES* on the triple and Joel challenged it off. He knew to challenge it because Judy's e-mail address is the LEISON anamonic: PLUCKIESTFARMDOG. Since there is no N in that, LONNIES* was no good!

Mitchell Brook (Philadelphia, PA) defeated Martin Smith (East Orange, NJ), 332-322, in a division 2 game. Martin got down INfRInGE through the N. It was a defensive game throughout.

Lisa Odom (St Louis Park, MN) lost a one-point game to Rusty Peltz (San Diego, CA), 376-375, in division 1. Rusty got down DELOUSED to the second D and NITRILE. Lisa played uNGLOVED to the D. They both agree that it was his beautiful find of AbOHM to the OHM creating AG and bI that won him the game, sticking her with EORT. Lisa's tournament thus far has been depressing full of close losses: 9 points, 5, 7, 4, and now 1. Joey Mallick (Cape Elizabeth, ME) was sitting down with her commiserating.

Jim Pate (Birmingham, AL) tells me about one of the most exciting games he's ever played. Those are strong words for a division 1 player! In his game against Komol Panyasoponlert (Thailand), which he just won, 397-369, Jim admits that he got all the good stuff, but that Komol stayed "right on my heels the whole time!" At one point, Jim played AZOTiSE for 125 and Komol responded with AZOTiSES, STUCK for 48 points. Komol played EPILOGUE through the U and Jim played JUnKIER to the triple (not a bingo). At one point, one turn after another, they both played 6-letter-words with five overlapping tiles. it was a real give and take game and one that delighted Jim.

In division 1, Matt Graham (New York, NY) defeated Robert Felt (Atlanta, GA), 369-340. Bob got down YEASTIER for 63 and Matt played KLAXON for 82 down the triple and CORNETS for 71.

Division 2's Stefan Fatsis (Brooklyn, NY), in last place before this morning, has won all four games this morning. How does he know before the fourth round starts? He has a bye! He is now 7-11 and happy.

I run into Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL) on the way down the center aisle and he reports that he has won three games thus far to Jakkrit Klaphajone (Thailand), Komol Panyasoponlert (Thailand), and Jim Pate (Birmingham, AL), but each by only about 20 points, so his spread isn't growing as he'd like.

Ron McGill (Costa Mesa, CA) stops by the Internet table to tell us that he's having no fun at all. However, almost everything he says is sarcastic, so let's hope he is kidding.

We are noting an increased amount of "director" calls in the room as the tensions increase in the game play. No problems, though, and everything has been resolved with ease.