Ira Cohen [#25] at 2004 National SCRABBLE® Championship

[ Congratulations to the new National Champion, Trey Wright, who defeated David Gibson in three straight games, 365-328, 355-344 and 429-328. Please tune in to ESPN to watch the final games at 1 P.M. ET on Sunday, October 3rd, 2004. We welcome your e-mailed corrections to our web site. ]

On this page, you will find information about Ira Cohen, who is a contestant in Division 1 at the 2004 National SCRABBLE® Championship, held July 31st - August 5th in New Orleans, LA. This page is updated at least hourly between 09:00 A.M. and midnight CDT. Cohen currently has a record of 17-13, +840, and is ranked #38 in Division 1.

Lower on this page, you can find brief self-reported biographical details of the player, statistics on the player's past several years of rated tournament play in North America, a graphic showing the player's ups and downs at this tournament, and a round-by-round report on the player's opponents and games.

Background Information
	Given name(s): Ira Surname(s): Cohen Home: Los Angeles, CA, United States Age: 57 Awards: 2001-07 Denver, CO; 2001-09 Northridge, CA; 2001-10 Western Canadian Championship (E.B. and M.E.); 2002-06 Bozeman, MT; 2003-10 Western Canadian Championship (E.B. and M.E.); 2004-06 Bozeman, MT Hobbies: travel, scrabble Occupation: electrician

Career History

5-year record against other players at this event	440.5-310.5 (0.587)
Past 1-12 months	67-48 (0.583)	LL W LL W L WWW L WW L WWW L WWWWWWWWW L WW L W L W L W L WW LLLLLLLLLL WWWWWWWW L W LLLL WW L W LLL WWWWW LLL W L WWW L W L WW L WWW L WW L WWW LLLLL WWWWWWW L W L W
Past 13-24 months	94-85 (0.525)	LL W LL WWW LLL WW LLL WWWWWW LL W LLL WWW LLL W L WW LL WW LL WW LLL W LL WW L W LLL WW LLLL W L W L W L WW LL WW LL WW LL WW L W LLL WWWWW LL WW LL W L WWWWWW LL WW L W LLLL WW L WWW L WWW L WWW L WW L W LL WWW LLL W L WWWW L W L WWW L W L W L W LL W LLL W LL WWWWW L
Past 25-36 months	86-43 (0.667)	W L W L WWW LL WW L W LLL WW L WWW L W LL WWWW L W L WWWWWWW LLL WWWW LL W L WWW L WWW LL WWWW L WWW L W L WWWWWWWWWW L WWWWWWW LLL WWW L WW L W L W L W L W L W L WWWWW L WW LL WWWW LL WW L W
Past 37-48 months	93-65 (0.589)	L WW L W LLLLLL WWWWW L W LL WWWWWWW LLL WW L W LLLL WWWWWW L WWWWW LL WW LL WWWWWW LLL W LL WWW L WW L W LLL WWWWWWW L W L WWW L W L W LL WW L W L WWWWW LL W L W LLL WWWWW LL W LL W L WW LLLL W L WWW LL WWWW L W L WWWWW LLL WW
Past 49-60 months	100.5-69.5 (0.591)	WWW L WW L WWWWW LLLL WWWWWW LL W LL WW L WWW L WWW L WWW L WWWW L WW LLLL WWW LLLL W LL WW L WWW L WWWW L WW LLLL WWWWWWWWWW LL WWWW LLLL WW LL W L W LLLLTW L W LL WW L W L WWW LL WWW L WW LLLL WWWWWWWW LLL WW L W L WW LLL WWW L WW L W LL W

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 517 Average for: 412 Average against: 384
Round 1		Cohen played #62 John Hart (Portland, OR) and won 512 to 294 (a spread of 218) . The last time these two played was 2003-12 at: TUCSON, AZ Cohen's record vs. Hart in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-1 (0.800). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: WW. Past 25-36 months: LW. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #6. Current record: 1-0, +218.
Round 2		Cohen played #137 Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON) and won 462 to 288 (a spread of 174) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Cohen's record vs. Rowland in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #3. Current record: 2-0, +392.
Round 3		Cohen played #113 Lisa Odom (St. Louis Park, MN) and won 468 to 331 (a spread of 137) . The last time these two played was 2003-08 at: PORTLAND, OR Cohen's record vs. Odom in the 5 years leading up to this event: 8-5 (0.615). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: WWL. Past 25-36 months: LW. Past 37-48 months: WLWLL. Past 49-60 months: WWW. Current ranking: #2. Current record: 3-0, +529.
Round 4		Cohen played #1 Bruce Adams (Worcester, MA) and won 430 to 288 (a spread of 142) . Before this event, Cohen had not played Adams in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #2. Current record: 4-0, +671. Cohen is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 5		Cohen played #172 David Weisberg (Hollywood, FL) and won 434 to 373 (a spread of 61) . The last time these two played was 2003-08 at: PORTLAND, OR Cohen's record vs. Weisberg in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-3 (0.250). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: LL. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #2. Current record: 5-0, +732. Cohen is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Cohen is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 6		Cohen played #81 Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) and won 452 to 326 (a spread of 126) . The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: RENO, NV Cohen's record vs. Kramer in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-3 (0.400). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: LLL. Current ranking: #2. Current record: 6-0, +858.
Round 7		Cohen played #132 Cynthia Pughsley (Oakland, CA) and lost 384 to 509 (a spread of -125) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: LOS GATOS, CA Cohen's record vs. Pughsley in the 5 years leading up to this event: 10-2 (0.833). Past 1-12 months: WW. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: LWWWWWW. Current ranking: #4. Current record: 6-1, +733.
Round 8		Cohen played #67 Marlon Hill (Baltimore, MD) and lost 330 to 405 (a spread of -75) . The last time these two played was 2003-06 at: ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Cohen's record vs. Hill in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-1 (0.667). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: LW. Current ranking: #15. Current record: 6-2, +658.
Round 9		Cohen played #33 Darrell Day (Richardson, TX) and won 433 to 369 (a spread of 64) . The last time these two played was 2003-06 at: MID-CITIES, TX Cohen's record vs. Day in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: WW. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #7. Current record: 7-2, +722.
Round 10		Cohen played #98 Jere Mead (Chelmsford, MA) and lost 388 to 443 (a spread of -55) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Cohen's record vs. Mead in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: L. Current ranking: #18. Current record: 7-3, +667.
Round 11		Cohen played #95 Kenji Matsumoto (Aiea, HI) and lost 274 to 438 (a spread of -164) . The last time these two played was 2004-01 at: RENO, NV Cohen's record vs. Matsumoto in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-2 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: WLW. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #35. Current record: 7-4, +503.
Round 12		Cohen played #135 Nigel Richards (Malaysia) and lost 353 to 495 (a spread of -142) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Cohen's record vs. Richards in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-1 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #50. Current record: 7-5, +361.
Round 13		Cohen played #166 John Van Pelt (Arlington, MA) and won 514 to 311 (a spread of 203) . Before this event, Cohen had not played Van Pelt in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #35. Current record: 8-5, +564.
Round 14		Cohen played #76 Sam Kantimathi (El Dorado Hills, CA) and won 517 to 337 (a spread of 180) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: PHOENIX, AZ Cohen's record vs. Kantimathi in the 5 years leading up to this event: 5-8 (0.385). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: WLLLW. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: LLW. Past 49-60 months: LLWL. Current ranking: #26. Current record: 9-5, +744.
Round 15		Cohen played #27 Laurie Cohen (Tempe, AZ) and won 501 to 317 (a spread of 184) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: PHOENIX, AZ Cohen's record vs. Cohen in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-2 (0.333). Past 1-12 months: LW. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #16. Current record: 10-5, +928.
Round 16		Cohen played #143 Lester Schonbrun (Oakland, CA) and lost 356 to 389 (a spread of -33) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: LOS GATOS, CA Cohen's record vs. Schonbrun in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-9 (0.308). Past 1-12 months: LWL. Past 13-24 months: WL. Past 25-36 months: LWL. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: WLLL. Current ranking: #26. Current record: 10-6, +895.
Round 17		Cohen played #6 Peter Armstrong (Baltimore, MD) and won 383 to 330 (a spread of 53) . The last time these two played was 2000-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Cohen's record vs. Armstrong in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-1 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: L. Current ranking: #16. Current record: 11-6, +948.
Round 18		Cohen played #88 Robert Linn (Potomac, MD) and won 438 to 373 (a spread of 65) . The last time these two played was 2004-03 at: PIGEON FORGE, TN Cohen's record vs. Linn in the 5 years leading up to this event: 9-11 (0.450). Past 1-12 months: LLWL. Past 13-24 months: LWWLL. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: LWL. Past 49-60 months: WLLWLWWW. Current ranking: #12. Current record: 12-6, +1013.
Round 19		Cohen played #12 Evan Berofsky (Thornhill ON) and won 386 to 367 (a spread of 19) . Before this event, Cohen had not played Berofsky in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #10. Current record: 13-6, +1032.
Round 20		Cohen played #4 Scott Appel (Trenton, NJ) and won 459 to 259 (a spread of 200) . The last time these two played was 2003-06 at: ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Cohen's record vs. Appel in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-1 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #6. Current record: 14-6, +1232.
Round 21		Cohen played #88 Robert Linn (Potomac, MD) and lost 386 to 391 (a spread of -5) . The last time these two played was 2004-03 at: PIGEON FORGE, TN Cohen's record vs. Linn in the 5 years leading up to this event: 9-11 (0.450). Past 1-12 months: LLWL. Past 13-24 months: LWWLL. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: LWL. Past 49-60 months: WLLWLWWW. Current ranking: #11. Current record: 14-7, +1227.
Round 22		Cohen played #28 Chris Cree (Dallas, TX) and lost 406 to 489 (a spread of -83) . The last time these two played was 2003-09 at: ALBUQUERQUE, NM Cohen's record vs. Cree in the 5 years leading up to this event: 16.5-13.5 (0.550). Past 1-12 months: WW. Past 13-24 months: WLW. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: WWLLLWWWLWLWL. Past 49-60 months: LWWLLWLLTWW. Current ranking: #19. Current record: 14-8, +1144.
Round 23		Cohen played #98 Jere Mead (Chelmsford, MA) and lost 374 to 400 (a spread of -26) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Cohen's record vs. Mead in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: L. Current ranking: #26. Current record: 14-9, +1118.
Round 24		Cohen played #90 John Luebkemann (Pineville, NC) and lost 396 to 473 (a spread of -77) . The last time these two played was 2004-03 at: PIGEON FORGE, TN Cohen's record vs. Luebkemann in the 5 years leading up to this event: 6-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: WW. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: WW. Past 49-60 months: WW. Current ranking: #35. Current record: 14-10, +1041.
Round 25		Cohen played #32 Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) and lost 375 to 550 (a spread of -175) . The last time these two played was 2004-03 at: PIGEON FORGE, TN Cohen's record vs. Daniel in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-1 (0.667). Past 1-12 months: WW. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #44. Current record: 14-11, +866.
Round 26		Cohen played #12 Evan Berofsky (Thornhill ON) and won 429 to 400 (a spread of 29) . Before this event, Cohen had not played Berofsky in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #33. Current record: 15-11, +895.
Round 27		Cohen played #129 David Poder (Huntington Beach, CA) and won 443 to 357 (a spread of 86) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: LOS GATOS, CA Cohen's record vs. Poder in the 5 years leading up to this event: 17-13 (0.567). Past 1-12 months: WWLLWW. Past 13-24 months: WLLLWWL. Past 25-36 months: LWW. Past 37-48 months: WLWLWWLWLWL. Past 49-60 months: WLW. Current ranking: #25. Current record: 16-11, +981.
Round 28		Cohen played #113 Lisa Odom (St. Louis Park, MN) and lost 313 to 503 (a spread of -190) . The last time these two played was 2003-08 at: PORTLAND, OR Cohen's record vs. Odom in the 5 years leading up to this event: 8-5 (0.615). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: WWL. Past 25-36 months: LW. Past 37-48 months: WLWLL. Past 49-60 months: WWW. Current ranking: #35. Current record: 16-12, +791.
Round 29		Cohen played #174 Jeff Widergren (Los Gatos, CA) and lost 302 to 349 (a spread of -47) . The last time these two played was 2003-11 at: LOS GATOS, CA Cohen's record vs. Widergren in the 5 years leading up to this event: 5-1 (0.833). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: LW. Past 49-60 months: WW. Current ranking: #44. Current record: 16-13, +744.
Round 30		Cohen played #138 Dean Saldanha (Richmond BC) and won 462 to 366 (a spread of 96) . The last time these two played was 2002-10 at: WESTERN CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP Cohen's record vs. Saldanha in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-2 (0.333). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: WL. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #38. Current record: 17-13, +840.

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