Diane Firstman [#44] 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 Diane Firstman, 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. Firstman currently has a record of 15-15, -529, and is ranked #91 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): Diane Surname(s): Firstman Home: Brooklyn, NY, United States Age: 41 Awards: 2002 BAT (A) Hobbies: Scrabble and other word games Occupation: City Government Analyst

Career History

5-year record against other players at this event	70.5-137.5 (0.339)
Past 1-12 months	18-39 (0.316)	LL WW LLLLL W LLL WW LLL W LLLL W L W LLLL W L WW LLLLLL WW LLL WWW LL W LLLLL W
Past 13-24 months	21.5-36.5 (0.371)	LLL W LL W LLLL WW LLLLLLLL W LTLLL W L WWW L W L W L W LLLL W L W LLL WWWWW LLL WW
Past 25-36 months	15-35 (0.300)	LLL WW LLLLLLLLLL W L W LL W LLL WW L WWW LLLLL W LLLL WW LLLL W LL W
Past 37-48 months	4-7 (0.364)	LLLLL WW LL WW
Past 49-60 months	12-20 (0.375)	LL W LL WW L WWW L W LLLLLLLLLL WW LLL WW L W

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 594 Average for: 383 Average against: 405
Round 1		Firstman played #19 Gerald Carter (Thailand) and lost 280 to 486 (a spread of -206) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Carter in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #164. Current record: 0-1, -206. Firstman is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 2		Firstman played #95 Kenji Matsumoto (Aiea, HI) and lost 374 to 406 (a spread of -32) . The last time these two played was 2003-10 at: STAMFORD, CT Firstman's record vs. Matsumoto in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #159. Current record: 0-2, -238. Firstman is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit).
Round 3		Firstman played #112 Christina O'Sullivan (Seattle, WA) and won 399 to 397 (a spread of 2) . Before this event, Firstman had not played O'Sullivan in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #137. Current record: 1-2, -236.
Round 4		Firstman played #142 Louis Schecter (Brooklyn, NY) and won 456 to 302 (a spread of 154) . The last time these two played was 2002-12 at: PARSIPPANY, NJ Firstman's record vs. Schecter in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-2 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: LL. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #104. Current record: 2-2, -82.
Round 5		Firstman recorded a win with a spread of 115 points. Current ranking: #71. Current record: 3-2, +33.
Round 6		Firstman played #8 Michael Baker (Portland, OR) and won 397 to 379 (a spread of 18) . The last time these two played was 2003-05 at: SEATTLE, WA Firstman's record vs. Baker 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: #55. Current record: 4-2, +51.
Round 7		Firstman played #32 Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) and lost 452 to 476 (a spread of -24) . The last time these two played was 2003-02 at: ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Firstman's record vs. Daniel in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-2 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #64. Current record: 4-3, +27.
Round 8		Firstman played #18 Jean Carol (Cincinnati, OH) and won 390 to 376 (a spread of 14) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Carol in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #57. Current record: 5-3, +41. Firstman is mentioned in this round's commentary (2 hits).
Round 9		Firstman played #21 Eric Chaikin (West Hollywood, CA) and won 476 to 331 (a spread of 145) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Chaikin in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #38. Current record: 6-3, +186. Firstman is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 10		Firstman played #17 Aldo Cardia (New York, NY) and won 353 to 334 (a spread of 19) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Cardia in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #31. Current record: 7-3, +205.
Round 11		Firstman played #64 Wendell Haynes (Loxahatchee, FL) and lost 364 to 489 (a spread of -125) . The last time these two played was 2000-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Firstman's record vs. Haynes 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: #44. Current record: 7-4, +80.
Round 12		Firstman played #132 Cynthia Pughsley (Oakland, CA) and won 416 to 389 (a spread of 27) . The last time these two played was 2000-03 at: ATLANTA, GA Firstman's record vs. Pughsley in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-2 (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: LL. Current ranking: #37. Current record: 8-4, +107. Firstman is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Firstman is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 13		Firstman played #81 Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) and lost 246 to 469 (a spread of -223) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Kramer in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #53. Current record: 8-5, -116.
Round 14		Firstman played #33 Darrell Day (Richardson, TX) and won 594 to 270 (a spread of 324) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Day in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #33. Current record: 9-5, +208. Firstman is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Firstman is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 15		Firstman played #77 Carol Kaplan (San Diego, CA) and won 418 to 397 (a spread of 21) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Kaplan in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #26. Current record: 10-5, +229.
Round 16		Firstman played #104 Brian Moss (Brooklyn, NY) and won 415 to 328 (a spread of 87) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Moss in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #20. Current record: 11-5, +316.
Round 17		Firstman played #23 Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR) and lost 364 to 493 (a spread of -129) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Firstman's record vs. Chaney 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: #31. Current record: 11-6, +187.
Round 18		Firstman played #4 Scott Appel (Trenton, NJ) and lost 324 to 421 (a spread of -97) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: DANBURY, CT Firstman's record vs. Appel in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: W. 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: #44. Current record: 11-7, +90.
Round 19		Firstman played #85 Jerry Lerman (Foster City, CA) and lost 350 to 390 (a spread of -40) . The last time these two played was 2002-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Firstman's record vs. Lerman 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: #54. Current record: 11-8, +50.
Round 20		Firstman played #163 Stephen Tier (Rego Park, NY) and lost 300 to 474 (a spread of -174) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: DANBURY, CT Firstman's record vs. Tier in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-5 (0.167). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: LLW. Current ranking: #65. Current record: 11-9, -124.
Round 21		Firstman played #123 Mike Paxson (Bloomington, IN) and lost 379 to 401 (a spread of -22) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Paxson in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #78. Current record: 11-10, -146.
Round 22		Firstman played #67 Marlon Hill (Baltimore, MD) and won 421 to 392 (a spread of 29) . The last time these two played was 2003-10 at: STAMFORD, CT Firstman's record vs. Hill in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-4 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: LLL. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #65. Current record: 12-10, -117.
Round 23		Firstman played #23 Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR) and won 409 to 363 (a spread of 46) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Firstman's record vs. Chaney 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: #57. Current record: 13-10, -71.
Round 24		Firstman played #8 Michael Baker (Portland, OR) and won 522 to 338 (a spread of 184) . The last time these two played was 2003-05 at: SEATTLE, WA Firstman's record vs. Baker 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: #45. Current record: 14-10, +113. Firstman is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Firstman is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 25		Firstman played #68 Ron Hoekstra (Kentwood, MI) and won 394 to 393 (a spread of 1) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Hoekstra in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #36. Current record: 15-10, +114.
Round 26		Firstman played #67 Marlon Hill (Baltimore, MD) and lost 293 to 514 (a spread of -221) . The last time these two played was 2003-10 at: STAMFORD, CT Firstman's record vs. Hill in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-4 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: LLL. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #46. Current record: 15-11, -107.
Round 27		Firstman played #94 Dominick Mancine (Louisville, CO) and lost 374 to 382 (a spread of -8) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Mancine in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #56. Current record: 15-12, -115.
Round 28		Firstman played #77 Carol Kaplan (San Diego, CA) and lost 344 to 449 (a spread of -105) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Kaplan in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #70. Current record: 15-13, -220.
Round 29		Firstman played #137 Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON) and lost 327 to 353 (a spread of -26) . Before this event, Firstman had not played Rowland in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #82. Current record: 15-14, -246.
Round 30		Firstman played #23 Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR) and lost 281 to 564 (a spread of -283) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Firstman's record vs. Chaney 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: #91. Current record: 15-15, -529.

HASBRO is the owner of the registered SCRABBLE^® trademark in the United States and Canada. © 2004 HASBRO. All rights reserved. "SCRABBLE^® Brand Crossword Game" is the proper way to refer to this unique group of word games and related properties marketed by HASBRO. "SCRABBLE^®" is not a generic term. To use it as such is not only misleading but also does injustice to the company responsible for the trademark's longtime popularity. All we ask is that when you mean SCRABBLE^® Brand Crossword Game, you say so.

The SCRABBLE^® trademark is owned by J.W. Spear and Sons, PLC, a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. outside of the United States and Canada.

For more information about SCRABBLE^® or the NSA, or to comment on or correct the contents of this page, please e-mail: info@scrabble-assoc.com
To report technical difficulties in reading this page, please contact webmaster John Chew at: jjchew@math.utoronto.ca