Randy Hersom [#66] 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 Randy Hersom, 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. Hersom currently has a record of 18.5-11.5, +954, and is ranked #22 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): Randy Surname(s): Hersom Home: Morganton, NC, United States Age: 44 Awards: 5th place 2000 Nationals, played 4 WSCs, All Stars 2003 and Superstars '95 Hobbies: Racquetball, Music CD collecting Occupation: Computer Programmer WSC 1997 Rank: 44 WSC 1999 Rank: 35 WSC 2001 Rank: 43

Career History

5-year record against other players at this event	199-137 (0.592)
Past 1-12 months	28-15 (0.651)	W L W L WWWWWWW LL W LL WWWW L WWWWW L W L WW L W LLL WWWW LL W
Past 13-24 months	51-29 (0.637)	W LL W L WWWW L WWWWWW LL WWWW L WW L WW L WWWWWW L WWW L WWWW LL WW L WW LL W L W L WW L W L WWW LLL W LL W LLL WWWW L
Past 25-36 months	44-31 (0.587)	LL WW L WWWW L WWWWW LL WWW LL WWWW L W L W L W L W L W L W LL WWWW LLL W L WW LL WWW L WWWWW LLL W L W LLL WWW L
Past 37-48 months	36-35 (0.507)	L W L WW L WW LLLL WWW L WW LL WWWW LL WWW L W L W LLLLLL WWW LL WW LLLL WW LL WWW L W L W LLL W L W L WWW
Past 49-60 months	40-27 (0.597)	WWW L WWWW LLLL W L WW L WWWWWW L W L W LLLLL W L WW LLL WWWWWWWWWWWWWW L W L W LL WW LL W LLL

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 511 Average for: 421 Average against: 389
Round 1		Hersom played #148 Paul Sidorsky (Calgary AB) and won 420 to 329 (a spread of 91) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Sidorsky in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #35. Current record: 1-0, +91.
Round 2		Hersom played #64 Wendell Haynes (Loxahatchee, FL) and lost 435 to 469 (a spread of -34) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Haynes in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #70. Current record: 1-1, +57.
Round 3		Hersom played #162 Susi Tiekert (Indialantic, FL) and won 419 to 361 (a spread of 58) . The last time these two played was 2000-03 at: MYRTLE BEACH, SC Hersom's record vs. Tiekert in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-0 (1.000). 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: WW. Current ranking: #54. Current record: 2-1, +115. Hersom is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Hersom is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 4		Hersom played #57 Howie Greenspan (Norwalk, CT) and won 485 to 352 (a spread of 133) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Greenspan in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #28. Current record: 3-1, +248. Hersom is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit).
Round 5		Hersom played #144 Marjorie Schoneboom (Central Islip, NY) and won 418 to 405 (a spread of 13) . The last time these two played was 2001-08 at: MASTER'S CHAMPIONSHIP Hersom's record vs. Schoneboom in the 5 years leading up to this event: 3-1 (0.750). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: WWL. Current ranking: #25. Current record: 4-1, +261.
Round 6		Hersom played #85 Jerry Lerman (Foster City, CA) and lost 390 to 483 (a spread of -93) . The last time these two played was 2003-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Hersom's record vs. Lerman in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #42. Current record: 4-2, +168.
Round 7		Hersom played #88 Robert Linn (Potomac, MD) and lost 358 to 486 (a spread of -128) . The last time these two played was 2004-03 at: PIGEON FORGE, TN Hersom's record vs. Linn in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-3 (0.571). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: LWL. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #62. Current record: 4-3, +40.
Round 8		Hersom played #89 Adam Logan (United Kingdom) and won 445 to 344 (a spread of 101) . The last time these two played was 2000-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Hersom's record vs. Logan in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-0 (1.000). 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: WW. Current ranking: #48. Current record: 5-3, +141.
Round 9		Hersom played #45 Jeff Fleetham (Calgary AB) and won 511 to 337 (a spread of 174) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Fleetham in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #34. Current record: 6-3, +315.
Round 10		Hersom played #132 Cynthia Pughsley (Oakland, CA) and lost 383 to 411 (a spread of -28) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Hersom's record vs. Pughsley in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-1 (0.667). 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: WL. Current ranking: #46. Current record: 6-4, +287.
Round 11		Hersom played #6 Peter Armstrong (Baltimore, MD) and won 446 to 442 (a spread of 4) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Hersom'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: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #40. Current record: 7-4, +291.
Round 12		Hersom played #17 Aldo Cardia (New York, NY) and lost 418 to 448 (a spread of -30) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Cardia in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #51. Current record: 7-5, +261.
Round 13		Hersom played #160 Randall Thomas (Calgary AB) and lost 410 to 412 (a spread of -2) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Thomas in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #60. Current record: 7-6, +259.
Round 14		Hersom played #38 Joe Edley (Coram, NY) and won 449 to 363 (a spread of 86) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Hersom's record vs. Edley in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-8 (0.111). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: WLL. Past 25-36 months: LL. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: LL. Current ranking: #50. Current record: 8-6, +345.
Round 15		Hersom played #67 Marlon Hill (Baltimore, MD) and won 475 to 352 (a spread of 123) . The last time these two played was 2003-04 at: MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP Hersom's record vs. Hill in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-1 (0.800). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: LW. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: WW. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #41. Current record: 9-6, +468. Hersom is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 16		Hersom played #29 Lynn Cushman (New York, NY) and won 468 to 293 (a spread of 175) . The last time these two played was 2001-08 at: MASTER'S CHAMPIONSHIP Hersom's record vs. Cushman in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #31. Current record: 10-6, +643.
Round 17		Hersom played #129 David Poder (Huntington Beach, CA) and lost 289 to 473 (a spread of -184) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Poder in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #41. Current record: 10-7, +459.
Round 18		Hersom played #11 Nathan Benedict (Tucson, AZ) and tied at 444 . Before this event, Hersom had not played Benedict in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #50. Current record: 10.5-7.5, +459. Hersom is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Hersom is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 19		Hersom played #37 Mike Early (Fort Worth, TX) and lost 325 to 466 (a spread of -141) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Early in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #59. Current record: 10.5-8.5, +318.
Round 20		Hersom played #91 Rod MacNeil (Londonderry, NH) and won 476 to 278 (a spread of 198) . Before this event, Hersom had not played MacNeil in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #51. Current record: 11.5-8.5, +516.
Round 21		Hersom played #130 Steve Polatnick (Miami, FL) and won 342 to 307 (a spread of 35) . The last time these two played was 2002-12 at: ORLANDO, FL Hersom's record vs. Polatnick in the 5 years leading up to this event: 3-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: WW. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #40. Current record: 12.5-8.5, +551.
Round 22		Hersom played #124 Steve Pellinen (St. Louis Park, MN) and won 411 to 361 (a spread of 50) . The last time these two played was 2003-04 at: MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP Hersom's record vs. Pellinen in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-0 (1.000). 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: no games. Current ranking: #29. Current record: 13.5-8.5, +601.
Round 23		Hersom played #111 John O'Laughlin (Madison, WI) and lost 367 to 394 (a spread of -27) . Before this event, Hersom had not played O'Laughlin in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #38. Current record: 13.5-9.5, +574.
Round 24		Hersom played #104 Brian Moss (Brooklyn, NY) and won 511 to 365 (a spread of 146) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Moss in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #31. Current record: 14.5-9.5, +720.
Round 25		Hersom played #154 Panupol Sujjayakorn (Thailand) and lost 370 to 427 (a spread of -57) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Sujjayakorn in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #39. Current record: 14.5-10.5, +663.
Round 26		Hersom played #16 Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL) and lost 334 to 432 (a spread of -98) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Hersom's record vs. Cappelletto in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-4 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: LW. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: WWLL. Current ranking: #48. Current record: 14.5-11.5, +565.
Round 27		Hersom played #38 Joe Edley (Coram, NY) and won 477 to 421 (a spread of 56) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Hersom's record vs. Edley in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-8 (0.111). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: WLL. Past 25-36 months: LL. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: LL. Current ranking: #40. Current record: 15.5-11.5, +621.
Round 28		Hersom played #81 Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) and won 470 to 345 (a spread of 125) . The last time these two played was 2003-08 at: ALL*STARS CHAMPIONSHIP Hersom's record vs. Kramer 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: #31. Current record: 16.5-11.5, +746.
Round 29		Hersom played #35 Jan Dixon (Newark, DE) and won 471 to 288 (a spread of 183) . The last time these two played was 2004-03 at: PIGEON FORGE, TN Hersom's record vs. Dixon in the 5 years leading up to this event: 5-3 (0.625). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: LWW. Past 49-60 months: WLL. Current ranking: #27. Current record: 17.5-11.5, +929.
Round 30		Hersom played #174 Jeff Widergren (Los Gatos, CA) and won 409 to 384 (a spread of 25) . Before this event, Hersom had not played Widergren in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #22. Current record: 18.5-11.5, +954.
Final Round 3		Hersom is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).

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