Steve Oliger [#115] 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 Steve Oliger, 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. Oliger currently has a record of 16-14, -28, and is ranked #71 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): Steve Surname(s): Oliger Home: Holtwood, PA, United States Age: 55 Awards: Uhhhh...; 2004-06 Indianapolis, IN Hobbies: Travel, computers, books, music Occupation: Retired Electronics Technician

Career History

5-year record against other players at this event	152.5-215.5 (0.414)
Past 1-12 months	35.5-42.5 (0.455)	W L WWWW LLLLLLL WWWWW LLL WWW LL WWWWW L WWW LLLL WW LLLL WW L W L W L WW LLLLL WW LLLLL W LLTLL WW LLL W
Past 13-24 months	47.5-57.5 (0.452)	LLL W LLLL WWW L W LLLLL WWWWW L WWTL WW LL W L W L W L WWW L W LL WW L W LL W LLL W L W L W LL W L W LL W LLL WW LLL W LLL WWWW LL W L W LLL W LL WWW LL W L WW L
Past 25-36 months	34-47 (0.420)	W L W LL W LLLLLL W LL W LLL WWW LL W LLL W LLLL WW L W LL W L WW LL W L WWW L W LLLL W LLLLL WWWW L WWW L W L W LL W LL WW
Past 37-48 months	17.5-32.5 (0.350)	L WW LLL W LLLL W LL W L WW L W LLL W LLL W L W LLLLLLLLL WWWW LLLL WTW
Past 49-60 months	18-36 (0.333)	L W L WW LLLLLL W L W LLLLLLL W LL WWW LL WW L W LLLLL W L WW LLLLLLLLL WWW

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 570 Average for: 389 Average against: 390
Round 1		Oliger played #174 Jeff Widergren (Los Gatos, CA) and lost 320 to 497 (a spread of -177) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Widergren in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #161. Current record: 0-1, -177.
Round 2		Oliger played #48 Marty Gabriel (Berwyn, IL) and won 406 to 375 (a spread of 31) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Oliger's record vs. Gabriel in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1.5-1.5 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: T. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #114. Current record: 1-1, -146.
Round 3		Oliger played #135 Nigel Richards (Malaysia) and lost 397 to 405 (a spread of -8) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Oliger'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: #124. Current record: 1-2, -154. Oliger is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 4		Oliger played #99 Mark Milan (Laguna Niguel, CA) and lost 347 to 417 (a spread of -70) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Milan in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #141. Current record: 1-3, -224.
Round 5		Oliger played #165 Cheryl Tyler (Lubbock, TX) and won 480 to 336 (a spread of 144) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Tyler in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #110. Current record: 2-3, -80.
Round 6		Oliger played #13 Neil Bines (Whitestone, NY) and won 417 to 319 (a spread of 98) . The last time these two played was 2002-07 at: ALBANY, NY Oliger's record vs. Bines 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: #84. Current record: 3-3, +18.
Round 7		Oliger played #59 Dominic Grillo (Somerset, NJ) and won 473 to 366 (a spread of 107) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: DANBURY, CT Oliger's record vs. Grillo in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-4 (0.200). Past 1-12 months: WL. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: L. Current ranking: #57. Current record: 4-3, +125.
Round 8		Oliger played #23 Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR) and won 480 to 243 (a spread of 237) . The last time these two played was 2002-04 at: ARDMORE, OK Oliger's record vs. Chaney 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: #36. Current record: 5-3, +362.
Round 9		Oliger played #58 Randy Greenspan (Buffalo, NY) and lost 254 to 548 (a spread of -294) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Oliger's record vs. Greenspan in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-8 (0.111). Past 1-12 months: LW. Past 13-24 months: LL. Past 25-36 months: LLLL. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #70. Current record: 5-4, +68.
Round 10		Oliger played #4 Scott Appel (Trenton, NJ) and lost 316 to 361 (a spread of -45) . The last time these two played was 2004-03 at: PHILADELPHIA, PA Oliger's record vs. Appel in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-7 (0.222). Past 1-12 months: LWL. Past 13-24 months: WL. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: LLLL. Current ranking: #81. Current record: 5-5, +23.
Round 11		Oliger played #81 Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) and lost 345 to 406 (a spread of -61) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Oliger's record vs. Kramer in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-2 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: L. 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: #100. Current record: 5-6, -38.
Round 12		Oliger played #52 Andrew Golding (Verdun QC) and won 369 to 341 (a spread of 28) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Golding in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #89. Current record: 6-6, -10.
Round 13		Oliger played #120 Libero Paolella (Toronto ON) and lost 309 to 533 (a spread of -224) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Paolella in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #109. Current record: 6-7, -234.
Round 14		Oliger played #17 Aldo Cardia (New York, NY) and won 404 to 339 (a spread of 65) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Cardia in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #93. Current record: 7-7, -169.
Round 15		Oliger played #80 Mark Kenas (Madison, WI) and won 377 to 294 (a spread of 83) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Oliger's record vs. Kenas in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-1 (0.667). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #75. Current record: 8-7, -86.
Round 16		Oliger played #127 Howard Pistol (Oakland Park, FL) and won 347 to 340 (a spread of 7) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Pistol in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #66. Current record: 9-7, -79.
Round 17		Oliger played #166 John Van Pelt (Arlington, MA) and lost 358 to 425 (a spread of -67) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Van Pelt in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #80. Current record: 9-8, -146.
Round 18		Oliger played #74 Robert Kahn (Plantation, FL) and lost 341 to 488 (a spread of -147) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Kahn in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #94. Current record: 9-9, -293.
Round 19		Oliger played #80 Mark Kenas (Madison, WI) and lost 398 to 460 (a spread of -62) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Oliger's record vs. Kenas in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-1 (0.667). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #110. Current record: 9-10, -355.
Round 20		Oliger played #127 Howard Pistol (Oakland Park, FL) and won 442 to 262 (a spread of 180) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Pistol in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #92. Current record: 10-10, -175.
Round 21		Oliger played #178 Karen Merrill (Portland, OR) and won 449 to 439 (a spread of 10) . The last time these two played was 2002-02 at: DANBURY, CT Oliger's record vs. Merrill 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: #81. Current record: 11-10, -165.
Round 22		Oliger played #99 Mark Milan (Laguna Niguel, CA) and lost 342 to 402 (a spread of -60) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Milan in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #92. Current record: 11-11, -225.
Round 23		Oliger played #26 Joanne Cohen (Owings Mills, MD) and lost 371 to 434 (a spread of -63) . The last time these two played was 2002-02 at: DANBURY, CT Oliger's record vs. Cohen 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: #109. Current record: 11-12, -288.
Round 24		Oliger played #106 Joe Neff (Oreland, PA) and lost 347 to 359 (a spread of -12) . The last time these two played was 2004-06 at: PHILADELPHIA, PA Oliger's record vs. Neff in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: WW. 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: #115. Current record: 11-13, -300.
Round 25		Oliger played #164 Siri Tillekeratne (Calgary AB) and won 570 to 346 (a spread of 224) . The last time these two played was 2001-07 at: RENO, NV Oliger's record vs. Tillekeratne in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-2 (0.333). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: LW. Past 49-60 months: L. Current ranking: #99. Current record: 12-13, -76.
Round 26		Oliger played #132 Cynthia Pughsley (Oakland, CA) and lost 329 to 455 (a spread of -126) . The last time these two played was 2002-03 at: GATLINBURG, TN Oliger's record vs. Pughsley in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-3 (0.400). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: WLL. Current ranking: #113. Current record: 12-14, -202.
Round 27		Oliger played #97 Marcia McPhee (Centreville, VA) and won 428 to 387 (a spread of 41) . The last time these two played was 2004-03 at: PHILADELPHIA, PA Oliger's record vs. McPhee in the 5 years leading up to this event: 6-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: WWW. Past 13-24 months: WWW. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #99. Current record: 13-14, -161.
Round 28		Oliger played #141 John Scalzo (Middle Village, NY) and won 379 to 372 (a spread of 7) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Scalzo in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #89. Current record: 14-14, -154.
Round 29		Oliger played #74 Robert Kahn (Plantation, FL) and won 407 to 342 (a spread of 65) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Kahn in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #79. Current record: 15-14, -89.
Round 30		Oliger played #46 Ray Francis (Pickering ON) and won 457 to 396 (a spread of 61) . Before this event, Oliger had not played Francis in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #71. Current record: 16-14, -28.

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