Steve Pellinen [#124] 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 Pellinen, 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. Pellinen currently has a record of 17-13, +61, and is ranked #47 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): Pellinen Home: St. Louis Park, MN, United States Age: 51 Awards: Ninth Grade Battle of Wits Champion Hobbies: Reading, Music, Baseball Occupation: Civil Engineer Notes: NSA AB member 1999-2003

Career History

5-year record against other players at this event	161-238 (0.404)
Past 1-12 months	26-40 (0.394)	LLLLLLL W L WW LLL WWW LL WWW L WW LLLLLLLLLL WW L WW L W LLL W LL W L W LL W LL WWWWW LLLL W
Past 13-24 months	33-46 (0.418)	LL W LLL W L W LL WW L WW L WWW L W LLL W L WW LL WW LLLLLLL WWWW L W LLLL WW LLLLL W L WWWW LL W LLLL WW LLL W L W L
Past 25-36 months	39-79 (0.331)	LLLLL WWWWW LL W LLLL W LLL WW LLLLLLL W L W LL W LLL W L W L W L WW LL W LLL WW LL WW LLLLLLLL W L W L WW L WW LL W LLLLLLL W LLL W LLLLLLLLLLLL WW L W LLL WW LL WW L W
Past 37-48 months	38-52 (0.422)	L WW L W LLLL W LL W L W LL W L W LLL W L W LL W L WWWWW L W LLLLL W LL W LLLL W L WW L W LLL W L WW LL W LLL W L WW L W LL W LLLL WW L W L WWW
Past 49-60 months	25-21 (0.543)	LL WW L WWW L WWWW LLLLLL W L WW L WW LL W LLL WW L WW L W L WWW L WW

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 532 Average for: 385 Average against: 383
Before the Tournament		Pellinen is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 1		Pellinen played #49 Joe Gaspard (Minneapolis, MN) and won 446 to 297 (a spread of 149) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Pellinen's record vs. Gaspard in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-4 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: LWWLLL. 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: #17. Current record: 1-0, +149.
Round 2		Pellinen played #169 Daniel Wachtell (New York, NY) and won 379 to 366 (a spread of 13) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Wachtell in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #32. Current record: 2-0, +162.
Round 3		Pellinen played #168 John Viloria (New York, NY) and lost 302 to 382 (a spread of -80) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Viloria in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #61. Current record: 2-1, +82.
Round 4		Pellinen played #170 Joel Wapnick (Montréal QC) and won 447 to 357 (a spread of 90) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Wapnick in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #41. Current record: 3-1, +172.
Round 5		Pellinen played #16 Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL) and won 454 to 377 (a spread of 77) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Pellinen's record vs. Cappelletto in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-5 (0.286). Past 1-12 months: WL. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: WLL. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #26. Current record: 4-1, +249.
Round 6		Pellinen played #178 Karen Merrill (Portland, OR) and lost 273 to 475 (a spread of -202) . The last time these two played was 2003-08 at: PORTLAND, OR Pellinen's record vs. Merrill in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-3 (0.400). 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: W. Current ranking: #56. Current record: 4-2, +47.
Round 7		Pellinen played #23 Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR) and lost 335 to 385 (a spread of -50) . The last time these two played was 2003-04 at: MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP Pellinen'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: L. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #68. Current record: 4-3, -3.
Round 8		Pellinen played #59 Dominic Grillo (Somerset, NJ) and won 411 to 331 (a spread of 80) . The last time these two played was 2000-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Pellinen's record vs. Grillo 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: #54. Current record: 5-3, +77.
Round 9		Pellinen played #27 Laurie Cohen (Tempe, AZ) and won 407 to 284 (a spread of 123) . The last time these two played was 2003-02 at: PHOENIX, AZ Pellinen's record vs. Cohen in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-2 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: LWL. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #37. Current record: 6-3, +200.
Round 10		Pellinen played #70 Arnie Horowitz (Framingham, MA) and won 408 to 352 (a spread of 56) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Horowitz in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #29. Current record: 7-3, +256.
Round 11		Pellinen played #29 Lynn Cushman (New York, NY) and lost 315 to 442 (a spread of -127) . The last time these two played was 2004-06 at: SWILLNS Pellinen's record vs. Cushman in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-3 (0.250). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: WLL. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #42. Current record: 7-4, +129.
Round 12		Pellinen played #45 Jeff Fleetham (Calgary AB) and won 439 to 392 (a spread of 47) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Fleetham in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #32. Current record: 8-4, +176. Pellinen is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Pellinen is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 13		Pellinen played #104 Brian Moss (Brooklyn, NY) and lost 381 to 394 (a spread of -13) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Moss in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #43. Current record: 8-5, +163.
Round 14		Pellinen played #130 Steve Polatnick (Miami, FL) and won 383 to 352 (a spread of 31) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Polatnick in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #34. Current record: 9-5, +194.
Round 15		Pellinen played #6 Peter Armstrong (Baltimore, MD) and won 457 to 408 (a spread of 49) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Pellinen's record vs. Armstrong in the 5 years leading up to this event: 3-7 (0.300). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: LLWLL. Past 37-48 months: WL. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #24. Current record: 10-5, +243.
Round 16		Pellinen played #12 Evan Berofsky (Thornhill ON) and won 374 to 306 (a spread of 68) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Pellinen's record vs. Berofsky in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: WL. 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: #21. Current record: 11-5, +311.
Round 17		Pellinen played #16 Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL) and lost 369 to 469 (a spread of -100) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Pellinen's record vs. Cappelletto in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-5 (0.286). Past 1-12 months: WL. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: WLL. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #29. Current record: 11-6, +211.
Round 18		Pellinen played #78 Jason Katz-Brown (Richmond, CA) and lost 341 to 472 (a spread of -131) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Katz-Brown in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #45. Current record: 11-7, +80.
Round 19		Pellinen played #60 Albert Hahn (Calgary AB) and lost 329 to 433 (a spread of -104) . The last time these two played was 2001-07 at: RENO, NV Pellinen's record vs. Hahn 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: no games. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #57. Current record: 11-8, -24.
Round 20		Pellinen played #130 Steve Polatnick (Miami, FL) and won 532 to 324 (a spread of 208) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Polatnick in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #44. Current record: 12-8, +184.
Round 21		Pellinen played #91 Rod MacNeil (Londonderry, NH) and lost 350 to 468 (a spread of -118) . The last time these two played was 2001-01 at: RENO, NV Pellinen's record vs. MacNeil 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: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #52. Current record: 12-9, +66.
Round 22		Pellinen played #66 Randy Hersom (Morganton, NC) and lost 361 to 411 (a spread of -50) . The last time these two played was 2003-04 at: MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP Pellinen's record vs. Hersom 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: #60. Current record: 12-10, +16.
Round 23		Pellinen played #27 Laurie Cohen (Tempe, AZ) and lost 322 to 460 (a spread of -138) . The last time these two played was 2003-02 at: PHOENIX, AZ Pellinen's record vs. Cohen in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-2 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: LWL. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #73. Current record: 12-11, -122.
Round 24		Pellinen played #123 Mike Paxson (Bloomington, IN) and won 378 to 282 (a spread of 96) . The last time these two played was 2003-04 at: MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP Pellinen's record vs. Paxson in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #63. Current record: 13-11, -26.
Round 25		Pellinen played #147 Larry Sherman (Bronx, NY) and won 407 to 361 (a spread of 46) . The last time these two played was 2003-12 at: PARSIPPANY,NJ Pellinen's record vs. Sherman in the 5 years leading up to this event: 3-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: WW. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #56. Current record: 14-11, +20.
Round 26		Pellinen played #46 Ray Francis (Pickering ON) and won 434 to 326 (a spread of 108) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Francis in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #41. Current record: 15-11, +128.
Round 27		Pellinen played #151 Debbie Stegman (Kew Gardens, NY) and won 357 to 318 (a spread of 39) . Before this event, Pellinen had not played Stegman in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #36. Current record: 16-11, +167.
Round 28		Pellinen played #176 Ben Withers (Lake Jackson, TX) and lost 311 to 433 (a spread of -122) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Pellinen's record vs. Withers 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: #47. Current record: 16-12, +45.
Round 29		Pellinen played #81 Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) and lost 396 to 421 (a spread of -25) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Pellinen's record vs. Kramer in the 5 years leading up to this event: 6-12 (0.333). Past 1-12 months: LLLL. Past 13-24 months: WWWL. Past 25-36 months: LWLL. Past 37-48 months: LWW. Past 49-60 months: LLL. Current ranking: #56. Current record: 16-13, +20.
Round 30		Pellinen played #88 Robert Linn (Potomac, MD) and won 449 to 408 (a spread of 41) . The last time these two played was 2004-05 at: CHICAGO, IL Pellinen's record vs. Linn in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-6 (0.250). Past 1-12 months: WL. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: LLWLL. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #47. Current record: 17-13, +61.
Final Round 1		Pellinen is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Final Round 3		Pellinen is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit).

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