Joel Wapnick [#170] 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 Joel Wapnick, 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. Wapnick currently has a record of 20-10, +833, and is ranked #9 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): Joel Surname(s): Wapnick Home: Montréal, QC, Canada Age: 58 Awards: North American Champ, 1983; WSC Champ. 1999; Canadian Champ, 1998 Hobbies: Scrabble (more than a hobby) Occupation: University professor WSC 1991 Rank: 27 WSC 1993 Rank: 2 WSC 1995 Rank: 15 WSC 1997 Rank: 36 WSC 1999 Rank: 1 WSC 2001 Rank: 2

Career History

5-year record against other players at this event	130.5-111.5 (0.539)
Past 1-12 months	27-25 (0.519)	LLL WWWW L W L W L WWWWW LLLLL W LL W L W L W L W LL W LTWW LL WWW L WWTLL WW
Past 13-24 months	22-22 (0.500)	W LL WW LLL WW LLL WWW LL W LLLL WWWW LL W LLL W L WWW L WWWW L
Past 25-36 months	33.5-24.5 (0.578)	W L WTW LLLL W L WW LL W LL WWWW L W LL WWWW L W LLLL W LL WWWWWWW L WWW LL WW L WWW
Past 37-48 months	20-21 (0.488)	LLL W L WWW LLLLL WW L W L W L WWWW L WW LLL W L WW LLL WWW L
Past 49-60 months	28-19 (0.596)	WWWWWWW L W L W LLLLL W L WWW LL WW LL W LL WW L WWWWWWW L W L W L W L

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 566 Average for: 413 Average against: 385
Round 1		Wapnick played #178 Karen Merrill (Portland, OR) and won 411 to 337 (a spread of 74) . The last time these two played was 2000-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Merrill 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: 1-0, +74.
Round 2		Wapnick played #23 Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR) and won 536 to 356 (a spread of 180) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Chaney in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #12. Current record: 2-0, +254.
Round 3		Wapnick played #49 Joe Gaspard (Minneapolis, MN) and lost 303 to 391 (a spread of -88) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Gaspard in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #45. Current record: 2-1, +166.
Round 4		Wapnick played #124 Steve Pellinen (St. Louis Park, MN) and lost 357 to 447 (a spread of -90) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Pellinen in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #66. Current record: 2-2, +76.
Round 5		Wapnick played #168 John Viloria (New York, NY) and won 453 to 440 (a spread of 13) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Viloria in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #61. Current record: 3-2, +89.
Round 6		Wapnick played #169 Daniel Wachtell (New York, NY) and tied at 418 . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Wachtell in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #62. Current record: 3.5-2.5, +89.
Round 7		Wapnick played #16 Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL) and lost 352 to 580 (a spread of -228) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Wapnick's record vs. Cappelletto in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-1 (0.800). Past 1-12 months: LWW. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #88. Current record: 3.5-3.5, -139. Wapnick is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit).
Round 8		Wapnick played #48 Marty Gabriel (Berwyn, IL) and won 431 to 346 (a spread of 85) . The last time these two played was 2001-08 at: MASTER'S CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Gabriel 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: #69. Current record: 4.5-3.5, -54.
Round 9		Wapnick played #41 Paul Epstein (Ann Arbor, MI) and tied at 373 . The last time these two played was 2003-08 at: ALL*STARS CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Epstein in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #78. Current record: 5-4, -54.
Round 10		Wapnick played #8 Michael Baker (Portland, OR) and lost 432 to 434 (a spread of -2) . The last time these two played was 2001-08 at: MASTER'S CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Baker 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: no games. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #93. Current record: 5-5, -56. Wapnick is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 11		Wapnick played #147 Larry Sherman (Bronx, NY) and won 409 to 372 (a spread of 37) . The last time these two played was 2001-09 at: TORONTO, ONT Wapnick's record vs. Sherman in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0.5-0.5 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: T. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #70. Current record: 6-5, -19.
Round 12		Wapnick played #128 Amnuay Ploysangngam (Thailand) and won 385 to 326 (a spread of 59) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Ploysangngam 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: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #56. Current record: 7-5, +40.
Round 13		Wapnick played #129 David Poder (Huntington Beach, CA) and won 377 to 365 (a spread of 12) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Poder 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: #50. Current record: 8-5, +52.
Round 14		Wapnick played #175 Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR) and won 383 to 348 (a spread of 35) . The last time these two played was 2004-03 at: CAN-AM MATCH Wapnick's record vs. Wiegand in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-2 (0.333). Past 1-12 months: WL. 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: #39. Current record: 9-5, +87.
Round 15		Wapnick played #123 Mike Paxson (Bloomington, IN) and won 372 to 362 (a spread of 10) . The last time these two played was 2001-08 at: MASTER'S CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Paxson 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: no games. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #31. Current record: 10-5, +97.
Round 16		Wapnick played #35 Jan Dixon (Newark, DE) and lost 306 to 415 (a spread of -109) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Dixon 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: #42. Current record: 10-6, -12.
Round 17		Wapnick played #85 Jerry Lerman (Foster City, CA) and won 437 to 339 (a spread of 98) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Lerman in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #33. Current record: 11-6, +86.
Round 18		Wapnick played #33 Darrell Day (Richardson, TX) and won 539 to 336 (a spread of 203) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Day in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #23. Current record: 12-6, +289.
Round 19		Wapnick played #23 Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR) and won 418 to 390 (a spread of 28) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Chaney in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #15. Current record: 13-6, +317.
Round 20		Wapnick played #98 Jere Mead (Chelmsford, MA) and won 493 to 394 (a spread of 99) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Wapnick's record vs. Mead in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-4 (0.333). Past 1-12 months: WLL. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: LW. Current ranking: #11. Current record: 14-6, +416.
Round 21		Wapnick played #78 Jason Katz-Brown (Richmond, CA) and won 446 to 395 (a spread of 51) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Katz-Brown in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #7. Current record: 15-6, +467. Wapnick is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Wapnick is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 22		Wapnick played #5 Chuck Armstrong (Saline, MI) and lost 311 to 405 (a spread of -94) . The last time these two played was 2003-09 at: TORONTO, ONT. CAN Wapnick's record vs. Armstrong in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-1 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: L. 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: #14. Current record: 15-7, +373.
Round 23		Wapnick played #4 Scott Appel (Trenton, NJ) and lost 364 to 476 (a spread of -112) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Appel 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: #21. Current record: 15-8, +261. Wapnick is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 24		Wapnick played #35 Jan Dixon (Newark, DE) and won 566 to 303 (a spread of 263) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Dixon 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: #11. Current record: 16-8, +524.
Round 25		Wapnick played #81 Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) and won 414 to 364 (a spread of 50) . The last time these two played was 2004-03 at: CAN-AM MATCH Wapnick's record vs. Kramer in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-5 (0.167). Past 1-12 months: LL. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: LL. Current ranking: #12. Current record: 17-8, +574.
Round 26		Wapnick played #4 Scott Appel (Trenton, NJ) and lost 369 to 400 (a spread of -31) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Wapnick's record vs. Appel 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: #14. Current record: 17-9, +543.
Round 27		Wapnick played #64 Wendell Haynes (Loxahatchee, FL) and won 462 to 358 (a spread of 104) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Haynes in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #11. Current record: 18-9, +647.
Round 28		Wapnick played #64 Wendell Haynes (Loxahatchee, FL) and won 509 to 337 (a spread of 172) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Haynes in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #8. Current record: 19-9, +819.
Round 29		Wapnick played #14 Ted Blevins (Cecilia, KY) and won 356 to 328 (a spread of 28) . Before this event, Wapnick had not played Blevins in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #6. Current record: 20-9, +847. Wapnick is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 30		Wapnick played #16 Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL) and lost 409 to 423 (a spread of -14) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Wapnick's record vs. Cappelletto in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-1 (0.800). Past 1-12 months: LWW. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #9. Current record: 20-10, +833. Wapnick is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Wapnick is mentioned in this round's photo captions (4 hits).

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