Ben Withers [#176] 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 Ben Withers, 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. Withers currently has a record of 19-11, +439, and is ranked #16 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): Ben Surname(s): Withers Home: Lake Jackson, TX, United States Age: 56 Awards: 2003-02 Salado, TX; 2003 US WSC Team Member Hobbies: Travel, reading Occupation: Physician

Career History

5-year record against other players at this event	109-112 (0.493)
Past 1-12 months	11-18 (0.379)	LLL W L W L WW LLL W LLL W LLL W LL W LL WWW
Past 13-24 months	26-23 (0.531)	W L WWW L WW L W LL WWWW L W L WW LLLLLLL W L W L WWWW LLL WWW LL W L WW L
Past 25-36 months	27-24 (0.529)	W L WW L W LLL WWWW LL W L W LLL WW L W L W LLL W LL W LLLL WWW L WWW L WWWWW
Past 37-48 months	20.5-27.5 (0.427)	LLLL WW LLLLLL WW L WWWWTLL WWW L WWW LLL W L W LL W LL WW LLLLL W
Past 49-60 months	24.5-19.5 (0.557)	LL WW L WWW L WW LLL WWWW LL WW L W LLLLLL WW L WWTWWWW L WW L

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 493 Average for: 394 Average against: 380
Before the Tournament		Withers is mentioned in this round's photo captions (2 hits).
Round 1		Withers played #52 Andrew Golding (Verdun QC) and lost 344 to 459 (a spread of -115) . Before this event, Withers had not played Golding in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #147. Current record: 0-1, -115.
Round 2		Withers played #136 Ted Rosen (Rochester, NY) and won 470 to 319 (a spread of 151) . Before this event, Withers had not played Rosen in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #73. Current record: 1-1, +36.
Round 3		Withers played #108 Pakorn Nemitrmansuk (Thailand) and won 473 to 462 (a spread of 11) . Before this event, Withers had not played Nemitrmansuk in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #71. Current record: 2-1, +47. Withers is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 4		Withers played #128 Amnuay Ploysangngam (Thailand) and lost 343 to 357 (a spread of -14) . Before this event, Withers had not played Ploysangngam in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #77. Current record: 2-2, +33.
Round 5	Larger photo available	Withers played #56 Matt Graham (New York, NY) and lost 422 to 424 (a spread of -2) . The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: ALBANY, NY Withers's record vs. Graham in the 5 years leading up to this event: 3-3 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: WL. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: LWL. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #91. Current record: 2-3, +31.
Round 6		Withers played #117 Kristiina Overton (Thornhill ON) and won 390 to 345 (a spread of 45) . The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: ALBANY, NY Withers's record vs. Overton 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: #74. Current record: 3-3, +76.
Round 7		Withers played #82 Rose Kreiswirth (East Northport, NY) and lost 386 to 421 (a spread of -35) . The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: ALBANY, NY Withers's record vs. Kreiswirth 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: #98. Current record: 3-4, +41.
Round 8		Withers played #109 Rita Norr (Danbury, CT) and won 442 to 390 (a spread of 52) . The last time these two played was 2002-04 at: STAMFORD, CT Withers's record vs. Norr in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-3 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: LLL. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #85. Current record: 4-4, +93.
Round 9		Withers played #129 David Poder (Huntington Beach, CA) and lost 319 to 433 (a spread of -114) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: PHOENIX, AZ Withers's record vs. Poder 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: #102. Current record: 4-5, -21.
Round 10		Withers played #138 Dean Saldanha (Richmond BC) and lost 291 to 490 (a spread of -199) . Before this event, Withers had not played Saldanha in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #127. Current record: 4-6, -220.
Round 11		Withers played #18 Jean Carol (Cincinnati, OH) and won 397 to 394 (a spread of 3) . The last time these two played was 2002-02 at: DANBURY, CT Withers's record vs. Carol 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: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #114. Current record: 5-6, -217.
Round 12		Withers played #120 Libero Paolella (Toronto ON) and lost 356 to 409 (a spread of -53) . The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: ALBANY, NY Withers's record vs. Paolella in the 5 years leading up to this event: 8-6 (0.571). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: WL. Past 25-36 months: WL. Past 37-48 months: LWWW. Past 49-60 months: LWLWWL. Current ranking: #127. Current record: 5-7, -270.
Round 13		Withers played #107 Larry Neilson (Hollis, NY) and lost 330 to 337 (a spread of -7) . Before this event, Withers had not played Neilson in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #134. Current record: 5-8, -277.
Round 14		Withers played #46 Ray Francis (Pickering ON) and lost 364 to 371 (a spread of -7) . The last time these two played was 2000-01 at: OSHAWA, ON Withers's record vs. Francis 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: no games. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #141. Current record: 5-9, -284.
Round 15		Withers played #101 Mark Miller (Radnor, PA) and won 344 to 332 (a spread of 12) . Before this event, Withers had not played Miller in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #134. Current record: 6-9, -272.
Round 16		Withers played #169 Daniel Wachtell (New York, NY) and lost 340 to 386 (a spread of -46) . Before this event, Withers had not played Wachtell in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #142. Current record: 6-10, -318.
Round 17		Withers played #15 Mitchell Brook (Philadelphia, PA) and won 465 to 395 (a spread of 70) . Before this event, Withers had not played Brook in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #127. Current record: 7-10, -248.
Round 18		Withers played #167 Sinna Vijayakumar (North York ON) and won 429 to 419 (a spread of 10) . Before this event, Withers had not played Vijayakumar in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #117. Current record: 8-10, -238.
Round 19		Withers played #18 Jean Carol (Cincinnati, OH) and won 404 to 357 (a spread of 47) . The last time these two played was 2002-02 at: DANBURY, CT Withers's record vs. Carol 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: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #102. Current record: 9-10, -191.
Round 20		Withers played #118 Steve Ozorio (Mississauga ON) and won 348 to 307 (a spread of 41) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Withers's record vs. Ozorio in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-5 (0.444). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: LL. Past 37-48 months: LWWW. Past 49-60 months: LWL. Current ranking: #89. Current record: 10-10, -150.
Round 21		Withers played #175 Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR) and won 393 to 373 (a spread of 20) . Before this event, Withers had not played Wiegand in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #76. Current record: 11-10, -130.
Round 22		Withers played #22 Amit Chakrabarti (Hanover, NH) and won 458 to 368 (a spread of 90) . Before this event, Withers had not played Chakrabarti in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #64. Current record: 12-10, -40.
Round 23		Withers played #50 Jim Geary (Glendale, AZ) and won 398 to 381 (a spread of 17) . The last time these two played was 2003-04 at: STAMFORD, CT Withers's record vs. Geary 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: #55. Current record: 13-10, -23.
Round 24		Withers played #47 Jeremy Frank (New York, NY) and won 332 to 316 (a spread of 16) . Before this event, Withers had not played Frank in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #48. Current record: 14-10, -7.
Round 25		Withers played #137 Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON) and won 431 to 297 (a spread of 134) . The last time these two played was 2001-11 at: BRANTFORD, ONT Withers's record vs. Rowland in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-4 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: WWL. Past 37-48 months: LL. Past 49-60 months: WLW. Current ranking: #34. Current record: 15-10, +127.
Round 26		Withers played #80 Mark Kenas (Madison, WI) and lost 399 to 442 (a spread of -43) . Before this event, Withers had not played Kenas in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #42. Current record: 15-11, +84.
Round 27		Withers played #76 Sam Kantimathi (El Dorado Hills, CA) and won 421 to 290 (a spread of 131) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: PHOENIX, AZ Withers's record vs. Kantimathi in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-3 (0.250). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: LL. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #35. Current record: 16-11, +215.
Round 28		Withers played #124 Steve Pellinen (St. Louis Park, MN) and won 433 to 311 (a spread of 122) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Withers'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: no games. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #28. Current record: 17-11, +337.
Round 29		Withers played #93 Joey Mallick (Cape Elizabeth, ME) and won 412 to 364 (a spread of 48) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Withers's record vs. Mallick 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: LL. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #21. Current record: 18-11, +385.
Round 30		Withers played #64 Wendell Haynes (Loxahatchee, FL) and won 493 to 439 (a spread of 54) . Before this event, Withers had not played Haynes in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #16. Current record: 19-11, +439.

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