Ben Withers [#87] at 2005 National SCRABBLE® Championship

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On this page, you will find information about Ben Withers, who is a contestant in Division 1 at the 2005 National SCRABBLE® Championship, held August 20th – 24th in Reno, NV. This page is updated at least hourly between 09:00 A.M. and midnight PDT. Withers currently has a record of 9-19, -476, and is ranked #85 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: Houston, TX, United States Age: 57 Awards: 2003-02, 2005-02 Salado, TX; 2005-01 Waco, TX; (51st) 2003 WSC; Texas State Champion 2003 and 2005 Hobbies: Reading, travel, movies Occupation: Physician

Career History

6-year record against other players at this event	85-105 (0.447)
Past 1-12 months	20-12 (0.625)	LL WW L W L W L WW L W LL WWWWWWW L WWW L W LL WW
Past 13-24 months	16-21 (0.432)	LL W L W LLLLLLLLLL W LL W L WWWWW LLLL WWWWW L WW
Past 25-36 months	14-19 (0.424)	L WW LL WW L W L W LLLLLLLL W L WWW LL WW LL W L W
Past 37-48 months	16-17 (0.485)	W LL W LL W L W L W L W L WW L W L W LLL W L W LL WWWW L
Past 49-60 months	12.5-22.5 (0.357)	W LLL WW LLLL WW LL WWTLL W LLL W L W LLL WW LLLL
Past 61-72 months	6.5-13.5 (0.325)	LL WW LL WW LLLLLLLLLTWW

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 600 Average for: 383 Average against: 403
Anagrams Championship		Withers is mentioned in this round’s commentary (2 hits). Withers is mentioned in this round’s photo captions (2 hits).
Round 1		Withers played #90 Winter Zxqkj (Houston, TX) and won 600 to 324 (a spread of 276) . Before this event, Withers had not played Zxqkj in at least 6 years. Current ranking: #1. Current record: 1-0, +276.
Round 2		Withers played #22 Kevin Fraley (Madera, CA) and lost 369 to 419 (a spread of -50) . The last time these two played was 2004-11 at: LAS VEGAS, NV Withers’s record vs. Fraley in the 6 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. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #25. Current record: 1-1, +226.
Round 3		Withers played #66 Rusty Peltz (San Diego, CA) and lost 388 to 394 (a spread of -6) . Before this event, Withers had not played Peltz in at least 6 years. Current ranking: #47. Current record: 1-2, +220.
Round 4		Withers played #82 Geoff Thevenot (Austin, TX) and lost 439 to 458 (a spread of -19) . The last time these two played was 2005-02 at: SALADO, TX Withers’s record vs. Thevenot in the 6 years leading up to this event: 2-3 (0.400). Past 1-12 months: LLWW. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #60. Current record: 1-3, +201.
Round 5		Withers played #16 Lynn Cushman (New York, NY) and lost 388 to 396 (a spread of -8) . The last time these two played was 2002-04 at: STAMFORD, CT Withers’s record vs. Cushman in the 6 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: WLL. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #68. Current record: 1-4, +193.
Round 6		Withers played #67 Jim Peters (Brandon, FL) and won 402 to 367 (a spread of 35) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Withers’s record vs. Peters in the 6 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: W. Past 49-60 months: L. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #59. Current record: 2-4, +228.
Round 7		Withers played #25 Jim Geary (Phoenix, AZ) and lost 360 to 403 (a spread of -43) . The last time these two played was 2004-08 at: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Withers’s record vs. Geary in the 6 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: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #68. Current record: 2-5, +185.
Round 8		Withers played #62 Iffy Onyeonwu (Austin, TX) and won 355 to 339 (a spread of 16) . The last time these two played was 2005-02 at: SALADO, TX Withers’s record vs. Onyeonwu in the 6 years leading up to this event: 5-5 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: LWLWW. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: LWLW. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #58. Current record: 3-5, +201. Withers is mentioned in this round’s commentary (1 hit). Withers is mentioned in this round’s photo captions (1 hit).
Round 9		Withers played #19 Jan Dixon (Newark, DE) and lost 303 to 383 (a spread of -80) . The last time these two played was 2005-03 at: CHARLOTTE, NC Withers’s record vs. Dixon in the 6 years leading up to this event: 2-6 (0.250). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: LLL. Past 37-48 months: WW. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: LL. Current ranking: #66. Current record: 3-6, +121.
Round 10		Withers played #32 Marlon Hill (Baltimore, MD) and lost 377 to 409 (a spread of -32) . The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: ALBANY, NY Withers’s record vs. Hill in the 6 years leading up to this event: 3-3 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: LW. Past 37-48 months: LWL. Past 49-60 months: W. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #73. Current record: 3-7, +89.
Round 11		Withers played #34 Ronald Howard (Irvine, CA) and lost 355 to 577 (a spread of -222) . The last time these two played was 2003-02 at: COSTA RICA Withers’s record vs. Howard in the 6 years leading up to this event: 0-2 (0.000). 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: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #81. Current record: 3-8, -133.
Round 12		Withers played #79 Keith Smith (Austin, TX) and won 408 to 350 (a spread of 58) . The last time these two played was 2005-02 at: SALADO, TX Withers’s record vs. Smith in the 6 years leading up to this event: 4-1 (0.800). Past 1-12 months: WWW. Past 13-24 months: WL. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #73. Current record: 4-8, -75.
Round 13		Withers played #30 Albert Hahn (Calgary AB) and lost 392 to 446 (a spread of -54) . Before this event, Withers had not played Hahn in at least 6 years. Current ranking: #78. Current record: 4-9, -129.
Round 14		Withers played #39 Zev Kaufman (Toronto ON) and lost 323 to 417 (a spread of -94) . The last time these two played was 2000-09 at: TORONTO, ONT Withers’s record vs. Kaufman in the 6 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. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #84. Current record: 4-10, -223.
Round 15		Withers played #62 Iffy Onyeonwu (Austin, TX) and lost 306 to 352 (a spread of -46) . The last time these two played was 2005-02 at: SALADO, TX Withers’s record vs. Onyeonwu in the 6 years leading up to this event: 5-5 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: LWLWW. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: LWLW. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #85. Current record: 4-11, -269.
Round 16		Withers played #39 Zev Kaufman (Toronto ON) and lost 346 to 370 (a spread of -24) . The last time these two played was 2000-09 at: TORONTO, ONT Withers’s record vs. Kaufman in the 6 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. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #86. Current record: 4-12, -293.
Round 17		Withers played #78 Tom Singleton (Laguna Hills, CA) and won 376 to 341 (a spread of 35) . The last time these two played was 2004-11 at: LAS VEGAS, NV Withers’s record vs. Singleton in the 6 years leading up to this event: 1-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #84. Current record: 5-12, -258.
Round 18		Withers recorded a bye with a spread of 50 points. Current ranking: #77. Current record: 6-12, -208.
Round 19		Withers played #16 Lynn Cushman (New York, NY) and won 427 to 366 (a spread of 61) . The last time these two played was 2002-04 at: STAMFORD, CT Withers’s record vs. Cushman in the 6 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: WLL. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #75. Current record: 7-12, -147.
Round 20		Withers played #26 J Goard (Foresthill, CA) and lost 403 to 531 (a spread of -128) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Withers’s record vs. Goard in the 6 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. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #78. Current record: 7-13, -275.
Round 21		Withers played #54 Lou J B Miller (Portland, OR) and lost 364 to 417 (a spread of -53) . Before this event, Withers had not played Miller in at least 6 years. Current ranking: #78. Current record: 7-14, -328.
Round 22		Withers played #5 Paul Avrin (New York, NY) and lost 359 to 384 (a spread of -25) . The last time these two played was 2002-04 at: STAMFORD, CT Withers’s record vs. Avrin in the 6 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: no games. Past 61-72 months: W. Current ranking: #83. Current record: 7-15, -353.
Round 23		Withers played #25 Jim Geary (Phoenix, AZ) and lost 411 to 455 (a spread of -44) . The last time these two played was 2004-08 at: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Withers’s record vs. Geary in the 6 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: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #83. Current record: 7-16, -397.
Round 24		Withers played #90 Winter Zxqkj (Houston, TX) and lost 357 to 443 (a spread of -86) . Before this event, Withers had not played Zxqkj in at least 6 years. Current ranking: #84. Current record: 7-17, -483.
Round 25		Withers played #67 Jim Peters (Brandon, FL) and won 448 to 359 (a spread of 89) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Withers’s record vs. Peters in the 6 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: W. Past 49-60 months: L. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #84. Current record: 8-17, -394.
Round 26		Withers played #47 Robert Linn (Potomac, MD) and lost 336 to 454 (a spread of -118) . The last time these two played was 2004-06 at: PROVENCE, FRANCE Withers’s record vs. Linn in the 6 years leading up to this event: 4-2 (0.667). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: WWW. Past 25-36 months: WL. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #84. Current record: 8-18, -512.
Round 27		Withers played #12 Jean Carol (Cincinnati, OH) and won 435 to 325 (a spread of 110) . The last time these two played was 2004-08 at: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Withers’s record vs. Carol in the 6 years leading up to this event: 3-1 (0.750). 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: L. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #84. Current record: 9-18, -402.
Round 28		Withers played #16 Lynn Cushman (New York, NY) and lost 315 to 389 (a spread of -74) . The last time these two played was 2002-04 at: STAMFORD, CT Withers’s record vs. Cushman in the 6 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: WLL. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Current ranking: #85. Current record: 9-19, -476. Withers is mentioned in this round’s commentary (1 hit).

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