Steve Polatnick [#61] at USSO 2006

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On this page, you will find information about Steve Polatnick, who is a contestant at the 2006 U.S. SCRABBLE® Open. This page was updated at least hourly between 09:00 A.M. and midnight local time. Polatnick currently has a record of 15-13, -307, and is ranked #30 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

[player photo]

Given name(s): Steve
Surname(s): Polatnick
Home: Miami, FL, United States
Awards: 4th Place, World Scrabble Championship 2001
Hobbies: tennis, bicycle touring, foreign languages
Occupation: attorney at law
NSC 1978 Division: 1
NSC 1978 Rank: 17/65, 147.0 credits
NSC 1980 Division: 1
NSC 1980 Rank: 11/32, 9-8 +349
NSC 1983 Division: 1
NSC 1983 Rank: 8/32, 9-8 +195
NSC 1985 Division: 1
NSC 1985 Rank: 16/302, 15-7 +1077
NSC 1987 Division: 1
NSC 1987 Rank: 14-7 +663
NSC 1989 Division: 1
NSC 1989 Rank: 35/149, 15.5-11.5 -169
NSC 1990 Division: 1
NSC 1990 Rank: 25/176, 16-11 +855
NSC 1992 Division: 1
NSC 1992 Rank: 28/176, 16-11 +657
NSC 1994 Division: 1
NSC 1994 Rank: 21/134, 16-11 +649
NSC 1996 Division: 1
NSC 1996 Rank: 13/108, 17-10 +223
NSC 1998 Division: 1
NSC 1998 Rank: 33/126, 17-14 +547
NSC 2000 Division: 1
NSC 2000 Rank: 27/98, 17-14 +865
NSC 2002 Division: 1
NSC 2002 Rank: 36/132, 17-14 +972
NSC 2004 Division: 1
NSC 2004 Rank: 58/172, 16-14 +503
NSC 2005 Division: 1
NSC 2005 Rank: 63/87, 13-15 -505
WSC 1995 Rank: 38
WSC 1999 Rank: 64
WSC 2001 Rank: 4

Career History

7-year record against other players at this event	110.5-115.5 (0.489)
Past 1-12 months	24-21 (0.533)	LLL W L W LL W L WWW L W LL WWWW L WW LLLL WWWWW L WWW L W LLL W L W
Past 13-24 months	17-20 (0.459)	LL WWW L W L W L WWWWW LLL W LL W LLLL W L W LL W LL W L W
Past 25-36 months	26-23 (0.531)	W L WWWW L WWWWWWW LL W L WW LLLL WWW L WW LL W LLL W LL W LLL WW LLL W
Past 37-48 months	16-17 (0.485)	L W LL W L W LL W L WW LLLL WW LLL WWW L W L WWWW L
Past 49-60 months	21.5-27.5 (0.439)	W L WWW LL WW LLLLL W LLL WW L W L W LLL WW L WTLLLLLL WW LLLL WWWWW
Past 61-72 months	6-7 (0.462)	WW L WW LLLL W LL W
Past 73-84 months	no games

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 452 Average for: 387 Average against: 398
Round 1		Polatnick played #53 Lisa Odom (St. Louis Park, MN) and won 405 to 400 (a spread of 5). Before this event, Polatnick had not played Odom in at least 7 years. Current ranking: #33. Current record: 1-0, +5.
Round 2		Polatnick played #4 Michael Baker (Portland, OR) and lost 418 to 429 (a spread of -11). The last time these two played was 2006-06 at: RENO, NV Polatnick’s record vs. Baker in the 7 years leading up to this event: 6-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: WW. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: WW. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #36. Current record: 1-1, -6.
Round 3		Polatnick played #15 Michael Early (Fort Worth, TX) and won 414 to 372 (a spread of 42). The last time these two played was 2006-03 at: DALLAS, TX Polatnick’s record vs. Early in the 7 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. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #28. Current record: 2-1, +36.
Round 4		Polatnick played #78 Winter Zxqkj (Houston, TX) and won 422 to 330 (a spread of 92). Before this event, Polatnick had not played Zxqkj in at least 7 years. Current ranking: #20. Current record: 3-1, +128.
Round 5		Polatnick played #42 Joey Mallick (Cape Elizabeth, ME) and lost 335 to 417 (a spread of -82). The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: RENO, NV Polatnick’s record vs. Mallick in the 7 years leading up to this event: 2-1 (0.667). 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. Past 61-72 months: L. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #30. Current record: 3-2, +46.
Round 6		Polatnick played #48 Nick Meyer (Berkeley, CA) and won 443 to 365 (a spread of 78). The last time these two played was 2006-06 at: RENO, NV Polatnick’s record vs. Meyer in the 7 years leading up to this event: 2-2 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: WL. 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. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #17. Current record: 4-2, +124.
Round 7		Polatnick played #13 Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) and lost 353 to 396 (a spread of -43). The last time these two played was 2006-03 at: DALLAS, TX Polatnick’s record vs. Daniel in the 7 years leading up to this event: 1-2 (0.333). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #26. Current record: 4-3, +81. Polatnick is mentioned in this round’s photo captions (2 hits).
Round 8		Polatnick played #59 Amnuay Ploysangngam (Thailand) and lost 340 to 433 (a spread of -93). The last time these two played was 2005-08 at: 2005 NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Polatnick’s record vs. Ploysangngam in the 7 years leading up to this event: 1-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #40. Current record: 4-4, -12.
Round 9		Polatnick played #64 Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON) and lost 407 to 409 (a spread of -2). The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Polatnick’s record vs. Rowland in the 7 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. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #47. Current record: 4-5, -14.
Round 10		Polatnick played #16 Joe Edley (Coram, NY) and won 452 to 405 (a spread of 47). The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: RENO, NV Polatnick’s record vs. Edley in the 7 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: no games. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: L. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #38. Current record: 5-5, +33. Polatnick is mentioned in this round’s commentary (1 hit). Polatnick is mentioned in this round’s photo captions (4 hits).
Round 11		Polatnick played #65 Kenneth Rubin (New York, NY) and won 429 to 428 (a spread of 1). Before this event, Polatnick had not played Rubin in at least 7 years. Current ranking: #31. Current record: 6-5, +34.
Round 12		Polatnick played #36 Cecilia Le (Wilmington, DE) and won 416 to 340 (a spread of 76). Before this event, Polatnick had not played Le in at least 7 years. Current ranking: #24. Current record: 7-5, +110.
Round 13		Polatnick played #19 Daniel Fogel (Newton, MA) and lost 421 to 425 (a spread of -4). Before this event, Polatnick had not played Fogel in at least 7 years. Current ranking: #31. Current record: 7-6, +106. Polatnick is mentioned in this round’s photo captions (2 hits).
Round 14		Polatnick played #66 Dean Saldanha (Richmond BC) and won 443 to 381 (a spread of 62). The last time these two played was 2006-03 at: DALLAS, TX Polatnick’s record vs. Saldanha in the 7 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. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #26. Current record: 8-6, +168.
Round 15		Polatnick played #70 Panupol Sujjayakorn (Thailand) and lost 348 to 381 (a spread of -33). Before this event, Polatnick had not played Sujjayakorn in at least 7 years. Current ranking: #30. Current record: 8-7, +135.
Round 16		Polatnick played #30 Carol Kaplan (San Diego, CA) and lost 389 to 405 (a spread of -16). The last time these two played was 2004-07 at: RENO, NV Polatnick’s record vs. Kaplan in the 7 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. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #37. Current record: 8-8, +119.
Round 17		Polatnick played #49 Lloyd Mills (Georgetown ON) and won 407 to 363 (a spread of 44). The last time these two played was 2005-02 at: PORT RICHEY, FL Polatnick’s record vs. Mills in the 7 years leading up to this event: 3-1 (0.750). Past 1-12 months: no games. 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: WW. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #31. Current record: 9-8, +163.
Round 18		Polatnick played #45 Kenji Matsumoto (Amherst, MA) and lost 357 to 519 (a spread of -162). The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: RENO, NV Polatnick’s record vs. Matsumoto in the 7 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: no games. Past 37-48 months: LW. Past 49-60 months: LLWW. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #37. Current record: 9-9, +1.
Round 19		Polatnick played #40 John Luebkemann (Pineville, NC) and won 376 to 369 (a spread of 7). The last time these two played was 2004-08 at: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Polatnick’s record vs. Luebkemann in the 7 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: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: L. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #33. Current record: 10-9, +8.
Round 20		Polatnick played #41 Rod MacNeil (Wilmington, DE) and lost 372 to 467 (a spread of -95). The last time these two played was 2005-08 at: 2005 NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Polatnick’s record vs. MacNeil in the 7 years leading up to this event: 0-2 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #37. Current record: 10-10, -87.
Round 21		Polatnick played #39 Robert Linn (Potomac, MD) and lost 340 to 528 (a spread of -188). The last time these two played was 2006-06 at: RENO, NV Polatnick’s record vs. Linn in the 7 years leading up to this event: 5-7 (0.417). Past 1-12 months: WWLW. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: LW. Past 49-60 months: LWLL. Past 61-72 months: LL. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #46. Current record: 10-11, -275.
Round 22		Polatnick played #22 Jim Geary (Phoenix, AZ) and lost 295 to 418 (a spread of -123). The last time these two played was 2006-06 at: RENO, NV Polatnick’s record vs. Geary in the 7 years leading up to this event: 3-5 (0.375). Past 1-12 months: WWLWL. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: LL. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: L. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #54. Current record: 10-12, -398.
Round 23		Polatnick played #79 Christopher Sykes (Cambridge ON) and won 349 to 317 (a spread of 32). Before this event, Polatnick had not played Sykes in at least 7 years. Current ranking: #47. Current record: 11-12, -366.
Round 24		Polatnick played #30 Carol Kaplan (San Diego, CA) again and won 411 to 363 (a spread of 48). The last time these two played was 2004-07 at: RENO, NV Polatnick’s record vs. Kaplan in the 7 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. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #41. Current record: 12-12, -318.
Round 25		Polatnick played #64 Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON) again and lost 316 to 409 (a spread of -93). The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Polatnick’s record vs. Rowland in the 7 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. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #46. Current record: 12-13, -411.
Round 26		Polatnick played #5 Mike Baron (Corrales, NM) and won 382 to 305 (a spread of 77). The last time these two played was 2006-06 at: RENO, NV Polatnick’s record vs. Baron in the 7 years leading up to this event: 6-4 (0.600). Past 1-12 months: WLLW. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: WW. Past 37-48 months: WLW. Past 49-60 months: L. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #40. Current record: 13-13, -334. Polatnick is mentioned in this round’s commentary (1 hit).
Round 27		Polatnick played #27 Patrick Hodges (Glendale, AZ) and won 404 to 390 (a spread of 14). Before this event, Polatnick had not played Hodges in at least 7 years. Current ranking: #36. Current record: 14-13, -320.
Round 28		Polatnick played #41 Rod MacNeil (Wilmington, DE) again and won 399 to 386 (a spread of 13). The last time these two played was 2005-08 at: 2005 NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Polatnick’s record vs. MacNeil in the 7 years leading up to this event: 0-2 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Past 61-72 months: no games. Past 73-84 months: no games. Current ranking: #30. Current record: 15-13, -307.

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