CNSC 2011 Commentary: Final Round 1

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Go to: Before the Tournament, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5, Round 6, Round 7, Round 8, Round 9, Round 10, Round 11, Round 12, Round 13, Round 14, Round 15, Round 16, Round 17, Round 18, Award Ceremony, Final Round 1, Final Round 2, Final Round 3.

A bright and sunny Monday morning: a perfect day for the CNSC finals!

On the ride in this morning, John Chew conducted an interview with CHQR Calgary, radio.

The call made by Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) to have players show up early has yielded results. Many players were here as early as 8am, so I think we'll have a fun time in the theatre room!

I was going to have Evan Berofsky (Thornhill ON) help me with colour, but he didn't get up from my computer, so here is his coverage:

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) is sitting here in the viewing room doing some last-minute Zyzzyva study before Game 1. My guess is he's doing the 15s.

Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) has arrived with Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) and are taking a look in the playing room.

Ross Brown (Ottawa ON) is adjusting the projector and setting it up so it looks just right for viewing.

The viewing room is filling up quickly as we approach the start. Longtime Toronto Club member Hugh Currie is here to watch.

John Chew asked the players has invited people to enter the room. John is making preliminary announcements, introducing Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) and Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) and thanking Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) for hosting the commentary.

Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) is asking people not to yell out things during the games, as the players could possible hear them. Loud sighing and other audible emotions are also verboten.

Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) asks for predictions in the Finals, both here and in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup.

We have been informed Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) will be going first in Game 1.

Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) has warned people not to yell out plays or look words up during the game.

And we've begun! Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) starts with EEFIIOP and goes with FIE 8g.

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) is up next and holds ADEHRRY. The consensus says to play HARDY 7i but he plays it at 9i instead.

Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) bingos with PROFITED through the R in HARDY to take the early lead.

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) gets stuck with 3 Is but the crowd wants him to go with YAM/JIVEY for 34. Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) obliges.

Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) settles in with both blanks along with GLNOS. People thing he'll go with StrONGL(Y) for 74. He goes with LOuNGeS for 73/eS/TI.

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) now has 4 Is and trades 3 of them.

After 4 turns each, Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) leads 221-87.

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) opens up more board space with DINN(E)D, keeping ER.

Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) now up 140 and Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) has EERSSUU but no A for URAEUSES. Jackson Smylie (Toronto ON) suggests SU(L)U for 4 points to open up another line. Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) goes even more dangerous with USE/DE 9 leaving a hook for a 7 on the top row.

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) finally has a balanced rack and bingos with UNREASO(N) to close within 91.

Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) with ABBEILN. Jesse Matthews (Kelowna BC) suggests BAB(U) for 26. It scores the most and kills 3 bingo lanes. BLAI(N) for 24 is played.

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) inches closer with QI for 44. Now within 69.

Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) worries the QI play was for Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) setting up the Z so he plays WE/WIN for 27.

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) stuck with more vowels in ADEEIOU and down 91. Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) seems to think the game isn't over yet. The crowd seems to disagree. Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) decides to trade AEIOU.

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) bingos again with RUDERA(L)S, but is still behind by 60. Now 2 in the bag from the viewpoint of Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC), including the X.

ALLOTTV for Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) and he kills the final column with ATOLL. Now up 88.

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) with AEIMTUX and it looks he'll be going with MAXI a1 for 57. Unfortunately, it won't be enough to win.

Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC)'s last four tiles are IOTV and gets rid of 3 tiles with V{E)TO for 9.

Adam Logan (Ottawa ON) ends it with T(R)UE for 4 and Joel Wapnick (Montreal QC) takes the first game by a 432-398 count.

John Chew writes:

Wapnick bingoes early with PROFITED (78), drawing one blank, then bingoes LOuNGeS (73) with both blanks to open an early 191-87 lead. A few turns later, Logan comes back with UNREASON (66) (to deprive of reason) to an N, but still trails 276-185. Late in the game, Logan is faced ADEEIOU and exchanges tiles for a second time to draw RUDERALS (72) to close the gap a little to 395-335 with two tiles left in the bag. He draws the X to play MAXI (47) but it's too little too late, and Wapnick wins the first game of the best-of-five 432-398.

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