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2007 Dallas Open Commentary: Round 14

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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, Round 19, Round 20, Round 21, Round 22, After the Tournament.

Round 14

Michael Early (Fort Worth, TX; 1734) would like to let me know that he played METAZOON to ZOON for 60 points this round in a game with Ben Withers (Houston, TX; 1714).

Not quite 600, but 592-360 will do for Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR; 1961), who defeated Travis Chaney (Fort Smith, AR; 1651) this round. While Travis got down LICENSE for 89, it was really all Dave that game with plays like the early back to back set of bingos: OMITTERS for 61 and DOMINATE for 81. Later in the game he got another set: OpAQUING for 131 and DECRoWN, the latter two down triple lanes.

Neither player is around, but scattered paperwork tells me that Jeff Reeves (Woodworth, LA; 1713) defeated Chris Lipe (Rome, NY; 1717) this round, 475-305. I see OReCtIVE on their board.

Tom Kowalik (Chicago, IL; 1071) is wonderfully sweet to keep me in the news about his games. This round, he played Helen Joffe (Slidell, LA; 1658) and he lost, 378-489. However, there were some fun plays made! Tom played BLEEDER down the triple for 104. Helen came back and hooked STAYING to create BLEEDERS for 119. She also played ADVANCES from A for 95 and EUGENIAS FOR 65. Understandably, Tom's favorite play of the game was his 174-point, 9-letter BELITTLED from the BE. Way to go!

Paul Mulik (Joplin, MO; 1502) loses to Harriette Lakernick (Chicago, IL; 1609) this round, 403-418. He explains that it was one of those games where passing would have been better. There was one tile left in the bag and he held AEINPRS. Had he not played PAINERS, he would not have opened the bottom triple lane, which gave her a chance to play out. And he knew her rack: IRONIE?. She had tried a phoney the turn before, which he'd taken up. In retrospect, had he let HER bingo first, he could have played the replying bingo in the more point-rich triple lane and won the game. Ah... live and learn....

So, two "traveling pets" have caught my attention. And this round they are on the same table, flanking the same clock. A bobble head doll of Dwight K. Shrute of "The Office" sits beside and travels from table to table with Lindsay Crotty (Metairie, LA; 976). It is a treasured Valentine's Day present from her way cute and here boyfriend, James Bahra (Metairie, LA; 1081). The other pet is Smoochie, owned by Sheri Justice (Kansas City, MO; 1227), and she's been happy to tote it around because it was a gift from her son.

Chris Canik (Austin, TX; 1122) had a big game this round against Karen Moss (Lawton, OK; 1336), winning 458-446. Chris' better plays were RAFTiNG for 81, MOUSIER for 91, and EERIEST for 78. Karen got down DETRACT for 72. He assures me I'm not confused, that there are indeed two young Caniks running around, because his 15-months-younger brother, Matt Canik (Austin, TX; 1207) is also playing. Overhearing me talking to Chris, Michael Chitwood (Dallas, TX; 1304) tells me that they "are two to watch out for."

Orry Swift (Dayton, TX; 1806) had his run at Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL; 1974) this round at the elevated and annotated table 1. I see two bingos for Orry: EARLAPS for 73 and ARANEID for 71. Brian played three: DReDGER for 74, LOOBIEs for 74, and ISOSPORY for 68, which helped attain a checkmark in the W column, 467-363.