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2007 Dallas Open Commentary: Round 3

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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 3

Bryan Pepper's fan is now out and going at full tilt, and he's sitting atop his director's table, cooling off in the breeze. The day as done a 180 and it is now warm and sunny outside. Between rounds, I catch people outside, snuggling toes into the grass, tilting up toward the sky and I can tell without asking: They are from up north and they couldn't be happier to be here!

Austin Bradley (Waco, TX; 1461) and Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR; 1961) are wrapping up their game. I see Austin's STRINGY and Dave's AIRfOIL and MISDRIVeN from the MI for 78. Austin had the look that many have after playing Dave, he just shook his head.

Katya Lezin (Charlotte, NC; 1040) is standing in the aisle and I stop by to meet her. She tells me she is here with her 12-year-old son, Noah Lieberman (Charlotte, NC; 540). I tell her that I saw him, last round, walk up to the challenge machine with his opponent to look up OXI*. It wasn't good and Noah squeezed his hand into a ball and silently expressed disappointment. While exchanging niceties with Katya, John Chew walked by and she suddenly forgot all about me and said, "Oh! You're John Chew! I've been wanting to meet you!" I get that a lot, since I work with the Canadian superstar Chew.

Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON; 1856) has played three games, all against women, this morning. She says that she doesn't think she's ever been in a tournament where she's played only women. She likes it!

On a Ken Kasney (Cypress, TX; 1436) vs. Steve Glass (Dade City, FL; 1848) board, I see TALLNESS.

A seven-bingo game! Chris Cree (Dallas, TX; 1870) vs. Michael Thelen (West Jordan, UT; 1637), and it was Chris' turn to win, 514-424. Chris played BATTENERS, ASTILbE, WILDFIRE, and SPANCEL (which Michael challenged). In the post game chat, Chris said, "It is an anagram of ENCLASP," which caused Michael to express an "oh yeah, I shoulda known that" comment. No slouch, Michael played DIURNAL, CYANIdS, and GENTOOS.

Benjamin Bloom (Miami, FL; 1578) and Fran Silver (Cote Saint-Luc QC; 1734) are pouring over their tie game and enjoying the possibilities of it all. Fran pulled out Benjamin's last 7 tiles and agreed that there just wasn't anything he could have done. Her favorite play of the game was a rather low-scoring two point play, of DOC played to the C by Benjamin for 29 points. She liked it because the O hooked on RANGY making ORANGY. He shrugged at the praise and mumbled something about just being that kinda guy. Benjamin is one of the funniest players I've ever met. He deadpans the unlikeliest things all the time. Like this morning, after I hugged him, he said, "sorry, I'm engaged and I'm getting married in July." I congratulated him and he told me his finacee is a mass media professor. As I walked off he said, "I'm sorry, you had your chance, but it is too late now." No Mrs. Bloom for me!

A close game, eked out toward the end by Jason Katz-Brown (Cambridge, MA; 1922) vs. Kristina Simon (Plano, TX; 1653). His win, 453-421 (great game, Kristina!). Kristen opened with MULATtO for 72, and Jason replied immediately with BEDSTAND for 65. His second play was MINUtIAL for 70. A few turns later, she got down SOIGNEE for 82 and ADZ for a bunch, which caught her up explained Jason. His last play was RATINE, with an A left on his rack. She went out, he congratulated her on well-played game, and the rest is history.