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DO 2009 Commentary: Round 9

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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, After the Tournament.

Round 9

Chris Cree (Dallas, TX) gets his shot at board 1 this game, sitting opposite Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR). Like they've done for a good long time, they shook hands before beginning. At the end of the round, I happened by and overheard something about "being beat like a rented mule." Dave's victory, 517-357.

At table 2, Orry Swift (Waco, TX) had a big win against Geoff Thevenot (Austin, TX), 391-281. I said, "Oh don't feel bad, Chris Cree (Dallas, TX) lost to Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR)," as I gestured up to the stage. In mock surprise he said, "Oh? Really? You don't say!" Methinks table 2 overheard a bit of the "rented mule" stuff before I'd happened by. In their game, Orry pointed out that Geoff didn't even bingo once. Good naturedly, Geoff had to admit that this wasn't his game, at all. I see WHEREIn, DIQUATS, and GrIVETS. I became fascinated this round with Orry's tracking, which requires the use of a dark green Sharpie pen scribbled over each letter played. I've decided that part of the key to his success is keeping his opponents so "high" on the fumes of the Sharpie that he is guaranteed to win!

Two women in the top tables squared off this round. Helen Joffe (Slidell, LA) vs. Sandy Nang (Malibu, CA). When I got there, Helen deadpanned, "Oh, she killed me." Sandy said, "well, I got killed last round, it is just a cycle. It was just my turn." They continued to talk as I perused their board about the existence of luck in SCRABBLE. Helen said, "Well, at least I acknowledge it's there!" I see Helen's DIESTER for 76 and Sandy's IGNEOUs for 68, FELINES for 92, and INSTePS for 84. The play of the game for me was ACOLD along to the top middle triple that front hooked and created LIGNEOUs for 32 points. Impressed I asked Helen if she knew the word and she said that she did and she'd spent the better part of the game hoping it was her that drew the first L because she knew exactly where it was going once it was. She said she was relieved to see ACOLD and not a bingo.

Bradley Whitmarsh (Attleboro, MA) looks to be beating up on Sue Gable (Mt. Vernon, NY). I see SOUTANES for 77 and BARIStAS for 61, but the game is still going on.

The "when couples play" game took place this round between Rod MacNeil (Cambridge, MA) and Alyssa Faria (Cambridge, MA). It was Rod's win, 430-363. As I was writing down bingos, I gleaned that Rod had challenged Alyssa's play of TOOM, which had totally surprised her. He explained that he had some mis-memory of a challenge involving that word that he'd lost at some point. Alyssa played LADRONe for 74 and Rod played TURFIEST for 62, ANEARING for 70, SIBILATE for 90, and DEPIlATe for 61. As I was walking away there was the "why did you play XU discussion going on."

"Analyze This" was all I could think as I walked by a Lisa Odom (St Louis Park, MN) vs. Jerry Dynes (Baton Rouge, LA) board. She played ANALYZES for 100, PRIORIES for 72, and AWEATHeR for 92. Jerry got down STOURIE, but lost this game.

A pretty game between Joel Sherman (Bronx, NY) and Jim Geary (Phoenix, AZ) with a 100-point spread difference. Jim played LEEBOARD, SEQuIN to the triple for 76, and NYSTATIN on the triple for 95. I loved that play and Jim said, "It is the last word in the Ns, that is how I remember it." Joel opened with PICEOUS for 78 then played WASPIER for 78, nONGAME for 76, and FLEERING for 76. It was Joel's win, 519-419.