December 5-8, 2003

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Back to 2003 Canadian SCRABBLE Championship Live Coverage

2003 Canadian SCRABBLE Championship Commentary: Round 9

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, Final Round 4, After the Tournament.

round 9

Ron Hoekstra (Kentwood, MI) played Trevor Sealy (Oshawa ON) this round. He claims it came down to the Q. They both were waiting and it showed up on Ron's rack shortly after he'd picked a Q. He was then able to play QUINOA down the triple, which sealed his win, 373-344.

At table 1, Evan Berofsky (Thornhill ON) defeated Vince Castellano (Fairfax, VA), 426-356. The players were long gone when I happened by, but the annotators, still comparing notes were happy to tell me what went down. Vince opened strong with CYANOGeN for 71, but Evan got down UNIFiES for 82 and PETUNtSE through the first E for 70. Heather McCall points out that it was a much closer game throughout than the final score indicates.

Seeing me near his board, Vince Castellano (Fairfax, VA) walks up and dismisses the game just played out of hand. What he really wants me to know is that in a game against Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) earlier, she put down LARDY. Hooking under her play with EEENNUY, he played ENNUYEE/EL. It wasn't much in the points department, but it did have style written all over it!

Lisa Deift, taking time during the coffee break to refill each table's paperwork holders, tells me that PUTTI was challenged twice in this round. Both times it was ruled acceptable.

Calgary club members and friends, Albert Hahn (Calgary AB) and Siri Tillekeratne (Calgary AB) faced off this round. Siri opened with HULKY for 38. Albert responded with HAGRIDES from the H for 78. Later in the game, Siri played ATEMoYA for 71 (which Albert thought was just a superb find) and the double-double ROMANcER for 86. Albert's other bingos were STUDIER for 89 anbd CONVENTS through the second N for 84.

Our expected coffee break looked to be falling between the cracks when Lisa Kessler (Toronto ON) and Lynda Wise (Toronto ON) saved the day. Bundled in winter coats, they blew into the lounge are with an entire box full of gourmet cookies! They got three different flavors all individually wrapped and yummy.

Busy this round, Diane noted that Anita Rackham (Mansonville QC) opened her round 9 game with PROLEGS for 75 against Wendy McGrath (Calgary AB).

In the Joel Wapnick (Montréal QC) vs. David Boys (Dorval QC) game, Diane spotted these wonderful words were on their board: MELANINS through the A, BAIZA, TENUTO, DANIO, FIDEIsT, and FATWAs.

At table 23, Sinna Vijayakumar (North York ON) played PEDALIER through the A for 67 in a game against Michael Krepakevich (Mississauga ON).

Mike Ryan (Vancouver BC) played two pretty bingos against Shaun Goatcher (Mississauga ON), ORgEATS for 66 and LATERIZE through the A for 86.

At table 3, Fran Silver (Cote St. Luc QC) played SCHOONER from the S and JAROSItE, but still lost, 403-453 to fellow Montreal club player, David Boys (Dorval QC). David played three bingos in a row: TEENAGE, DINKIEST, and RESAYING.

As we go into round 10, Evan Berofsky (Thornhill ON) sits alone at the top with 8 wins and five others--Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON), Dean Saldanha (Richmond BC), David Boys (Dorval QC), Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON), and Lou Cornelis (Ottawa ON)--are right behind him with 7 wins. It is exciting here in downtown Toronto!

Evan Berofsky (Thornhill ON) played Vince Castellano (Fairfax, VA) at Board 1 this round, and their annotated game is available for browsing.

Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON) played Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) at Board 2 this round, and their annotated game is available for browsing.