Kenji Matsumoto [#95] at 2004 National SCRABBLE® Championship

[ Congratulations to the new National Champion, Trey Wright, who defeated David Gibson in three straight games, 365-328, 355-344 and 429-328. Please tune in to ESPN to watch the final games at 1 P.M. ET on Sunday, October 3rd, 2004. We welcome your e-mailed corrections to our web site. ]

On this page, you will find information about Kenji Matsumoto, who is a contestant in Division 1 at the 2004 National SCRABBLE® Championship, held July 31st - August 5th in New Orleans, LA. This page is updated at least hourly between 09:00 A.M. and midnight CDT. Matsumoto currently has a record of 16-14, +432, and is ranked #60 in Division 1.

Lower on this page, you can find brief self-reported biographical details of the player, statistics on the player's past several years of rated tournament play in North America, a graphic showing the player's ups and downs at this tournament, and a round-by-round report on the player's opponents and games.

Background Information
	Given name(s): Kenji Surname(s): Matsumoto Home: Aiea, HI, United States Age: 19 Awards: being called a head case by Joel Sherman Hobbies: Board/card games, pool, philosophy Occupation: Student

Career History

5-year record against other players at this event	97-77 (0.557)
Past 1-12 months	25.5-17.5 (0.593)	LLTL W L WWWWW L WWWW LLL WWWWW LL W L WW LLLL WWW L WW L WW
Past 13-24 months	22-20 (0.524)	L WWW LL W L W LLL WW L W L WWWWWW LLLLLL WW L W L WW L W L WW L
Past 25-36 months	39.5-28.5 (0.581)	WWWWWW LLLL WW LL WWWWW L WW L WWW LL WWWWWW L W L W LLLLL WWW LLL W LLL WWWWW L W LTW L W LL W
Past 37-48 months	10-9 (0.526)	W L WWWW LL W LLLLL WWW L W
Past 49-60 months	0-2 (0.000)	LL

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 547 Average for: 411 Average against: 399
Round 1		Matsumoto played #112 Christina O'Sullivan (Seattle, WA) and won 469 to 403 (a spread of 66) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played O'Sullivan in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #51. Current record: 1-0, +66.
Round 2		Matsumoto played #44 Diane Firstman (Brooklyn, NY) and won 406 to 374 (a spread of 32) . The last time these two played was 2003-10 at: STAMFORD, CT Matsumoto's record vs. Firstman in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-1 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #41. Current record: 2-0, +98. Matsumoto is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit).
Round 3		Matsumoto played #142 Louis Schecter (Brooklyn, NY) and won 547 to 313 (a spread of 234) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Schecter in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #11. Current record: 3-0, +332.
Round 4		Matsumoto recorded a win with a spread of 85 points. Current ranking: #6. Current record: 4-0, +417.
Round 5		Matsumoto played #8 Michael Baker (Portland, OR) and lost 311 to 492 (a spread of -181) . The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: RENO, NV Matsumoto's record vs. Baker in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #27. Current record: 4-1, +236.
Round 6		Matsumoto played #32 Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) and lost 425 to 479 (a spread of -54) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Daniel in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #40. Current record: 4-2, +182.
Round 7		Matsumoto played #19 Gerald Carter (Thailand) and won 405 to 311 (a spread of 94) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Carter in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #32. Current record: 5-2, +276.
Round 8		Matsumoto played #6 Peter Armstrong (Baltimore, MD) and won 475 to 285 (a spread of 190) . The last time these two played was 2004-01 at: RENO, NV Matsumoto's record vs. Armstrong in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-1 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #20. Current record: 6-2, +466.
Round 9		Matsumoto played #98 Jere Mead (Chelmsford, MA) and lost 349 to 465 (a spread of -116) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Mead in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #31. Current record: 6-3, +350.
Round 10		Matsumoto played #33 Darrell Day (Richardson, TX) and won 524 to 388 (a spread of 136) . The last time these two played was 2002-07 at: RENO, NV Matsumoto's record vs. Day in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-1 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #24. Current record: 7-3, +486.
Round 11		Matsumoto played #25 Ira Cohen (Los Angeles, CA) and won 438 to 274 (a spread of 164) . The last time these two played was 2004-01 at: RENO, NV Matsumoto's record vs. Cohen in the 5 years leading up to this event: 2-2 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: LWL. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #13. Current record: 8-3, +650.
Round 12		Matsumoto played #5 Chuck Armstrong (Saline, MI) and won 423 to 350 (a spread of 73) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Armstrong in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #11. Current record: 9-3, +723. Matsumoto is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit).
Round 13		Matsumoto played #58 Randy Greenspan (Buffalo, NY) and won 437 to 385 (a spread of 52) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Matsumoto's record vs. Greenspan in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #6. Current record: 10-3, +775.
Round 14		Matsumoto played #78 Jason Katz-Brown (Richmond, CA) and won 483 to 375 (a spread of 108) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Katz-Brown in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #3. Current record: 11-3, +883.
Round 15		Matsumoto played #108 Pakorn Nemitrmansuk (Thailand) and lost 347 to 397 (a spread of -50) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Nemitrmansuk in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #8. Current record: 11-4, +833. Matsumoto is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Matsumoto is mentioned in this round's photo captions (3 hits).
Round 16		Matsumoto played #58 Randy Greenspan (Buffalo, NY) and won 441 to 406 (a spread of 35) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Matsumoto's record vs. Greenspan in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #5. Current record: 12-4, +868.
Round 17		Matsumoto played #40 Robert Ellickson (New Haven, CT) and lost 364 to 398 (a spread of -34) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Ellickson in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #9. Current record: 12-5, +834.
Round 18		Matsumoto played #93 Joey Mallick (Cape Elizabeth, ME) and lost 428 to 439 (a spread of -11) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Matsumoto's record vs. Mallick in the 5 years leading up to this event: 3-4 (0.429). Past 1-12 months: LW. Past 13-24 months: LL. Past 25-36 months: WW. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #14. Current record: 12-6, +823. Matsumoto is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit). Matsumoto is mentioned in this round's photo captions (1 hit).
Round 19		Matsumoto played #89 Adam Logan (United Kingdom) and lost 286 to 368 (a spread of -82) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Logan in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #23. Current record: 12-7, +741.
Round 20		Matsumoto played #35 Jan Dixon (Newark, DE) and won 507 to 453 (a spread of 54) . The last time these two played was 2001-07 at: RENO, NV Matsumoto's record vs. Dixon in the 5 years leading up to this event: 0-1 (0.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #17. Current record: 13-7, +795.
Round 21		Matsumoto played #135 Nigel Richards (Malaysia) and lost 434 to 454 (a spread of -20) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Richards in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #26. Current record: 13-8, +775.
Round 22		Matsumoto played #16 Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL) and lost 298 to 425 (a spread of -127) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Matsumoto's record vs. Cappelletto in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-4 (0.200). Past 1-12 months: LL. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: WL. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #36. Current record: 13-9, +648.
Round 23		Matsumoto played #37 Mike Early (Fort Worth, TX) and lost 379 to 433 (a spread of -54) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Early in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #45. Current record: 13-10, +594.
Round 24		Matsumoto played #149 Tom Singleton (Laguna Hills, CA) and lost 340 to 434 (a spread of -94) . The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: RENO, NV Matsumoto's record vs. Singleton in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #56. Current record: 13-11, +500.
Round 25		Matsumoto played #174 Jeff Widergren (Los Gatos, CA) and lost 377 to 529 (a spread of -152) . The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: RENO, NV Matsumoto's record vs. Widergren in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: W. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #66. Current record: 13-12, +348.
Round 26		Matsumoto played #3 Steven Alexander (Portland, OR) and won 466 to 346 (a spread of 120) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Alexander in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #60. Current record: 14-12, +468.
Round 27		Matsumoto played #111 John O'Laughlin (Madison, WI) and lost 326 to 414 (a spread of -88) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played O'Laughlin in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #68. Current record: 14-13, +380.
Round 28		Matsumoto played #110 Mark Nyman (United Kingdom) and lost 410 to 414 (a spread of -4) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Nyman in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #80. Current record: 14-14, +376.
Round 29		Matsumoto played #58 Randy Greenspan (Buffalo, NY) and won 406 to 375 (a spread of 31) . The last time these two played was 2004-04 at: BOSTON AREA TOURNAMENT Matsumoto's record vs. Greenspan in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #68. Current record: 15-14, +407.
Round 30		Matsumoto played #3 Steven Alexander (Portland, OR) and won 409 to 384 (a spread of 25) . Before this event, Matsumoto had not played Alexander in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #60. Current record: 16-14, +432.

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