Stephen Tier [#163] 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 Stephen Tier, 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. Tier currently has a record of 18-12, +754, and is ranked #25 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): Stephen Surname(s): Tier Home: Rego Park, NY, United States Age: 63 Awards: Long Island Science Teacher of the Year; 2002-07 Albany, NY Hobbies: scrabble Occupation: teacher

Career History

5-year record against other players at this event	111-102 (0.521)
Past 1-12 months	21-24 (0.467)	L W LLL W LL W L WWWTWWWWW LL W LLL W LTLL W LL WWW L W LL W LLL W
Past 13-24 months	19-21 (0.475)	LL W L WW L WW LLL W LLLLL W L WW LL W L W L WWW LL WWW L W L W
Past 25-36 months	41.5-23.5 (0.638)	L W L W L WW LLL WWW LLLL WWWWWWTLL WWWW L WWWWWWWWWW L W L W LLLL WWW L WW L WWWWW LL WW
Past 37-48 months	6-8 (0.429)	LL W L WWW L W LLLL W
Past 49-60 months	23.5-25.5 (0.480)	LL WW L W L WWWWW LLLL WWW LLL W L W L W L W L WWW LLL W L WWTLLLL WW LL

Rank Diagram

[rank diagram]
See legend

Round-by-Round
High score: 495 Average for: 405 Average against: 379
Round 1		Tier played #100 Marlene Milkent (Hattiesburg, MS) and lost 318 to 453 (a spread of -135) . Before this event, Tier had not played Milkent in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #153. Current record: 0-1, -135.
Round 2		Tier played #35 Jan Dixon (Newark, DE) and won 344 to 313 (a spread of 31) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: DANBURY, CT Tier's record vs. Dixon in the 5 years leading up to this event: 3-5 (0.375). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: L. Past 25-36 months: LLLWW. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #107. Current record: 1-1, -104.
Round 3		Tier played #111 John O'Laughlin (Madison, WI) and lost 338 to 443 (a spread of -105) . Before this event, Tier had not played O'Laughlin in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #132. Current record: 1-2, -209.
Round 4		Tier played #89 Adam Logan (United Kingdom) and lost 363 to 480 (a spread of -117) . Before this event, Tier had not played Logan in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #149. Current record: 1-3, -326.
Round 5		Tier played #39 Joel Elkins (West Hollywood, CA) and lost 303 to 362 (a spread of -59) . Before this event, Tier had not played Elkins in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #159. Current record: 1-4, -385.
Round 6		Tier played #141 John Scalzo (Middle Village, NY) and lost 345 to 505 (a spread of -160) . Before this event, Tier had not played Scalzo in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #168. Current record: 1-5, -545.
Round 7		Tier played #134 Carol Ravichandran (Northville, MI) and won 441 to 336 (a spread of 105) . The last time these two played was 2000-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Tier's record vs. Ravichandran in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: no games. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: W. Current ranking: #156. Current record: 2-5, -440.
Round 8		Tier played #57 Howie Greenspan (Norwalk, CT) and won 443 to 278 (a spread of 165) . The last time these two played was 2002-02 at: DANBURY, CT Tier's record vs. Greenspan in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. 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: #134. Current record: 3-5, -275.
Round 9		Tier played #137 Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON) and lost 442 to 481 (a spread of -39) . The last time these two played was 2003-10 at: LAKE GEORGE, NY Tier's record vs. Rowland 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: #143. Current record: 3-6, -314.
Round 10		Tier played #26 Joanne Cohen (Owings Mills, MD) and won 422 to 403 (a spread of 19) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: DANBURY, CT Tier's record vs. Cohen in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-2 (0.333). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: LW. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #132. Current record: 4-6, -295.
Round 11		Tier played #10 Dan Barry (Redondo Beach, CA) and won 426 to 407 (a spread of 19) . Before this event, Tier had not played Barry in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #119. Current record: 5-6, -276.
Round 12		Tier played #82 Rose Kreiswirth (East Northport, NY) and won 403 to 304 (a spread of 99) . The last time these two played was 2003-07 at: ALBANY, NY Tier's record vs. Kreiswirth in the 5 years leading up to this event: 3-2 (0.600). Past 1-12 months: no games. Past 13-24 months: WL. Past 25-36 months: WW. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #98. Current record: 6-6, -177.
Round 13		Tier played #113 Lisa Odom (St. Louis Park, MN) and won 398 to 378 (a spread of 20) . Before this event, Tier had not played Odom in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #80. Current record: 7-6, -157.
Round 14		Tier played #91 Rod MacNeil (Londonderry, NH) and lost 372 to 414 (a spread of -42) . The last time these two played was 2000-10 at: LAKE GEORGE, NY Tier's record vs. MacNeil in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-1 (0.500). 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: W. Current ranking: #96. Current record: 7-7, -199.
Round 15		Tier played #83 Phil Kretschman (North Wales, PA) and won 495 to 359 (a spread of 136) . Before this event, Tier had not played Kretschman in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #74. Current record: 8-7, -63.
Round 16		Tier played #96 Jesse Matthews (Calgary AB) and won 486 to 305 (a spread of 181) . Before this event, Tier had not played Matthews in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #58. Current record: 9-7, +118.
Round 17		Tier played #13 Neil Bines (Whitestone, NY) and won 389 to 328 (a spread of 61) . The last time these two played was 2002-07 at: ALBANY, NY Tier's record vs. Bines 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: #52. Current record: 10-7, +179.
Round 18		Tier played #103 Avi Moss (Missouri City, TX) and lost 362 to 394 (a spread of -32) . Before this event, Tier had not played Moss in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #60. Current record: 10-8, +147.
Round 19		Tier played #172 David Weisberg (Hollywood, FL) and won 338 to 317 (a spread of 21) . Before this event, Tier had not played Weisberg in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #52. Current record: 11-8, +168.
Round 20		Tier played #44 Diane Firstman (Brooklyn, NY) and won 474 to 300 (a spread of 174) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: DANBURY, CT Tier's record vs. Firstman in the 5 years leading up to this event: 5-1 (0.833). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: W. Past 37-48 months: W. Past 49-60 months: WWL. Current ranking: #40. Current record: 12-8, +342.
Round 21		Tier played #67 Marlon Hill (Baltimore, MD) and lost 404 to 412 (a spread of -8) . The last time these two played was 2003-10 at: STAMFORD, CT Tier's record vs. Hill in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-5 (0.167). Past 1-12 months: W. Past 13-24 months: LLL. Past 25-36 months: L. Past 37-48 months: L. Past 49-60 months: no games. Current ranking: #48. Current record: 12-9, +334.
Round 22		Tier played #123 Mike Paxson (Bloomington, IN) and won 452 to 367 (a spread of 85) . Before this event, Tier had not played Paxson in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #41. Current record: 13-9, +419.
Round 23		Tier played #77 Carol Kaplan (San Diego, CA) and lost 416 to 507 (a spread of -91) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Tier's record vs. Kaplan in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. 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: #50. Current record: 13-10, +328.
Round 24		Tier played #76 Sam Kantimathi (El Dorado Hills, CA) and won 487 to 374 (a spread of 113) . The last time these two played was 2002-08 at: NATIONAL SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Tier's record vs. Kantimathi in the 5 years leading up to this event: 1-0 (1.000). Past 1-12 months: no games. 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: #40. Current record: 14-10, +441.
Round 25		Tier played #23 Travis Chaney (Van Buren, AR) and won 470 to 292 (a spread of 178) . Before this event, Tier had not played Chaney in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #27. Current record: 15-10, +619.
Round 26		Tier played #120 Libero Paolella (Toronto ON) and lost 335 to 355 (a spread of -20) . Before this event, Tier had not played Paolella in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #35. Current record: 15-11, +599.
Round 27		Tier played #47 Jeremy Frank (New York, NY) and lost 374 to 419 (a spread of -45) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: ATLANTIC CITY, NY Tier's record vs. Frank in the 5 years leading up to this event: 5-5 (0.500). Past 1-12 months: L. Past 13-24 months: no games. Past 25-36 months: WL. Past 37-48 months: WW. Past 49-60 months: WLLWL. Current ranking: #45. Current record: 15-12, +554.
Round 28		Tier played #147 Larry Sherman (Bronx, NY) and won 474 to 356 (a spread of 118) . The last time these two played was 2004-02 at: DANBURY, CT Tier's record vs. Sherman in the 5 years leading up to this event: 4-5 (0.444). Past 1-12 months: WWLW. Past 13-24 months: WL. Past 25-36 months: LL. Past 37-48 months: no games. Past 49-60 months: L. Current ranking: #36. Current record: 16-12, +672.
Round 29		Tier played #103 Avi Moss (Missouri City, TX) and won 394 to 353 (a spread of 41) . Before this event, Tier had not played Moss in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #30. Current record: 17-12, +713.
Round 30		Tier played #149 Tom Singleton (Laguna Hills, CA) and won 430 to 389 (a spread of 41) . Before this event, Tier had not played Singleton in at least 5 years. Current ranking: #25. Current record: 18-12, +754.
Final Round 2		Tier is mentioned in this round's commentary (1 hit).

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