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USSO 2006 Commentary: Round 16

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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, Round 23, Round 24, Round 25, Round 26, Round 27, Round 28, Final Round 1, Final Round 2, Final Round 3.

round 16

It must have been during the first round this morning... Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) was playing Darrell Day (Richardson, TX). He ended up losing the game to Darrell, 368-436. He wrote two small words in the margins of his scoresheet to review later and Joey Mallick (Cape Elizabeth, ME) happened by. Joey knows of Jim's propensity for these words and his eagle eye spotted OUTBLAME* written down in this teeny tiny font. (Jim writes like a typewriter, almost.) Joey quipped at Jim, "Hey, you had that challenged off the board 7 years ago when you tried to play it against Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR), and you let Darrell get away with it in this game?" Jim looked down, kicked his shoes and admitted he had. It can be difficult having a friend with both an eidetic memory and a way of bringing it up at the worst times!

They must have known it would happen eventually, but engaged division 3 players faced off this round. As it turned out, Cathy Coking (Glendale, AZ) defeated Gary Smart (Glendale, AZ), 374-350. She laughs as she tells me that he tried to get away with BRATE*, which she challenged off (in his defense, he was trying to put down OUTDOES). They have plans to wed in November, maybe during the SCRABBLE^® cruise in Rome they are planning to attend. They've already done the Scandinavian SCRABBLE^® cruise and have fond memories of SCRABBLE^® and love on the high seas.

I stop by a game wrapping up in division 6 betwen Angela Dancho (Thornton, CO) and Susan Bertoni (Clemmons, NC). It was Angela's win, 364-352. She asked me to say hi to the kids, who she knows are watching her progress closely. So, HI KIDS!

At table 1 in division 1, Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) had a monster win against Darrell Day (Richardson, TX), 548-303. It appears that Darrell tried VERDURER*, which Robin took off swiftly. Other than that, he was lucky to reach 300, having played mostly small words with his consonant-heavy racks. On the other hand, Robin got down WANTONS for 80, SCORIAE for 94, DiQUATS for 85, and HIpLINE for 65.

Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) had a big win against Pakorn Nemitrmansuk (Thailand) this round. Pakorn played AUNTLIKE for 66 through the K of Jim's opening play of MOCK. The Thai phenom later got down INCENTS for 73. Jim played DARTLiNG for 70, BRAISED for 70, and UTOPiAN for 73. However my favorite JK word that game was ZARIBA for 51!

Today is an important day for Trip Payne (Boca Raton, FL). The man with a starring role in Wordplay, has a birthday today. He turned over his nametag and wrote, "let me win, it is my birthday." I keep meaning to ask him how that is going....

This is a first US Open attendance for division 6's Paul Mcquade (Millbury, MA). He just lost a heartbreaker of a game by one lousy point, 405-406, to Deborah Light (Napanee ON). He says he played BAIZA and she challenged it, but managed to go out with SWAGGERS sticking him with EU. HE is now 7-8-1 and smarting.

From the same state, Joe Becker (Worcester, MA) is at his first US Open, too. His older brother Bob Becker (Jefferson, MA) and his dad Paul Becker (Holden, MA) are longtime players, enjoying themselves at another US Open. I have a feeling, by his good performance in division 6, he'll be vying for the top rating in the family soon!

Diane Pietrzak (Chicagoland, IL) defeated Steve Desch (Phoenix, AZ), 459-412. Diane played RESONATE for 68, REALINE* for 84, and INCLUDED for 63. Steve played INVITERS for 62, OUTLInED for 68, and REsTRIVES to the ES for 72.

Darrell Day (Richardson, TX) and Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) are playing each other at Board 1 in Division 1. Steve Pellinen and Scott Smith are posting the game live.