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USSO 2006 Commentary: Round 27

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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 27

Ira Freehof (Manhasset, NY) approaches me with a big smile. He's had his first 600 game of his life this round! He was playing Mary Aline Stevens (Berkeley, CA) when the bingos just began to fall off his rack. First there was OUTRATES through the first T, then sEEABLE, followed by GADARENE through the first E (a 144-point triple-triple, which was challenged). His next bingo was FELONRY, which she also challenged. Bad luck compounded when Mary Aline tried OUTEDITS* and Ira challenged it off. He got away with a phoney, himself, when he played SUITLESs, but perhaps Mary Aline was just tired of losing challenges (and turns) so she left it on. Mary did get a bingo down, ANTIARS. Score was 664-308.

Craig Rowland (Mississauga ON) is mixed to report he had a very good game this round. When I get to the table, I see why; he defeated fellow countryman and friend, Evan Berofsky (Thornhill ON), with a whopping 566-365. Craig played THUMPeR for 78, SNAILED for 70, and ACCIDENT to the T for 65, before Evan got down TABLOIDS through the A for 76. Craig then got down QI for 65 and ATONIES for 78. In the endgame with only 7 tiles left in the bag, Craig traded 3 of this worst tiles, praying for an E. He got one and slammed down bEZANT to the triple for 72. Congrats to Craig and ouchies for Evan.

I see a verrrry long word on a board between Darrell Day (Richardson, TX) and Daniel Fogel (Newton, MA). RUMINATORY*. There it sits and both players are vitually certain it is good. When Darrell first played RUMINATOR, Daniel challenged and it came back acceptable. And -OR words being what they are, it is reasonable that it would take a Y. So, when Daniel put down PYE for 44, there it stayed. As we were talking about it, Darrell laughed and said, "Well, I couldn't challenge it anyway. It is so cool to have a 10 on the board!"

At table 2 in division 1, Brian Cappelletto (Chicago, IL) had a strong game with Geoff Thevenot (Austin, TX), winning, 466-397. Anything interesting in that game was played by Brian: BUDGETER through the G for 74, REORDAIn from the R for 80, ETaMINS for 108, and AVULSING through the L for 72.

Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) had a nice win over Albert Hahn (Calgary AB) this round, 503-341. Albert played CERVIDS* for 81 and a whole lot of nothing else. Jim got down ORIGANS for 72, TAILInG for 72, FAX for 51, and ZINE for 72.

Mark Pistolese (Pahoa, HI) and Stefan Rau (Newington, CT), after a recount confirmation, registered a 417-417 tie this round.

We started this round with a known winner already! Michael Rhodes (Tucson, AZ) of division 5 has clinched the first place berth and will be Gibsonized to play someone out of prize contention. This way, those with a shot at the other spots can duke it out with each other. Hearty congrats to Michael for being the only person in the room to guarantee his win so early on!

Jim Kramer (Roseville, MN) and Albert Hahn (Calgary AB) are playing each other at Board 1 in Division 1. Steve Pellinen and Scott Smith are posting the game live.