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USSO 2006 Commentary: Final Round 3

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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.

finals 3

Jim: AACGOST

AGO was played for 8.

Geoff: Rack is GIIMRSI, exchanged 5.

Jim: AACRST?

He played CASTRAtO for 80. People are asking for a definition.

Chris in falsetto says, "you'll just have to figure it out on your own.

Geoff: AIIPRS. He exchanged 4.

Jim: BEILNPT. still waiting. Jim played BLIP for 15.

While we are waiting, Lisa Odom (St. Louis Park, MN) suggested a play that Geoff played, mentioned below.

SACRARIA is played to resounding applause.

The room is happy.

Jim has: EGIKNRT. He plays PARK, setting up an A hook says Chris Cree (Dallas, TX).

Geoff has: DNOSTUW. Quackle suggests SWOUND for 28...

Chris asks the audience if SACRARIA takes an N? Jan Mills (Georgetown ON) yells, "it takes an L!"

Pakorn Nemitrmansuk (Thailand) has come in and has joined the front row group.

Geoff made the proscribed move.

Jim holds EEEGINT. Quackle says GEE for 16. We wait to see what Jim sees.

The room is getting more and more full and warmer with the bodies. Everyone claps, the like GEE from the triple.

This round we have Gregg Foster (Manchester-by-the-sea, MA) and Debbie Stegman (Kew Gardens, NY) on the tiles and large racks, which have now been put up in front of the room, visible to the audience. And the interns on the board, it is working well.

Geoff: has IILMPST. The group says LISP. He may not know the L hook for SACRARIA. Ron Hoekstra (Kentwood, MI) suggests that maybe Geoff has no incentive to play around the R.

He plays PRIMI for 18 and we like it, as he saved himself an 82-point play.

Jim has: EEIINTT (he could have played INTERTIE for 82), but Geoff blocked it.

Jim plays TIER for 11. Score: Jim 107; Geoff 150

Geoff's Rack: LNOSTTZ Jim's Rack: DEEINTY John OLaughlin (Sun Prairie, WI) for 32.

Geoff played AZO for 32, we liked it. And even better, he drew a blank, YEAH!

So, Jim's turn, he plays ANY for 31. Chris Cree likes the synergy.

Geoff holds LNOSTT? and he tosses down SLOTTiNG for 77 and the room erupts. We are delighted.

181-216, Geoff's lead.

Geoff lost NO time making that play.

Jim holds DEIINTE. Marlon Hill (Baltimore, MD) shouts, "Suggestions!?"

If 200 of us can't find a play, how can Jim? John laughs at that one! KITED is what Quackle says.

He played a Saldanha, DIEL, for 10 (Dielle Saldanha (Richmond BC) played in this event!).

EFMNOUV is Geoff's rack. I hear VENOM from the room, John OLaughlin (Sun Prairie, WI) nods in agreement.

Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) says you can't leave FU on your rack with ESPN filming the finals. We laugh.

Orry Swift (Dayton, TX) gives Geoff's play of LUV the thumbs down. He got 12 points.

Jim's turn: AEEIINT. Jim looks to be concentrating intently. Jan Mills (Georgetown ON) comments that once you begin "fishing," you have to stay with it. He's been fishing for a few turns now and he fishes again. He plays VIE for 15 and draws ADEFINT (FAINTED maybe...).

Geoff: AEFMNOV. FOVEA is recommended. I hear John say FOVEA and PARKA keep this thing from being done.

Chris says, "Were I geoff, I'd play FOAM and hold onto that E with my life."

Trey says FOVEA.

Jan agrees with FOVEA.

He plays FOEMAN/PARKA, picks it up, then puts it back down again for 33, gives him a 55-point lead. 261-206.

Jim's rack ADEFINT. Quackle likes FEND. He plays NEIF for 33. We like it. Pakorn likes it for its defensive value.

Geoff: BDEHTVW. He is concentrating so intently. WIT is what Quackle likes. Twenty-eight tiles left, or as Chris says, " many miles to go."

He exchanged keeping ET. We think it is a good move, but we wish he had kept H.

Jim's turn: ADEJLST.

Chris suggests LASTED/SACRARIAL/SWONDS. He plays for 32: JEST.

Geoff: ACEQRTY.

Jan Mills (Georgetown ON) likes CASTRATOR/RACY.

Chris keeps mentioning how we know so much more than the players do about what is going on. Quackle likes exchange QY. It wins about half the time.

7 minutes Geoff, 5 minutes Jim.

We are sensing possible time trouble for both players.

He opts to trade 3, keeping RATE. Part of the room likes it a lot (QYC). Ron Hoekstra (Kentwood, MI) liked trade 2 or 3...

Jim: ADGOLLW. He plays OWL for 29.

Geoff gets reworded for trading with a new rack: ADEEORT. On this board, maybe it isn't the best rack.

The Quackle men think JO. He plays ODE one short of triple lane. Chris says, "this is a VERY dangerous move." This may be it.

Jim: AGHDALU. We see LAUGH for 38. I hear Marlon Hill (Baltimore, MD) congratulate Jim Kramer.

He played LAUGH.

Geoff: ABEERTV, played NOVA for 24.

Jim: DINOOXY.

four left in bag.

336-298, Jim's lead.

Jim plays OX for 30.

Geoff has: BCEERRT.

he has under 2 mins on clock. QU left in the bag.

Jim has HYENOID, but it isn't playable. Dave Wiegand (Portland, OR) sees that word.

He played REX for 10 and pulls QU.

very time tense.

DEHINOY for Jim. He plays YEH for 24, sealing the championship.

We are thinking Jeff could have played AB/BA for 8 points, hoping for an I in the bag.

Robin Pollock Daniel (Toronto ON) points out that Jim looks pretty excited right about now. Which is utter sarcasm coming out of the mouth of Chris Cree. Jim is totally serious. :)

KERB for 12 as Geoff's time expires.

Jim plays bi, geoff act, jim nod.

The room stands in applause to Jim.

Jim is holding back tears.

Jim closed the championship out with 10 consecutive victories; 7 on the final day, and then a 3-0 sweep of Geoff Thevenot in the finals.

Jim's last loss was to Geoff in Round 20.

Jim wins the final game 433-325.