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WPC 2008 Commentary: Round 15

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 15

Peter Armstrong (USA) and Marty Gabriel (USA) learn that SAPIENCY is good at the lookup computer. Not sure who played and who challenged.

I find an abandoned Stuart Goldman (USA) vs. Geoff Thevenot (USA) board. It appears to be a 433-280 win for Geoff, but Stu at 7-8 as of this game is holding his own overall! On their board, spy PhAETON, TENIASIS, and NOTATES.

Robert Linn (USA) is doing is postgame "copying the board" ritual. He's just defeated Albert Hahn (CAN), 479-344. It was a jump into the lead and never let it go kind of game for Bob. He played FoOTAGe, FACTIONS through the C, and ONERIEST through the R for 122 + 5 (for the challenge). At this point, the score nwas 300-83 in Bob's favor. Albert hung in and got down a couple fun SOWPODS plays: VHEM# and ADRY#.

Okay, this is a fun story. At table 2, Adrian Tamas (ROM) squared off against John Luebkemann (USA). Smiling, Adrian said, "I lost the game by challenging two of John's words: BAUBEES and HOAGY." He continued by explaining that he challenges almost anything he isn't more than 99% certain of and some plays are just so beautiful he actually thinks his opponents deserve more points, so he challenges. I'm not sure how tounge-in-cheek that part is! I see GARDENER, pEREION, TOOTERS, and REPUNII as Adrian's four bingos (note, he LOST the game!) and BAUBEES, DECLATION, and the outbingo ACMItES for John. It was a beautiful 508-501 win for "Looby" and smiles were had by all.

A brilliant attempt of BEANERS* for 104 was challenged off by Dave Wiegand (USA) in his win over Nick Ball (USA) this round, 473-408. I spot Dave's bingo-bango: MISSION and ANEsTRA#.

So, Jim Kramer (USA) plays the beautiful CLAXONS/VIBES (hooking the S on to the second word) or 89 points. After the game was over, the visionary in overalls, Mark Kenas (USA) pointed out that Jim could have played CLAXONS/VIBEX# for 126 points.

Joanne Craig (AUS) played Michael Early (USA) this round and he says he won the game on a phony two-letter word. On a frenetic play, both of them missed Mike playing UR/UY# and the game continued. In the very endgame, Mike was able to bingo out, hooking onto the phoney to win the game by two. Now, perhaps a good internet reporter would have asked 1. the outbingo; or 2. the winning game score; but sadly we are stuck with me and that's all I got!

Marty Gabriel (USA) vs. Peter Armstrong (USA): steam is rising off the table. Their heads are bent in intently. I catch Peter's eye and he smiles that brilliant smile, which I think means, "come on over." I get there and can see that a recount of sorts is in progress. I see Marty's ONLIEST#, OUTBLAze, and SAPIENCY. Peter had a bingo-bango-bongo: RANCORED, UNATONED, and ELEGITS. In the end, Peter eked out a win by 8 points. Wowza.

The room is electric with one more game to go.