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WPC 2008 Commentary: Round 3

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 3

Chris Cree (USA) has gotten his way. All he ever wanted was a crack at table 1 and there he is this round, squaring off against his SOWPODS-studying buddy, Jean McArthur (USA). As I watch them in their early game, I watch Jean draw her tiles, which are counted carefully in one hand, cupped upward. After she's got them contained, she takes them one at a time and places them on her rack, almost like a ritual.

Fellow countrywomen, Donna MacDonald (AUS) vs. Joanne Craig (AUS), are squaring off. I see Donna place AERATES onto the board, hooking to make RURUS for 69. So far in the event, RURU# is the word of choice. I see it on nearly every board. That word alone ought to be enough to get North Americans on board for SOWPODS! Think of the dumping opportunities missed! As the play goes down, Joanne says, "good play," and Donna politely replies, "thank you." On their board, I see SEMANTRA, CLAREtS, ENNEADS, and OVERDoG.

I see Jim Kramer (USA) and Phil Robertshaw (Eng) in a tense game. AEGIRINE and ICKIEST are on their board. I walk away for a bit and get a tap on my shoulder. Jim says, "Go talk to Phil. He has a story for you." And does he. He bingoed out with CoMPUTES through the P for a 176-point triple-triple, winning the game, 480-441. Talk about fates changing rather suddenly!

Howard Warner (NZL) vs. Shakir Reshamwala (KWT). The board is loaded with gorgeous plays. I wander back when they are done to hear Howard suggesting ACINOSE/CLIED instead of ALNICOES*, which Shakir played. When Howard discovered that he'd taken a phoney (neither of them knew it to be at the time), he said he now certainly preferred his suggested play to the one made! Howard played SPRINKLE through the R, and then later played FIBRO/SPRINKLER, however the play he is most proud of: TENOROON. "Three Os, I got rid of three Os and I just learned it!" I see QuIZ, which garnered Howard 74 points. He points out there were no Ss left and the Q was one short of the double word. Sensing my "what are you talking about" look, Howard quickly explained that SQUIZ# is an acceptable SOWPODS word! I see NaSTIER and TOADIES on the board. Howard's win, 511-384.

Peter Armstrong (USA) is beating up on James Sekyi (GHA) like a rented mule. Quite a ways into the game, Peter played a bingo-bango-bongo: LESBIAn for 84, CLOUDInG for 68, and ACERATED for 66. He also played DILIGENT. James played VENDAGES, which Peter challenged, but lost, 390-509.

Femi Awowade (Eng) and Louis Reed (USA) leave their board for a challenge: ENTaILS/DEVa, it is good.

Nigel Richards (MYS) vs. Trevor Halsall (AUS). FLUORIDE for 64, QUYTED for 52, GLADdENS for 83, all by Nigel.

I finally see it! The fish from last night's buffed: TILAPIA! And it is on a Geoff Thevenot (USA) vs. Steve Polatnick (USA) board. Steve played TIlAPIA ande IMPLOdE. Geoff got down EXOTERIC through the T. I see some sowpods-only plays: BOEUF# and JARK#.

Sunny Wright (AUS) vs. Carmel Dodd (AUS): FIBSTERS, EUGArIES, and MANITOU, all played by Carmel. Now I am understanding the frowny face that Sunny drew on the game's result slip.

William Huttel (USA) vs. Victor Ikawa (BHR). I see TORNADEs, bEEERIEST, and ISATINE.

John O'Laughlin (USA) vs. Sam Dick-Onuoha (USA). Game in progress, but see WARZONES, NITERIES, OUTrANK, and VICIATES.

John Luebkemann (USA) vs. David Eldar (AUS). Early on, they exchanged ABSTaINER (for 90 through the B and I!!!!!) for John and EDGEWIsE to the last E, 103 for David. It was David's win, 443-375. I see ANTLIAE on their board. Peter Armstrong (USA) walks over and says, "That takes a T at the end."

Nawapadol Sayavesa (THA) vs. Mark Kenas (USA). ROOTLED, NATTIEST, and TARSIER. 449-439 for Nawa.

The last game I see this round as just wound up between Amit Chakrabarti (USA) and Sam Kantimathi (USA). Amit is smiling broadly and Sam is shaking his head. It is Amit's win, 575-362. The thing is that in the endgame, Sam picked to draw CRHAWSN, and he got it. The problem is that Amit slapped down, in Sam's spot: ORDALIAN through the A for 63, catching Sam with CRHAWSN. The find that Sam made would not have won him the game, but it would have narrowed the gap. It was a game of two phoneys tried and called off. First Sam tried DEFRACTS* and then Amit tried UNPUREST*. Toward the start of the game, in four turns, Amit got down three bingos: AUDIeNCE for 90, FORLAIn for 70, and CHATTING for 73. He also played SINUATE. Sam played BEPROSE (which drew a challenge) and OILSEED. Turns out that Amit was not sure of ORDALIAN, but Sam didn't bat an eyelash.

One more game and then lunch!