My Year in Scrabble: 2008 - 43-33 +2318
I don't play very many tournaments, so this should be pretty short.
Chicago IL - 03/22/08
5-9 +253 (18 of 24 - Div.1)
1504 -> 1428
Started as 12th seed, and finished 18th. Of all of my career tournaments, this was definitely the one I tanked. I couldn't do anything at this tournament, which is no good for an open. People I should have been beating, were slipping by, and people who I should have split games with were trouncing me. And all I could do was watch it happen. ugh. Just thinking about it gives me a sour feeling.
Chicago IL - 05/24/08
10-10 +28 (14th of 32 - Div. 2)
1428 -> 1477
Started as 23rd seed, finished 14th. Best even tourney finish ever. I start out 1-7, and finish 9-3. By the end my brain was firing on all cylinders. My last game was a huge cathartic trouncing. After a rough start, I'll take it.
Hazel Park, MI - 06/28/08
11-3 +1054 (1st of 34 - Div. 2)
1477 -> 1535
Started as 5th seed, and finished 1st. My first multi-day win! This one came down to the final game against Dave Turissini. I didn't need to win, I just needed to keep from losing by 132. I lost by 120! You can see the write up here. I am still winless against porosus in tournament play, but this time I got the big win so I guess that's okay.
National Scrabble Championship - 07/26/08
17-11 +783 (17th of 134 - Div. 2)
1535 -> 1697
Started 92nd, and finished 17th. My first day was terrible. I was 2-5, going into Day 2, but it felt like 0-7. Then I went 13-2 including a lossless Day 3. Then I got up to the big boy tables and proceeded to flounder again. I opened Day 4 with a mind-numbing loss at table 1 to bbstenniz who ran away with things. Then went 3-Fiszbein, losing to Papa Fiszbein twice and Alex once. My last game was probably my second most fun game of the tournament with a runner-gunner loss to Papa Fiszbein. I can only be happy with this tourney as I met every once of my goals. Top 25 (top 20 hopeful) and 1600+ (1700 hopeful).
So I was 43-33 +2318. My rating went from 1504 to a low of 1428 and up to a current 1697. Can't complain for 4 tournaments.
My next tourney will be the East Coast Championship in February. To all of those attending, my birthday is the 12th of February, so a really nice present would be a win against you. Feel free to throw our game, my ego won't be bruised I promise.
I already have confirmed guests at my parents' house of Kate F-C and TomErica. My mom said the more the merrier. Should be an interesting start to 2009.
Goals for next year:
-go to more than 6 tournaments
-Arden
-Dayton
-BAT
-go to Albany NYE
-break 1700
-other things as well
Chicago IL - 03/22/08
5-9 +253 (18 of 24 - Div.1)
1504 -> 1428
Started as 12th seed, and finished 18th. Of all of my career tournaments, this was definitely the one I tanked. I couldn't do anything at this tournament, which is no good for an open. People I should have been beating, were slipping by, and people who I should have split games with were trouncing me. And all I could do was watch it happen. ugh. Just thinking about it gives me a sour feeling.
Chicago IL - 05/24/08
10-10 +28 (14th of 32 - Div. 2)
1428 -> 1477
Started as 23rd seed, finished 14th. Best even tourney finish ever. I start out 1-7, and finish 9-3. By the end my brain was firing on all cylinders. My last game was a huge cathartic trouncing. After a rough start, I'll take it.
Hazel Park, MI - 06/28/08
11-3 +1054 (1st of 34 - Div. 2)
1477 -> 1535
Started as 5th seed, and finished 1st. My first multi-day win! This one came down to the final game against Dave Turissini. I didn't need to win, I just needed to keep from losing by 132. I lost by 120! You can see the write up here. I am still winless against porosus in tournament play, but this time I got the big win so I guess that's okay.
National Scrabble Championship - 07/26/08
17-11 +783 (17th of 134 - Div. 2)
1535 -> 1697
Started 92nd, and finished 17th. My first day was terrible. I was 2-5, going into Day 2, but it felt like 0-7. Then I went 13-2 including a lossless Day 3. Then I got up to the big boy tables and proceeded to flounder again. I opened Day 4 with a mind-numbing loss at table 1 to bbstenniz who ran away with things. Then went 3-Fiszbein, losing to Papa Fiszbein twice and Alex once. My last game was probably my second most fun game of the tournament with a runner-gunner loss to Papa Fiszbein. I can only be happy with this tourney as I met every once of my goals. Top 25 (top 20 hopeful) and 1600+ (1700 hopeful).
So I was 43-33 +2318. My rating went from 1504 to a low of 1428 and up to a current 1697. Can't complain for 4 tournaments.
My next tourney will be the East Coast Championship in February. To all of those attending, my birthday is the 12th of February, so a really nice present would be a win against you. Feel free to throw our game, my ego won't be bruised I promise.
I already have confirmed guests at my parents' house of Kate F-C and TomErica. My mom said the more the merrier. Should be an interesting start to 2009.
Goals for next year:
-go to more than 6 tournaments
-Arden
-Dayton
-BAT
-go to Albany NYE
-break 1700
-other things as well