Charles Reinke Sweeps the Table and Mixes the Metaphors

1st Charles Reinke compiled an immaculate 4-0 +454 record to snag first place. He took down Sue Goldstein 493-316 in the first round, thanks to bingos of FAERIES and the odd-looking EPINAOI (plural of EPINAOS, a rear vestibule of a temple). A match against Bryan Benwitz was much more closely-contested; Charles escaped with a 380-365 victory, but was outbingoed in the process, getting down FELLOES (n. FELLOE, the rim of a wheel) to Bryan's DIABOLOS and RESTRUNG. Charles' most devastating win was, callously, against his own brother, 492-302. Thomas found himself unable to bingo, and instead, was forced to spectate as Charles unleashed a torrent of bonus plays: INTERLAY, INTONED, LONGTIME, and DIRTIED.

2nd Aaron Bader also was undefeated at 3-0 +319, but escaped before he could be roped into a fourth game. His highest game was a bingo-laden shootout against Richard Lauder which he won 484-442, good for Richard's highest loss of the year. Richard played DECAIRE to start (DECIARE is valid), but Aaron let it stay in order to play CONVENOR in response. Richard later played CITIFIED, JOINTERS, and INFUSES for a total of four bingos on the game. Aaron, meanwhile, ended up with three thanks to additional finds of PRATTLED and GARBLING. In the immediate aftermath of that game, the bingo well went dry, and only one bingo was played in a 465-240 drubbing of Dennis Lloyd, that being MALICES for 83.

3rd Thomas Reinke had a very strong outing if you take out the encounter with his brother, finishing 3-1 +372 and averaging 497 in his wins. He unloaded four bingos (SPINULAR, YAWMETER, BANQUETS, and NAIVETES) upon the resisting form of Bryan Benwitz, winning their matchup 502-324. Four more bingos were reserved for Richard Lauder, who failed to stymie any of Thomas' plans in a 562-284 demolition session. Richard did get down MONTAGES, but Thomas's AERATORS, ENTRESOL (n. a mezzanine floor of a building), BEAUISH, and MANURERS were more than enough ammunition to get the job done cleanly.

Thomas' CORUNDUM (an aluminum oxide) was chosen as word of the week, but Thomas' YAWMETER and Richard's CITIFIED were also in contention. No bingos from the latest dictionary update were played, bringing an end to a streak that the editor doesn't feel like looking up right now.