Search found 107 matches

by Martin Thompson
Fri Jun 27, 2014 4:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Grand Final Spoilers For Friday June 27th 2014
Replies: 28
Views: 8092

Re: Grand Final Spoilers For Friday June 27th 2014

Funniest moment of the series happened to me right at the end. My wife was also watching. She can't do letters or numbers yet immediately spotted the conundrum, telling me it was a plant!
by Martin Thompson
Fri Jun 27, 2014 4:48 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Grand Final Spoilers For Friday June 27th 2014
Replies: 28
Views: 8092

Re: Grand Final Spoilers For Friday June 27th 2014

The outstanding player of the series won today and nobody can have any complaints.
by Martin Thompson
Thu Jun 26, 2014 9:11 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday June 26th 2014 (S70 SF2)
Replies: 11
Views: 2781

Re: Spoilers for Thursday June 26th 2014 (S70 SF2)

Well done Andy. A real tough match player.

Just wish I'd beaten him in a crucial conundrum a few months back. :)
by Martin Thompson
Mon Jun 16, 2014 8:18 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday June 16th 2014
Replies: 7
Views: 3195

Re: Spoilers For Monday June 16th 2014

Andy Platt wrote:Expected result really. Well played Samir, stuff like ADIPATES and REGIONALS are very missable.
I'm sure REGIONALS appeared just a few weeks ago. That's the only explanation for me spotting it!

Never heard of ADIPATES so I was impressed.
by Martin Thompson
Thu Jun 05, 2014 5:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday June 5th 2014 (S70 P96)
Replies: 9
Views: 3707

Re: Spoilers for Thursday June 5th 2014 (S70 P96)

I was so surprised nobody saw that, that I'd thought I'd miscalculated.
by Martin Thompson
Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:55 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday June 3rd 2014 (S70 P94)
Replies: 19
Views: 3287

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday June 3rd 2014 (S70 P94)

Callum Todd wrote:I have a certain fondness for rounds in which PETIOLE and PICOTEE are the available maxes.
I saw PETIOLE because I remembered you spotting it!

I think one could be quite good at the game if you watch Countdown continuously for several years. :)
by Martin Thompson
Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:50 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday June 4th 2014 (S70 P95)
Replies: 12
Views: 3210

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday June 4th 2014 (S70 P95)

Tony Atkins wrote:I would hope Myleene knew how to spell it if Rachel didn't.
There were two 8s in that round anyway - sadly I missed both and stuck at ROOTLED.
RETOOLED was one, I think.
by Martin Thompson
Mon Jun 02, 2014 7:26 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday June 2nd 2014
Replies: 10
Views: 2303

Re: Spoilers For Monday June 2nd 2014

I often find it strange when players don't make any declaration of a number. I was 3 away in the last numbers round without particularly trying. Unless it's 6 very small numbers with a large target, one should come within 10.
by Martin Thompson
Mon Jun 02, 2014 7:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - Current recaps
Topic: Monday 26th May 2014 (series 70 prelim 88)
Replies: 7
Views: 2702

Re: Monday 26th May 2014 (series 70 prelim 88)

He also came to Newcastle to work in the Department of Social Security in the late 80s. That's how I met him and we co-founded an office Scrabble club there. He then moved on to Edinburgh to work for the Forestry Commission.
by Martin Thompson
Mon May 26, 2014 8:11 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Bank Holiday Monday May 26th 2014
Replies: 13
Views: 3241

Re: Spoilers For Bank Holiday Monday May 26th 2014

My predictions for this series based on observance and personal experience:
Mark Murray favourite, Andy Naylor and Samir Palica second favourites, with Neil Green an outside chance. Assuming no other strong players emerge.
by Martin Thompson
Mon May 26, 2014 5:31 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Bank Holiday Monday May 26th 2014
Replies: 13
Views: 3241

Re: Spoilers For Bank Holiday Monday May 26th 2014

I was rooting for Simon as he used to attend the same Scrabble club as me. He'll be disappointed, as that was way below his potential.
by Martin Thompson
Mon May 05, 2014 3:41 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Bank Holiday Monday May 5th 2014
Replies: 20
Views: 6787

Re: Spoilers For Bank Holiday Monday May 5th 2014

szodiac wrote:
Tony Atkins wrote:Anyone know if urethans is CSW valid?
Yes it is! .... as was his amotion from the NATION round - athough NANOBOT should be a beater.
I saw BONIATO. Surprised Neil didn't spot it. Those 2 wrong words proved to be costly, but at least he'll be in the quarter-finals.
by Martin Thompson
Wed Apr 30, 2014 6:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday April 30th 2014 (S70 P76)
Replies: 12
Views: 3340

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday April 30th 2014 (S70 P76)

Tony Atkins wrote:
Andy Platt wrote:OPPIDA in round 1, I'm sure there was a third DC beater somewhere too, can't remember.
I didn't find one.

Neil will not survive in the finals long with numbers like that. (50-3)x3 as the quick way to 141.
Wonder if he's actually practiced at the numbers before coming on?
by Martin Thompson
Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:44 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday April 24th 2014 (S70 P73)
Replies: 17
Views: 4411

Re: Spoilers for Thursday April 24th 2014 (S70 P73)

Gavin Chipper wrote:
Andy Platt wrote:C2 needs to pick up on his numbers otherwise he could be throwing away a potential 40 points a game
Yeah, he did nothing to dispel the scrabbler/numbers games stereotype.
And selecting wrong words. You really have to do your homework on the Oxford dictionary.
by Martin Thompson
Sat Apr 26, 2014 9:41 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday April 24th 2014 (S70 P73)
Replies: 17
Views: 4411

Re: Spoilers for Thursday April 24th 2014 (S70 P73)

Great game - unlucky on the VIRGATE/VITRAGE - VITRAGE is ok in scrabble - though JUMBOES isn't. Just checked the ABSP site and he seems to be a top level scrabble player. Wouldn't be surprised to see him go far - that is, until an Apterite comes his way and really starts to put pressure on the lett...
by Martin Thompson
Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:36 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday April 17th 2014 (S70 P68)
Replies: 10
Views: 3095

Re: Spoilers for Thursday April 17th 2014 (S70 P68)

I think with the opponents Mark's faced, he'll find the knockout stages easier!
by Martin Thompson
Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:29 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday April 16th 2014 (S70 P67)
Replies: 16
Views: 3063

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday April 16th 2014 (S70 P67)

I know his opponent, David Jameson from the Mind Sports Olympiad, which is an annual multi-games tournament in London. At the last event in August, a Countdown rep was recruiting, so he must have signed up (me also) at the event.
by Martin Thompson
Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday April 14th 2014
Replies: 42
Views: 11432

Re: Spoilers For Monday April 14th 2014

Cracking match! Shame there had to be loser. I think Mark has the potential to win the series.
by Martin Thompson
Fri Apr 11, 2014 9:49 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: spoilers for Thursday April 10th 2014
Replies: 11
Views: 3618

Re: spoilers for Thursday April 10th 2014

I believe he is a tournament Scrabble player. Should do well provided he knows which words are allowable from the Collins dictionary.
by Martin Thompson
Wed Mar 26, 2014 7:31 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday March 25th 2014 (S70 P53)
Replies: 16
Views: 3104

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday March 25th 2014 (S70 P53)

Decent contest, wasn't a mega standard by either player but a tight crucial always makes for a good spectacle. Cliff was fractions behind on the conundrum, I felt pretty bad for him to lose on an -ING crucial. I can sympathise. :) Shouldn't a more difficult conundrum be employed if it's a crucial o...
by Martin Thompson
Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:58 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday March 24th 2014
Replies: 9
Views: 2763

Re: Spoilers For Monday March 24th 2014

Callum Todd wrote:GOLIATH disallowed. Let the controversy ensue.
It's in the Oxford Dictionary they kindly provided me with. :?
by Martin Thompson
Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:24 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Ask Graeme?
Replies: 1740
Views: 683602

Re: Ask Graeme?

What evidence is there (if any) to suggest that having the letters pick gives you an advantage for the round? It did for me in one round in the match I played. The first 8 letters I picked were U I A F D S O G. I realised that if an E came up I would have the word GAUDIES. I asked for a vowel in th...
by Martin Thompson
Sun Mar 23, 2014 11:13 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Misdeclarations
Replies: 7
Views: 3636

Re: Misdeclarations

Andy Platt wrote:If you can't count to 7 under the pressure of being on national television, Countdown probably isn't for you.
It is supposed to be a letters and numbers game.

If you can calculate sums in the numbers round correctly then counting the number of letters in your word should be quite simple.
by Martin Thompson
Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:07 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)
Replies: 51
Views: 6023

Re: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)

Surely the rules are you press the buzzer, Nick asks for your answer, and then you provide it without delay?

If you do that, how would anyone know the difference?
by Martin Thompson
Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:32 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)
Replies: 51
Views: 6023

Re: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)

You press the buzzer and then when asked, you give the answer without hesitation. How are you doing anything wrong? It's far worse when someone takes an unduly long time to talk through a numbers calculation. That looks suspicious.
by Martin Thompson
Sat Mar 01, 2014 10:35 am
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)
Replies: 51
Views: 6023

Re: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)

Definitely the game of the series so far. Well played Martin, after a difficult start you did so well to get back in the game and almost pulled off a stunning comeback. Andy's been impressive throughout his run and is fully deserving of being (finally) the first octochamp of the series. He'll be a ...
by Martin Thompson
Fri Feb 28, 2014 6:36 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)
Replies: 51
Views: 6023

Re: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)

I don't think there was.

I did query it later and the reason given was that the rule re one-syllable adjectives is only a general guideline and isn't something that can be applied across the board, and that there was no evidence of the existence of 'fainest'.
by Martin Thompson
Fri Feb 28, 2014 6:06 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)
Replies: 51
Views: 6023

Re: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)

Uh,oh - it's the old FAINEST controversy again ... Unless stuff got cut out, she just rejected that without any explanation. I tend to think in general that Susie takes the wrong approach to allowing/disallowing words. I think she goes by intuition a lot, when the most important thing is consistent...
by Martin Thompson
Fri Feb 28, 2014 6:02 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)
Replies: 51
Views: 6023

Re: Spoilers for Friday February 28th 2014 (S70 P40)

That was me indeed. Thought you'd enjoy the match! Strange, but my worst fears were realised. Coming up against a very strong champion, having a word disallowed and then beaten on a crucial conundrum. I was flabbergasted when FAINEST was disallowed. I'd checked through all the uncommon words I knew ...
by Martin Thompson
Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:11 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday February 27th 2014 (S70 P39)
Replies: 13
Views: 3395

Re: Spoilers for Thursday February 27th 2014 (S70 P39)

I always think it's funny when Susie announces shorter words. "Also LOTUS for five." And? Sometimes if it's a particularly "nice" word and she gives a reason for mentioning it, it can blend in, but it seems to happen a lot without any particular reason. Is that for the viewer at...
by Martin Thompson
Thu Feb 27, 2014 7:05 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday February 27th 2014 (S70 P39)
Replies: 13
Views: 3395

Re: Spoilers for Thursday February 27th 2014 (S70 P39)

Highest score of the series so far? I suppose if you get off to a really good start your confidence must be high.
by Martin Thompson
Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday February 26th 2014 (S70 P38)
Replies: 15
Views: 2336

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday February 26th 2014 (S70 P38)

Andy Platt wrote:If Andy loses tomorrow, there's going to be some seriously interesting ramifications come the end of the series, with four people on 6 wins.

I'm pretty confident he won't though.
Nobody's taken him to a crucial conundrum or even still be in contention at the last numbers round.
by Martin Thompson
Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:21 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Wednesday February 26th 2014 (S70 P38)
Replies: 15
Views: 2336

Re: Spoilers for Wednesday February 26th 2014 (S70 P38)

Tony Atkins wrote:Another 8 in the last letters from CINEMAS+OS anyone?
No - thought about ENCOMIA + S but it's already a plural.
by Martin Thompson
Wed Feb 26, 2014 7:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday February 25th 2014 (S70 P37)
Replies: 21
Views: 4561

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday February 25th 2014 (S70 P37)

Andy Platt wrote:Looks like there's only SPOLIATION and SPOLIATOR in the ODE3 - I presume SPOLIATE is CSW valid, looks like it could be bloody useful in Scrabble.
Yes, but I could have sworn it was in the Oxford on-line dictionary :?
by Martin Thompson
Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:19 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday February 25th 2014 (S70 P37)
Replies: 21
Views: 4561

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday February 25th 2014 (S70 P37)

Andy slipped a bit today, only clinching it with two rounds to go. ;)
by Martin Thompson
Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:18 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Tuesday February 25th 2014 (S70 P37)
Replies: 21
Views: 4561

Re: Spoilers for Tuesday February 25th 2014 (S70 P37)

Alternative eight in R3 was SPOLIATE
by Martin Thompson
Mon Feb 24, 2014 9:39 pm
Forum: Off-topic
Topic: My Weekly Review Blog
Replies: 59
Views: 12484

Re: My Weekly Review Blog

I like sport in general but I find the Winter Olympics rather unriveting. Never been skiing, bobsleighing, curling, played ice hockey etc. and have only ice skated a couple of times. Just don't find sports that interesting if I've never tried them out. And that's the thing - they don't do winter spo...
by Martin Thompson
Mon Feb 24, 2014 9:22 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 24th 2014
Replies: 28
Views: 5530

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 24th 2014

I had an audition by phone. That possibility did occur to me, but why would you want to face likely humiliation on TV?
by Martin Thompson
Mon Feb 24, 2014 8:56 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 24th 2014
Replies: 28
Views: 5530

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 24th 2014

There are several different methods for solving the numbers, but if you pick the wrong one initially there isn't much time to change tactics. Most of the numbers are solvable if you had a couple of minutes, but not the case with 30 seconds.
by Martin Thompson
Mon Feb 24, 2014 7:02 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 24th 2014
Replies: 28
Views: 5530

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 24th 2014

Jack Worsley wrote:A few equallers: MUDSTONE (R2), PARVENU (R8), GEODE (R11) and BURIALS (R12).
R12 also BAILORS.
by Martin Thompson
Mon Feb 24, 2014 7:01 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 24th 2014
Replies: 28
Views: 5530

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 24th 2014

He seems to start off slowly but then steamrollers through the opposition. You really don't want a bad start against him.
by Martin Thompson
Thu Feb 20, 2014 7:23 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday February 20th 2014 (S70 P34)
Replies: 11
Views: 2878

Re: Spoilers for Thursday February 20th 2014 (S70 P34)

DELUGES too in the DOUBLES and DELOUSE round
by Martin Thompson
Thu Feb 20, 2014 7:18 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Wednesday February 19th 2014
Replies: 29
Views: 5406

Re: Spoilers For Wednesday February 19th 2014

One thing I didn't really comprehend before going on was how much each game takes out of you. I suppose having seen Graham looking visibly thinner through each game the day before should have given me a clue, but despite being able to play game after game online with no noticeable fatigue, in the s...
by Martin Thompson
Thu Feb 20, 2014 7:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday February 20th 2014 (S70 P34)
Replies: 11
Views: 2878

Re: Spoilers for Thursday February 20th 2014 (S70 P34)

Hard to believe he won by so much after a couple of poor opening rounds.
by Martin Thompson
Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:35 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Wednesday February 19th 2014
Replies: 29
Views: 5406

Re: Spoilers For Wednesday February 19th 2014

Andy Platt wrote:Unlucky there Brett, Andy was that rare animal of apterous standard without the practice. He looks pretty good for 8 wins if he can improve in numbers.
Unless he spends a lot of time studying word lists.
by Martin Thompson
Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:32 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Wednesday February 19th 2014
Replies: 29
Views: 5406

Re: Spoilers For Wednesday February 19th 2014

Andy appeared on Countdown in 2003, losing his only game 95-98. I would expect him to have a good run.
by Martin Thompson
Mon Feb 17, 2014 7:58 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday February 17th 2014
Replies: 19
Views: 3480

Re: Spoilers For Monday February 17th 2014

Andy Platt wrote:ERGATIVE as an alternative for the CREATIVE round
I was feeling quite pleased to spot EVIRATE. Oh well....
by Martin Thompson
Thu Jan 23, 2014 9:10 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown in the news
Replies: 217
Views: 63301

Re: Countdown in the news

Gays and Muslims (or any other religion, for that matter) are polar opposites, so I'm not sure how they can be consistent on that.
by Martin Thompson
Thu Jan 23, 2014 8:20 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Countdown in the news
Replies: 217
Views: 63301

Re: Countdown in the news

A SCOOP for the Daily Mail today (January 23rd) on page 32 they report that the prodigy Dylan attained the highest ever score. Well at least the Daily Mail are only a few months behind the rest of the world now, as apposed to their usual 40 year deficit. The Daily Mail tells you what's wrong with t...
by Martin Thompson
Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:17 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday January 23rd 2014 (S70 P14)
Replies: 12
Views: 2369

Re: Spoilers for Thursday January 23rd 2014 (S70 P14)

Fred Mumford wrote:Ouch, that last numbers was uncomfortable viewing. Poor guy looked so embarrassed.
Not as embarrassing as declaring POINTERS as a seven letter word!
by Martin Thompson
Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:48 am
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Post your audition/filming/transmission dates here
Replies: 417
Views: 115806

Re: Post your audition/filming/transmission dates here

On the British rankings she's number 454 with a rating of 118 (average rating is around 140).

Presumably the higher you're ranked in Scrabble the better your chances in Countdown? Unless I'm completely wrong.
by Martin Thompson
Thu Jan 16, 2014 5:38 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers for Thursday January 16th 2014 (S70 P9)
Replies: 8
Views: 2094

Re: Spoilers for Thursday January 16th 2014 (S70 P9)

Gavin Chipper wrote:
Andy Platt wrote: I noticed FAINER was there in one of the rounds.
If it's acceptable...
by Martin Thompson
Thu Jan 16, 2014 5:27 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Is this word allowable?
Replies: 25
Views: 6329

Re: Is this word allowable?

SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER















So imagine playing that in a close game and having it disallowed? Needless to say I'm not happy about it.
by Martin Thompson
Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:29 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Is this word allowable?
Replies: 25
Views: 6329

Is this word allowable?

The word is FAINEST http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/fain?q=fain adjective [with infinitive] 1pleased or willing under the circumstances: the traveller was fain to proceed compelled by the circumstances; obliged: he was fain to acknowledge that the agreement was sacrosanct adverb...
by Martin Thompson
Mon Jan 13, 2014 10:11 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Final Preparations
Replies: 15
Views: 4800

Re: Final Preparations

I'm last on this Wednesday so plenty of time to sample the experience.
by Martin Thompson
Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:14 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday January 13th 2014
Replies: 12
Views: 3486

Re: Spoilers For Monday January 13th 2014

Zarte Siempre wrote: MATSURI in round 12
Spotted AMORIST but not the common word TOURISM. Letter 'u' can be tricky sometimes.
by Martin Thompson
Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:06 pm
Forum: Countdown - Spoilers
Topic: Spoilers For Monday January 13th 2014
Replies: 12
Views: 3486

Re: Spoilers For Monday January 13th 2014

John Garcia wrote:WAITRONS for 8 in R1
NOTARISE too, though DC didn't seem certain about it.
by Martin Thompson
Sat Jan 11, 2014 1:35 pm
Forum: Countdown - General
Topic: Double elimination
Replies: 7
Views: 3194

Re: Double elimination

I think that's a good idea. The probem with Countdown is the random nature of the pairings. Imagine last year's final happening in the middle of this series, where Dylan Taylor is the challenger, losing and never to return again? The point being you can have some very strong players losing their fir...