c4countdown

Fred Mumford

The highest such disparity is that of Samir Pilica , who maxed 68.75% of his letters rounds and 46.875% of his numbers rounds. I know your database won't cover any of this series, but I believe Andy Noden has an even bigger disparity (76.25% on letters, 53.13% on numbers). That's using the stricter...

Fred Mumford

If ever there were a performance that set a record low score and didn't deserve to, it was that. True enough, but I think the same could have been said for Christine Buffrey - a valid 8 and two valid 7s during her game, as well as a conundrum in which Jeffrey Hansford on steroids would not have bee...

Fred Mumford

What was Alan Bennett late for?

Fred Mumford

I've just re-watched a classic film noir from 1947 (Out of the Past) and, temporal displacement issues notwithstanding, am certain that the deaf young man at the petrol station was played by Dylan Taylor. The credits said Dickie Moore, but I'm not fooled by such a crap pseudonym - I'm an expert on t...

Fred Mumford

You made your episode entertaining and funny for the right reasons. So, no, you were far from being the worst.

Fred Mumford

Belated congrats to both - Antoinette for being both brilliant and immensely likeable (and she will always have the knowledge that "Dave Preece would" to console her), and Dan for being clearly the outstanding player of the series. I just hope now that Dan has achieved so much on the show,...

Fred Mumford

If it's going to cover Series 67 to 72 as well as (rightfully) letting Oliver Garner and Eoin Monaghan play too, then there's a case for having more than 16 players. Maybe 24 with some byes.

Fred Mumford

Thank you, yes that one is a bit tricky, I'm surprised it is rated at only 70% on the WTP solver tool (although I've long believed that it sometimes knocks off too many difficulty points for games with solutions that don't happen to use all 6 numbers).

Fred Mumford

The median octochamp achieves about 63 maxes, I think Bobby's max rate was higher than that during his Series 70 run. There have been about 130 15-round octochamps.

Therefore, whilst accepting that max rates aren't the be all and end all, I believe he would have beaten "many" octochamps.

Fred Mumford

What a joke! sticking on this meaningless game between two also rans in the middle of the quarter-finals! I agree on the timing, but one player was a finalist and the other was an excellent player who has been extremely unlucky to come up against a couple of all time greats during his preliminary r...

Fred Mumford

Both played well, although it must be said that the previous day's prelim was probably played to an even higher standard. I bet that doesn't happen very often.

Fred Mumford

James Robinson wrote:we want to try and remove all redirects from the Wiki

I think this is the key point that I was not aware of.

Fred Mumford

And one is from the Isle of Wight, the other from the Isle of Man (via Sevenoaks). My question to James was a genuine one. There is nothing worse than people who mean well but don't really know what they're doing (not literally - there probably are things that are worse), so I just wanted to underst...

Fred Mumford

These finals have six people that are worth cheering for but not the other two. One is only there due to blatant cheating which is especially disgusting and the other is only there because of a pathetic and terrible decision by Dictionary Corner. The fact is there should be two other much more wort...

Fred Mumford

Was hoping Dan would say DITTO to Paul's TOWAI, just to see what would have happened.

Fred Mumford

Hmmm. OK, humour me briefly. I can see the changes that you made, but what do they do that mine didn't? Clicking on the "Jackie Pinkney" link from Series 19 still took you instantly to the newly merged page via the redirection.

Fred Mumford

James Robinson wrote: Defo, I'll sort it out later.

I think I already have, but let me know if it looks how it should, or if I'm treading on anyone's toes by changing it myself.

Fred Mumford

Today's intro from Nick says she's originally from Kent, now lives on the Isle of Wight, so I think that settles it.

If she can move from the Isle to Man to the Isle of Wight between episodes then she's capable of anything.

Fred Mumford

You would think so, but maybe her hairstyle makes her look older than she really is.

Fred Mumford

Gut feel says it's definitely possible. Not only could it be walked / swum in that timescale, a bit of online research has thrown up that "cars" (in their most primitive form of course) existed even back then. Factor in buses, trains, trams, Sinclair C5s and the pogo stick and the availabl...

Fred Mumford

The wiki hasn't made the connection, but is today's champ likely to be the Jackie Pinkney from Series 19?

Fred Mumford

Difficult to register a vote for Paul Worsley given his QF opponent, but it's a bit surprising to note that Paul got as many maxes in 7 games as Antoinette did in 8.

I just can't see Antoinette beating Tricia if they were to meet, much as I would like to see it happen.

Fred Mumford

Rumour has it David Stanford has been spending 20 hours a day on Touchy Words so I now make him favourite.

Fred Mumford

Many congrats!

And apologies for shouting "what the fuck are you doing?" at the screen when you went for 6 small in R3.

Fred Mumford

Gavin Chipper wrote:I know some of you will be cheering for someone not to win. What a disgrace.

Cheering for someone not to win ultimately ensures 7 times as much happiness as cheering for someone to win. Sounds like a great idea, now you mention it.

Fred Mumford

The smart money has to be on Dan, but other than that there is so little to choose between 6 out of the 7 others.

Will be cheering loudest for Antoinette and George, and I always tend to prefer the players who haven't been on before, but I think it will be very entertaining whatever happens.

Fred Mumford

So, Antoinette's final seeding based on tomorrow's game is as follows:-

If she loses or wins with no more than 47 points, she's #6.
A win with 48 to 85 points, she's #5.
86 to 97 points, she's #4.
98 to 110, she's #3.
111 to 195, she's #2.
196 or over, #1. Could happen.

Fred Mumford

Ian Fitzpatrick wrote:Did nobody else spot PORPOISE in round (about) 4 ?

Yes, I always like it when I can spot Formula 1 words, although PITS and CAR are usually the best I can manage.

Fred Mumford

Didn't they trial that conundrum idea in the Ian Volante v Bradley Cates game? Might have got away with it if the NSPCC hadn't got involved.

Fred Mumford

Quite an important game for her I would say.

For all the quality of the other finalists, avoiding a quarter final with Mr McColm must surely be a good thing. And a win today means she would be likely to end up avoiding his half of the draw entirely.

Fred Mumford

Yeah my max was 988 :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: but that's ok :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: I guess :cry: :cry: :cry: The lowest max for any 8 consecutive games since the format change is 979, and the highest is 1101, so that illustrates how unlucky you were. Craig B. Vorrs had a notably low 987, but i...

Fred Mumford

George, not sure about 9s but I think Glen Webb had a fairly enormous potential max of about 1093 available points, compared to the new format average of 1030. I can't remember what yours was, but with your maths skills I guess you can work it out (although I know 4 large is your speciality rather t...

Fred Mumford

Thanks again Clive, great stuff. Yes I did wonder if the lack of opportunites for division when playing 6 small meant that 99%ers in that category were rare, despite being by far the trickiest category overall. No joy yet on solving those new examples though, even with the advantage of knowing their...

Fred Mumford

How come people from Ireland are allowed on Countdown? It's not part of the UK. Not enough new players are applying, so the entry rules have been relaxed both in terms of making return appearances on the show, and in terms of geographical location. That might be bollocks, but it wouldn't surprise m...

Fred Mumford

Cheers Clive, that certainly covers one of the areas I was looking for.

I wonder which pot all the games with 90%-98% difficulty get shoved into?

Fred Mumford

This might be more of an "Ask Anyone" but I'm on the lookout for any exceptionally difficult numbers games (ie. games that score 99% on the solver tool, and ideally with just a single solution) that anyone may have come across that meet any of the following criteria:- - Six small selection...

Fred Mumford

And I think even a loss will guarantee a finals place, provided he gets 64 points or above.

Fred Mumford

If it isn't Abdi v Mark Hartnett, I'll eat my breakfast.

If it is, what's the next highest?

Fred Mumford

VERY tight at the bottom of the leaderboard now - 3 players on 4 wins and 397 points, although I don't suppose Laurence will score zero tomorrow.

Fred Mumford

Graeme,

You have previously given us a list of maxes /120 scored by all the 15 round octochamps.

Please could you do likewise for the players who made it to 7 wins, but lost their 8th game?

Thanks.

Fred Mumford

I think his octochamp game would be Tuesday, as apparently the horses still haven't gone into hibernation yet.

Fred Mumford

If you're counting maxes, would R3 be a free max for both players? I'm guessing it has to be.

Fred Mumford

The score of Dylan's opponents really surprises me. I thought he usually went for 6 small, so would have expected them to struggle much more than they seem to have done.

Fred Mumford

C2 has pretty much got this wrapped up if he plays tactically in R14 and goes for "some numbers".

Fred Mumford

We'll let you off missing Elisabeth Jardine too then.

Fred Mumford

Not seen today's game yet then Graeme?

(I know this isn't a spoilers thread but I don't think I'm ruining things too much with that).

Fred Mumford

Gweni has been on before, back when beer were tuppence a pint and this were all fields.

At least she scored something on the numbers back then.

Fred Mumford

Congratulations, probably the most entertaining octorun I've seen for a long while.

Unlucky there were so few 9s available in your run, you could possibly have ended up a little higher in the seedings (from recollection, I think Tricia and Mark had a more typical set of games in that regard).

Fred Mumford

Zarte Siempre wrote:MURRAIN as a beater in R2

And its entry is very similar to HEADWAY. Definition 1 is given as a mass noun, definition 2 isn't. However, MURRAINS does appear in the drop down. Therefore, Susie's justification for disallowing HEADWAYS was utter bull.

Fred Mumford

He hadn't written "mouths" down (but forgot to say so), and Nick went to George first, who happened to have the same word.

Fred Mumford

George Pryn wrote:round 6 - why to stick to your guns by george "pryn" ford

And disappointing to see you only go up to 93,800 in R3 when you could have gone to 93,900.

I hope you aren't starting to bottle it.

Fred Mumford

What's the consensus opinion about the addition of gravel traps and the compulsory wearing of crash helmets? I know the Harry Mulvey fatality in that freak consonant accident was a tragedy for all concerned, but if you eliminate all the risks entirely then the very nature of the game changes. Bannin...

Fred Mumford

1+1=2 as a beater in round 6 (standard method).

Fred Mumford

George Pryn wrote:I think that was the only solution so you can let me off hehehe

Maybe - the solver is down so can't check at the mo. But you could of course have just done 100/50 = 2 and not gone above 1,950 in an intermediate stage. Or even 975 actually.

Glad you didn't though.

Fred Mumford

Bradley Cates wrote:Round 14 - the Countdown equivalent of Erik Lamela's rabona.

Or Frank Worthington versus Ipswich. That's probably lost most of you.

Fred Mumford

I used to be against unnecessarily flashy numbers solutions, but I'm actually changing my mind, especially when they're as good as that - it's all good fun, and definitely wows the audience. Well played sir.

Fred Mumford

Rye via Steadman wrote:"I’d just like to say that I feel no “sense of injustice” in my defeat

But what about your mum?

Rye via Steadman wrote:far superior numbers skills

Laudably modest - maxed every numbers game didn't you? Very impressive for someone who didn't know 7 x 5 =35.

Fred Mumford

Ooh, that reminds me - is anyone else having trouble with the Crossword Tools solver site? It just seems to freeze when trying to solve anything. Bit like me, actually.

Fred Mumford

Gavin Chipper wrote:the fact that it finds HEADWAYS if you use the search bar

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I can't see it in the search bar.

Anyway, a fine game, and the controversy is no reflection on George's performance - still a deserving winner, even if Jonny is an undeserving loser.

Fred Mumford

Well that was just awesome.

Anyone who is a confirmed finalist for this series that didn't poo themselves just a little when watching that deserves my respect.

Speaking of finalists, our 3rd one is confirmed tomorrow: if Dan wins it's him, if he loses (yeah right) then David Stanford is confirmed.

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