c4countdown

Ryan Lam

So there you have it, Dinos Sfyris is our Series 80 Champion! Congratulations to that one person who rooted for him to win (Which I think it's Chris from the Daily Chat) ;) So, just like Series 79, most of us got it wrong yet again! :( (I hope this trend isn't going to continue into the Series 81 Fi...

Ryan Lam

Back here after putting up the recap on the Wiki on behalf of Johnny! The other (and less interesting) Semi-Final today with Dinos vs Brendan, with the latter going for a less formal look today with just a polo shirt! Also, if you were observant enough during the credits Rachel was actually beating ...

Ryan Lam

Here we are, the first Semi-Finals with Elliott facing off Maggie! Hmm, another checkered shirt, wonder what that even means... ;) Letters: Resounding start with Elliott's OESTRIOL to beat Maggie's credible ORIOLES in R1. Wow, CAJEPUT in R5! :o (I genuinely thought we were heading for a Max game at ...

Ryan Lam

Final Quarter-Finals today with Richard Arnold who we haven't seen since he was in for the week with the eventual champion of Series 79 Mike Daysley in October last year! Battle of the Female Octochamps as I mentioned yesterday as well! :) Letters: Absolutely nearly knick and knack almost the whole ...

Ryan Lam

So here we are, last week of Series 80 and my commendation to Brendan for wearing a near-identical shirt to Rufus! (Coupled with the latter throwing the Picture Frame before the Anecdote ended. :lol: ) I also heard from our fellow Finalist Fiona Titcombe on the Daily Chat that Brendan also brought c...

Ryan Lam

Second Quarter-Finals today to mark the start of Summer 2019 as well! 8-) Before I start proper, an alternative to R14: (100 × 4 × (1 + 1)) - 7 Letters: Top of the game and Dinos starts off brilliantly with DANEWORT in R1! After the last letter popped up in R4, I went :shock: ; how many times has a ...

Ryan Lam

The next match is an interesting one because both contestants have appeared in the same series before (Series 57 in 2007) but have never met until 12 years later. "Once a prodigy and another guy who needs no introduction" Dinos Sfyris against "Never won in 2007 but now has eight in 2...

Ryan Lam

So here we go with the Finals once again, "Standing Room Only" I hear, looks like many people were present in the studio three months ago to watch "Mellbot and Sole 1000 Scorer in the Prelims to Date" Elliott Mellor against "Looks similar to Sajid Javid but he's not" Ma...

Ryan Lam

Alternative to R9: (100 × 9) + 25 - (6 × 2) - 3

Ryan Lam

So, with just three Preliminaries of Series 80 yet to air as of the time of writing, we now know who are the final eight and here they are: Quarter-Finals #1 (20 June): Elliott Mellor (#1 Seed) vs Mark Decouto (#8 Seed) Quarter-Finals #2 (21 June): Dinos Sfyris (#2 Seed) vs Sandra Pilson (#7 Seed) Q...

Ryan Lam

ENSILAGES in Round 10.

Countdown has finally gone green by dropping the usage of paper (At long last!) and going with a permanent whiteboard!

Ryan Lam

Thomas Carey wrote: ↑Wed Mar 28, 2018 1:10 am Enter Elliott Mellor.

And we have our answer today, on Monday, 27 May 2019!

Sorry if I had to quote someone from over a year ago...

Ryan Lam

Today might be a day that would be forever etched in our minds just like 17 January this year... No doubt about this and I have full confidence he will surpass 1000. Nothing can stop him now :) 1061. Casual. There you have it! What an amazing run, not least to say an amazing game that was! As I men...

Ryan Lam

Today might be a day that would be forever etched in our minds just like 17 January this year...

No doubt about this and I have full confidence he will surpass 1000. Nothing can stop him now

Ryan Lam

Congratulations Rachel! The bigger question is who will temporarily replace her during her maternity leave? (Assuming filming is as per normal until early to mid-December)

Ryan Lam

My gosh, the largest winning margin ever! I don't think that will ever be beaten ever again (or in my lifetime dare I say this...)

Congrats Elliott and to Kieran if you happen to see this by chance, I'm so so sorry you had to face such an incredible player.

Tbf, you deserved more than this...

Ryan Lam

My gosh Elliott! That was unbelievable! You just broke Zarte's record which only held for exactly four months!!

Just incredible, I'm speechless...congratulations to the new champion!!

Ryan Lam

The show was mentioned once again briefly on BBC One's !mpossible Gameshow this afternoon (08 May 2019). The question was "On which programme on Channel 4 did Harvey Dent become the Resident Lexicographer in 1992?" to which it's Impossible because as we all know, Susie's the one. Cat, the ...

Ryan Lam

Tim Vine's anecdote today was probably the first time normal Countdown made me laugh as much as any recent episode of Catsdown...probably the last thing any contestant on this version on the show wants or else they can be distracted!

What a letdown the Conundrum was...it was so giveaway!

Ryan Lam

Tom S wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2019 5:46 pm
Tony Atkins wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2019 3:06 pm Nice second numbers solve there...
The 4L solve was class.

Perhaps the best solve since Noel McIlvenny!

Comeon Maggie, just one more win and you'll be the first female Octochamp since Annie!! As I emphasised during CoCXV, we need more of those!!

Ryan Lam

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/defin ... er-preload

Just a clarification on DRAINAGES, would someone with ODO Premium let us know if it's valid over there? Personally, I would have done the same as Susie and allowed it.

Ryan Lam

I'm enjoying watching Dinos' run so far, not least because of the theme of rude (particularly sexual) words! SHAGGER, SHAGGED, SEMIS, ERECTIONS, DOGGERS, WHORE and HOOKER in 3 games! :lol: :lol: :lol: Guess what? I spotted all but two of them, DOGGERS and HOOKER. Wow at this rate Dinos could potent...

Ryan Lam

Wishing both of you all the best and may the best player win!!

Never in a million years would I have thought another of these marathon games would surface!

Ryan Lam

Battle of the Londoners, that's quite rare.

Alternative to R9: (75 + 50) × (9 - 6) - 5

Ryan Lam

Owen Carroll wrote: ↑Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:48 pm I thought you said you wouldn't be back on the forum for ages after the COC?

I just said inactive but it doesn't stop me from popping by once in a while, and yes by that I also meant I only have time to be on the Daily Chat on Apterous on Mondays as that's the only day I'm free to watch it live.

Ryan Lam

It's just so painful to watch Tomack stumble so badly in R9 when he could have made it

What's worse the conundrum referenced what happened in R8 too! Oh well...

Ryan Lam

Marc Meakin wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 4:33 pm Has Zarte always scored over a hundred in his Countdown 'career' ?

I should have specified that I was only referring to the games here in the CoC, not any Preliminary or Ordinary Finals. My bad.

Ryan Lam

Finally, at last after 20 days, we are here, the 15th Championship of Champions Final! I incorrectly predicted Tom would be here but I did correctly predict Zarte would win his second rematch with Philip to be here today. So, we have Bradley instead, the Series 78 Grand Champion vs the Series 77 Run...

Ryan Lam

So there you have it, congratulations to Zarte Siempre for becoming the 15th Championship of Champions (and to the six of you who predicted correctly here!) These were my predictions as promised during CoCXV itself, note that other than predicting who would win, I also predicted whether the game wou...

Ryan Lam

Penultimate episode of the Championship of Champions XV (and that also means it's also nearly time for me to once again become inactive until early-May after tomorrow as University swallows up my time). Second Semi-Finals Match where I somehow correctly predicted Bradley and definitely correctly pre...

Ryan Lam

So there we are, down to the last three episodes. First Semi-Finals Match where I correctly predicted Philip and Zarte would come through to the Semi-Finals. (Sorry Jonathan, I did predict you would buckle and lose to the former. :( ) Hopefully you're all well on your way to COLIN...See all the rele...

Ryan Lam

On the wiki it says: The aggregate score of 272 is also the joint highest in the history of the show - if that is true what is the other 272? All that aside, a tremendous game, and congratulations, both! It's an error on my part, I've corrected it. I was rushing to get this out as I know many peopl...

Ryan Lam

Before reading this, a word of advice from me that today's review is going to be SUPER, SUPER long as I will be doing a summary of what happened in the show as well. I assume you would've watched this episode IN FULL already. If not, DO NOT SCROLL FURTHER and why are you even in the Spoilers thread?...

Ryan Lam

Oh my gosh!! The highest ever score on Countdown and the highest combined score ever! And this is not even the Championship Final yet! Tears of joy are definitely in Zarte's eyes, you deserved it!! Never have I felt so emotional watching the ending! This will be a game remembered for many years, pos...

Ryan Lam

Third Quarter-Finals Match where I correctly predicted in both cases who would come through to fight today. And for R6, some of us on the daily chat (Not just me so I can't take full credit for this) found an easier solution compared to Rachel's: (75 × 10) + ((8 + 8) × 6) Brilliant start from Tom wi...

Ryan Lam

Second Quarter-Finals Match where I incorrectly predicted Ann would go through (John went through instead) and I correctly predicted Bradley would go through. So, we're lined up for a Series 77 Semi-Finals #2 Rematch, a full 390 days since that happened on Thursday, 21 December 2017. It was a good s...

Ryan Lam

First Quarter-Finals Match where I correctly predicted in both cases who would come through to fight today. (P.S. I will reveal all my Predictions after the Championship Final ends in the Polling Thread and who did I predict will make it to the QF, SF and the CF in all subsequent reviews.) Philip ab...

Ryan Lam

Wow, am I dreaming, Catsdown has started using the ODO (At LONG, LONG last!!!), Come to think of it, maybe this is why Sean could safely go for STRAFED and GUILE.

Ryan Lam

Before I get on with my review let's just take the time to appreciate and congratulate Rachel Riley for being on the show for a decade (Actually it's tomorrow but it's a Saturday)! :D I somehow mentioned Anniversary in a different way before OOW and during the second TTT ad break where I saw the &qu...

Ryan Lam

While you're all busy watching CoCXV, you can take a mental break by watching Series 17 from 11 January 2019 onwards!

Ryan Lam

Like I was saying yesterday, today is Part II where the Runners-Up of both Series from yesterday go head-to-head. Boy was it another brilliant match! Three-in-a-row, combined score of over 200 and the second where both contestants end with a Century and above! Impressive playing from Bradley with RO...

Ryan Lam

Well, this might not have been a much-anticipated match compared to yesterday but two Grand Champions fighting once again, I mean how many times a draw results in that? Another match with a combined score of over 200 points, my my these Champions are something! :D Excellent spot from Tom with MADERN...

Ryan Lam

Adam Dexter wrote: ↑Tue Jan 08, 2019 6:46 pm Erm... another conundrum, as many times as necessary, then cut out all but 1 wrong and the solved one usually

That's not what I meant. I wonder if Paul could've won in that scenario because someone definitely would've had to break the tie since they are not allowed for the last 27.5 years.

Ryan Lam

This was the match everyone was anticipating, and what a spectacular performance it was indeed! This is also the first double-century game since, by chance, Zarte's Grand-Final match against Philip back in June 2018! :D Excellent letters spotting, in particular AUTODYNE from Paul which made the game...

Ryan Lam

Well I hoped this was going to be a fun game and you betcha! Both contestants played well beyond expectations! Excellent spot from both, in particular NOWHAT from Stephen and GAIATRIS from Thomas! Excellent on grabbing all 40 Points in the Numbers as well! With Stephen taking a tumble with the inval...

Ryan Lam

Just the third Preliminary and both contestants here have caused upsets before in their Series Quarter and/or Semi-Finals. Very good start from Dougie with IMITATOR but Matthew, as another expertise in the "six small" field, obviously had the edge in the Numbers Round for today and safely ...

Ryan Lam

What can I say, but brilliant, brilliant playing from both contestants today! Ann got rocked by John and his "usual" six small tactics in the middle but recovered with OPAQUE and beat him in R9. In the end, John fought back with ABATER but wait, Ann snatched the lead back in R14 where iron...

Ryan Lam

Excellent game from Jonathan who we last saw some 3.5 years ago! Unlucky that FOOTSURE was in though... :( But hey, if there's one thing, it proves that you haven't lost your footing! See you in the Quarter-Finals! As for Phil, you played spectacularly too, having last saw you some six months ago, b...

Ryan Lam

Merry Christmas to all and hope you're having a nice holiday season to end off the year! As probably most of you would've been aware by now, we're having a Championship of Champions tournament from 02 to 22 January 2019 with Finalists from Series 73 to 78 battling out against each other to see who c...

Ryan Lam

It's Christmas, this might be a few days late but hey, it's the season of joy and what more to end off the Series proper with my review here! Letters: Very, very good playing from both contestants. For Martin, well done for spotting QADIS in R5 and beating Mike with the two 8s in R10 and R11. For Mi...

Ryan Lam

So there you have it, and in an upset, Mike Daysley is officially the Grand Champion of Series 79! No one voted for him that's sad!

Oh well...

Ryan Lam

Don't worry, I've made sure this post is up before going to bed where I am. :) Penultimate Episode of Series 79, can't believe six months has past since it's started and we're nearly at the end! Letters: Incredible playing from both players (Up to R8), with Mike spotting DUSTMAN. An even more thrill...

Ryan Lam

Somehow, I typed all of this yesterday and I forgot to hit the "Submit" button, oh well...first Semi-Final with the first and fourth QF winners battling out to see who gets to take a step closer to holding that coveted Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy... Letters: Well done to Tony for spot...

Ryan Lam

Looks like my Viral Fever has taken a turn for the worse yesterday afternoon, fortunately after more painkillers and medication I'm well enough again (for now) so here goes quickly before the dreaded virus attacks my body again! D: Letters: That was some brilliant play from both of them although Ton...

Ryan Lam

If you're wondering why this review is later than usual, I'm been suffering from viral fever over the weekend and yesterday...rest should come first though. Still, it's better to be late than never and I'm typing this when I'm sufficiently well. Christmas is also coming so yay, the Countdown team de...

Ryan Lam

I was pleasantly surprised to see Mike Daysley here on the Forum yesterday commenting about my QF1 review and I bet he's waiting for this so here goes... (Sorry for that nickname though, I couldn't really think of anything else...) Letters: Well done to both for spotting GAIETY in R8. In addition, o...

Ryan Lam

Before I get on with the review, I do have to mention this: Not crediting Robin Johnson for qualifying and being unable to make it plus claiming that Bob is naturally the #8 seed irked me. :? (P.S. To those on the Daily Chat, sorry for asking the spoiler above during the Anecdote as I crashed in lat...

Ryan Lam

Hope we will see Robin in the next series, as I warmed to him and his Countdown journey, can anyone confirm? I can't confirm but I must say that he does deserve to be in the Finals of Series 80 since Annie Humphries was given that honour back in Series 75 for the Finals of Series 76 in June 2017. B...

Ryan Lam

Just finished watching after my Church camp debrief for today and it's time for two stats as I don't have long: 1) Excluding Brendan who will continue on to Series 80, we have 27 Teapots given away. 2) The Average score for a contestant who did not win any game this series is definitely way higher t...

Ryan Lam

Owen Carroll wrote: ↑Fri Dec 07, 2018 6:31 pm
Ryan Lam wrote: ↑Fri Dec 07, 2018 4:53 pm
Same...I immediately thought of SF2 of S77 last year as both Bradley and John spotted that.

Sorry Ryan but it was the final and it was tom and Bradley who spotted immature.

Yup thanks for correcting me, seems that my memory from last year was pretty bad.

Search found 391 matches