Countdown Aces Trophy - Saturday 23 November 2013
Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 5:06 pm
A FANTASTIC NEW WAY TO ROUND OFF THIS YEAR'S CO-EVENTS!!!
After much deliberating, trialling and developing, Jeff Clayton and I are proud to launch the COUNTDOWN ACES TROPHY.
A fresh approach to Countdown tournaments comes to West Yorkshire this autumn with the Aces Trophy, which introduces a new twist to the semi-final stage.
There are four heats in the first part which everyone is guaranteed to play along with the quarter-final. Then using a championship format from the French television show, the event becomes an exhibition showpiece.
For the semi-finals, our four aces will each take to the stage to play a solo contest in front of the audience. One by one, they will face a run of 15 preset rounds: six letters games, six numbers games, two conundrums and then a free choice at the end.
That is, if they get that far!
Not only will they be up against a 5-minute time bank, but they will also be on the buzzer in every round. It's very simple - you buzz in with the max words and the right solutions. Score points with the right answers, but incur time penalties for anything incorrect or out of range.
Letters: As in the normal game, the contestant is not told the available max beforehand. Each letter appears from left to right, one second at a time. The clock starts as soon as the last letter is in place. Once you buzz, you will be asked to declare how many letters are in your word before offering. Score 10 points for a max word, or 1 point if you come up one short. If there is no buzz then the clock simply runs its course. But if your offer is invalid or you are out of range of the available max, you forfeit 30 seconds in addition to however much time you've used in that round.
Numbers: Each tile appears from right to left, then when CECIL comes up with the target, the clock starts. Buzz in once you can offer a solution – declare your answer before going through your working. Score 10 points for a correct solution, or 1 point if you can get to one away and want to move on. If there is no buzz then the clock simply runs its course. An incorrect answer forfeits 30 seconds.
The numbers get progressively harder and the difficulty ratings have been measured using crosswordtools.com. The first numbers game in R2 is no harder than 50%, whilst the sixth numbers game in R13 is upwards of 80%.
Conundrum: As per the normal game, you get one shot at it. Score 10 points with the correct answer, but forfeit 30 seconds with an incorrect answer.
Format:
1 - L
2 - N (<50%)
3 - L
4 - N (50-59%)
5 - L
6 - N (60-69%)
7 - C
8 - L
9 - N (70-79%)
10 - L
11 - N (70-79%)
12 - L
13 - N (80-89%)
14 - C
15 - * free choice.
Lowest qualifying seed goes first. The maximum available score is 150 and the two highest performers go through to the final. The ranking will be determined by points scored, then by how many rounds they got through, then by how much time is left on the clock.
In the final, the two contenders will go head-to-head in a 20-round match (9L, 9N, 2C). We do away with the preset rounds and the time bank, but they will still be on the buzzer in every round and now there is no safety net for falling short of the maximum. Using flat scoring, a max word or a correct solution scores 1 point, but they'll forfeit 1 point with an incorrect buzz. So they'll need confidence and quick thinking in the harder selections, and sheer speed in the easier ones!
We have had an engraved salver produced for the winner to take away (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater) and we've had a brilliant new title sequence produced by "mongrelvids" -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCFGkTsiF9U.
So, if that's whetted your appetite for a new version of Countdown, then come on over to the Grosvenor Casino in Huddersfield (HD1 3LT) on 23rd November -- http://www.grosvenorcasinos.com/local-c ... ddersfield.
Admission: The cost is just £20 per person or £35 for two; tea & coffee will be available on arrival, and a buffet lunch will be served at 12:30. To book, please contact either myself (james_r_robinson@hotmail.com / 07817 750 544) or Jeff (jeffrey_clayton@hotmail.com / 07595 690 249).
Happy to take any queries about this new format and this new event on here. Also, can you let us know if you'd be interested in a poker night after the tournament (suggest 8-9pm start?) as this would be a great way to round off our Aces event.
I'm excited, I'm sure you will be too!!
For more information, have a look at our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/3770544 ... 2/?fref=ts
Confirmed Attendees (14):
Phil Jarvis
Callum Todd
Chris Marshall
Heather Styles
Kirk Bevins
Jason Turner
Jonathan Wynn
Elaine Broadley
Stewart Gordon
Andy McGurn
Paul Worsley
Jack Worsley
Anthony Endsor
Andy Platt
After much deliberating, trialling and developing, Jeff Clayton and I are proud to launch the COUNTDOWN ACES TROPHY.
A fresh approach to Countdown tournaments comes to West Yorkshire this autumn with the Aces Trophy, which introduces a new twist to the semi-final stage.
There are four heats in the first part which everyone is guaranteed to play along with the quarter-final. Then using a championship format from the French television show, the event becomes an exhibition showpiece.
For the semi-finals, our four aces will each take to the stage to play a solo contest in front of the audience. One by one, they will face a run of 15 preset rounds: six letters games, six numbers games, two conundrums and then a free choice at the end.
That is, if they get that far!
Not only will they be up against a 5-minute time bank, but they will also be on the buzzer in every round. It's very simple - you buzz in with the max words and the right solutions. Score points with the right answers, but incur time penalties for anything incorrect or out of range.
Letters: As in the normal game, the contestant is not told the available max beforehand. Each letter appears from left to right, one second at a time. The clock starts as soon as the last letter is in place. Once you buzz, you will be asked to declare how many letters are in your word before offering. Score 10 points for a max word, or 1 point if you come up one short. If there is no buzz then the clock simply runs its course. But if your offer is invalid or you are out of range of the available max, you forfeit 30 seconds in addition to however much time you've used in that round.
Numbers: Each tile appears from right to left, then when CECIL comes up with the target, the clock starts. Buzz in once you can offer a solution – declare your answer before going through your working. Score 10 points for a correct solution, or 1 point if you can get to one away and want to move on. If there is no buzz then the clock simply runs its course. An incorrect answer forfeits 30 seconds.
The numbers get progressively harder and the difficulty ratings have been measured using crosswordtools.com. The first numbers game in R2 is no harder than 50%, whilst the sixth numbers game in R13 is upwards of 80%.
Conundrum: As per the normal game, you get one shot at it. Score 10 points with the correct answer, but forfeit 30 seconds with an incorrect answer.
Format:
1 - L
2 - N (<50%)
3 - L
4 - N (50-59%)
5 - L
6 - N (60-69%)
7 - C
8 - L
9 - N (70-79%)
10 - L
11 - N (70-79%)
12 - L
13 - N (80-89%)
14 - C
15 - * free choice.
Lowest qualifying seed goes first. The maximum available score is 150 and the two highest performers go through to the final. The ranking will be determined by points scored, then by how many rounds they got through, then by how much time is left on the clock.
In the final, the two contenders will go head-to-head in a 20-round match (9L, 9N, 2C). We do away with the preset rounds and the time bank, but they will still be on the buzzer in every round and now there is no safety net for falling short of the maximum. Using flat scoring, a max word or a correct solution scores 1 point, but they'll forfeit 1 point with an incorrect buzz. So they'll need confidence and quick thinking in the harder selections, and sheer speed in the easier ones!
We have had an engraved salver produced for the winner to take away (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =1&theater) and we've had a brilliant new title sequence produced by "mongrelvids" -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCFGkTsiF9U.
So, if that's whetted your appetite for a new version of Countdown, then come on over to the Grosvenor Casino in Huddersfield (HD1 3LT) on 23rd November -- http://www.grosvenorcasinos.com/local-c ... ddersfield.
Admission: The cost is just £20 per person or £35 for two; tea & coffee will be available on arrival, and a buffet lunch will be served at 12:30. To book, please contact either myself (james_r_robinson@hotmail.com / 07817 750 544) or Jeff (jeffrey_clayton@hotmail.com / 07595 690 249).
Happy to take any queries about this new format and this new event on here. Also, can you let us know if you'd be interested in a poker night after the tournament (suggest 8-9pm start?) as this would be a great way to round off our Aces event.
I'm excited, I'm sure you will be too!!
For more information, have a look at our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/3770544 ... 2/?fref=ts
Confirmed Attendees (14):
Phil Jarvis
Callum Todd
Chris Marshall
Heather Styles
Kirk Bevins
Jason Turner
Jonathan Wynn
Elaine Broadley
Stewart Gordon
Andy McGurn
Paul Worsley
Jack Worsley
Anthony Endsor
Andy Platt