Spoilers for Wed 04/03/2009

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:14 pm

It's Kirk's second game in the champion's seat, and I'm sure he's very EXEATed at the prospect of seeing EXEAT come up for the third game in a row, but he shouldn't get a HEDARIM self.

Mike Brailsford · Post by **Mike Brailsford** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:29 pm

Beating the Liverpool fan a must !

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:30 pm

Ben Hunter wrote:It's Kirk's second game in the champion's seat, and I'm sure he's very EXEATed at the prospect of seeing EXEAT come up for the third game in a row, but he shouldn't get a HEDARIM self.

You're getting good at these. I grant you a 300% pay rise.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:31 pm

I like Rachel's outfit.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:36 pm

I noticed that Kirk always goes for four vowels, when you've got less useful consonants the like H and X, I always prefer three vowels. The next consonant would have been the C for INARCHES.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:39 pm

Kirk talking to himself - lej

John Douglas · Post by **John Douglas** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:40 pm

R4: CURATORS also for 8.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:42 pm

I bet Kirk would be telling Demi to pEE Off after the recurrence of the letters in the first round.

John Douglas · Post by **John Douglas** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:48 pm

R6: NUCLEAR or UNCLEAR also for 7.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:50 pm

I bet he doesn't miss this.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:50 pm

Come on Kirk! Get it!

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:51 pm

Yes, this is the Bevatron we know and love!

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:51 pm

Thought I was clever to have spotted GODETIAS straight away, now I feel daft.

Pretty sure Kirk is on a max game right now?

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:54 pm

R9: When Charlie proves you wrong, you've been REAMSED.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:55 pm

Ben Hunter wrote:Thought I was clever to have spotted GODETIAS straight away, now I feel daft.

Pretty sure Kirk is on a max game right now?

This round amused me, I spotted the nine straight away and was pretty confident that Kirk would have it too. But he kept his head down and concentrated for almost the entire time, and his acting was so good that I started to worry he'd missed it. Then just after the time ended, he looked up to me in the audience and gave me his sexy wink, and I knew what was coming...

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:55 pm

141 = R10 target
141 = Kirk's highest perfect game on apterous

It's a sign, I tells thee...

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:56 pm

Jeff seemed to pronounce that LEZSPOOR or something?!

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:57 pm

Much cooler way for Rd 10: (100+1-7)x(9-6)/2

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:01 pm

It does seem to be a max game (up to round 11). It's a bit like watching a snooker 147 attempt on TV, I always get nervous!

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:04 pm

My first viewing of Kirk. I'm feeling sorry for the poor sod who's playing against him.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:04 pm

NOOO!!! He's blown it! TOPAZES!

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:05 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:NOOO!!! He's blown it! TOPAZES!

Don't you need a Z for that?

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:05 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:NOOO!!! He's blown it! TOPAZES!
Don't you need a Z for that?

Possibly.

By induction, I've proved that Q = Z.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:06 pm

Oh god, if he gets the conundrum I think he's got a perfect game...

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:06 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Martin Gardner wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:NOOO!!! He's blown it! TOPAZES!
Don't you need a Z for that?
Possibly.

I think it was AEEOOPQST

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:07 pm

YESSSSSSSS

Edit: Hard conundrum, shame it wasn't EXPANDING or something.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:07 pm

Can anyone in the know confirm if this is a perfect game?

Simon Myers · Post by **Simon Myers** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:08 pm

Yes, barring any glaring omissions in Jimdic, that was a max game.

EDIT: A bit of background info on that. As Charlie and I were sat in the studios we were aware that since Charlie nor DC had beaten Kirk on any rounds during the game, he might be on for a max. I checked all the selections with a2zwordfinder on my phone and it didn't offer up anything better, but it wasn't till we got back to the hotel (drinks & Box Pizza later) that I was able to run all the selections through CountMax on my laptop. I remember Charlie jumping up and punching the air when I fed in the last selection (the PESETA round actually - my sheets of paper were a mess) and the max came up as a 6. He seemed more excited about it than Kirk did actually.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:09 pm

Ben Hunter wrote:Can anyone in the know confirm if this is a perfect game?

I suppose CountMax isn't perfect, so there's always a chance that someone will find a word that we don't know about yet, but we think so, yes!

tomrowell · Post by **tomrowell** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:10 pm

that. was. awesome.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:10 pm

So there you have it. The max game. And it only took 27 years. Fucking beautiful.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:11 pm

Simon Myers wrote:Yes, barring any glaring omissions in Jimdic, that was a max game.

Awesome.

I'm going to refrain from posting how I got on against Kirk today as well

Jimmy Gough · Post by **Jimmy Gough** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:11 pm

That was quite good, well done.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:12 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:So there you have it. The max game. And it only took 27 years. Fucking beautiful.

I shed a tear.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:12 pm

As soon as we got back to the hotel that evening, Sid ran all the rounds through his solver to confirm the max. When the results for Round 13 came up, I jumped into the air and shouted quite a lot. Apologies to anyone in adjacent rooms.

PhillT · Post by **PhillT** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:13 pm

Took 27 years for a max game, and I got 27 points against Kirk... that's got to be a sign =P

-Phill.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:13 pm

Simply amazing. Here's hoping it ain't the only one!

Jojo Apollo · Post by **Jojo Apollo** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:14 pm

Great stuff Kirk, a MAX game.

Keep up the good work.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:15 pm

Paul Howe wrote:
Simon Myers wrote:Yes, barring any glaring omissions in Jimdic, that was a max game.
Awesome.

I'm going to refrain from posting how I got on against Kirk today as well

In fairness towards the end I stopped playing against him and just admired his work!

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:16 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:
Paul Howe wrote:
Simon Myers wrote:Yes, barring any glaring omissions in Jimdic, that was a max game.
Awesome.

I'm going to refrain from posting how I got on against Kirk today as well
In fairness towards the end I stopped playing against him and just admired his work!

I didn't bother in the first place.

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:21 pm

Man, I wish I was in the studio to witness that. Absolutely stunning. A tough conundrum as well. I hope this gets the mention it deserves on tomorrow's show. It is rare for something to be hyped up so much and live up to it, but boy oh boy that was special!

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:32 pm

Well done Kirk!

(Shame we only had Ben for one show though, you genius! He's quite my type.

)

Oliver Garner · Post by **Oliver Garner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:03 pm

That was amazing although I was pleased with 78 against Apterous Rex though

Matt Coates · Post by **Matt Coates** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:17 pm

Amazing Kirk, well done

DaveC · Post by **DaveC** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:26 pm

Congratulations Kirk on your 15/15. A fantastic achievement.

I'm sure I recall some of the big guns of the game saying it would never come.... they miskirkulated obviously.

Bring on tomorrow.

Dave C

Jojo Apollo · Post by **Jojo Apollo** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:30 pm

WOW! Is this really the first ever MAX game on the TV show???

Even more kudos to Kirk if it is then.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:43 pm

Jojo Apollo wrote:WOW! Is this really the first ever MAX game on the TV show???

Even more kudos to Kirk if it is then.

For 15 rounds, almost certainly. For 9 rounds or even 15 we don't have nearly enough data. There's a Tim Morrissey game on the Countdown Wiki where gets 73 out of 74 with BECLOUD listed as a DC beater. But unless we find the dictionary that they used in Series 33, we will never know if it was allowed back then! This waas 13 years ago after all.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:44 pm

DaveC wrote:Congratulations Kirk on your 15/15. A fantastic achievement.

I'm sure I recall some of the big guns of the game saying it would never come.... they miskirkulated obviously.

Bring on tomorrow.

Dave C

I don't think he scored in round 14 yesterday, so right now he's got 16 maxes in a row. That's one more than Paul Gallen did in the CofC semi and final.

Allan Harmer · Post by **Allan Harmer** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:51 pm

Great max game Kirk - Truly awesome and sheer class.

Well done mate.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:54 pm

Brilliant. I think I'm almost enjoying this more than CoC XIII. Well done Kirk. Two records in three games - not bad going.

I was gobsmacked when Ben had "courters" disallowed. What are people who go out courting called then? Dylan Thomas uses it in the first sentence of Under Milk Wood, for heaven's sake - one of the most famous opening lines in 20th century literature. God, Oxford are crap.

On a brighter note, I'm pretty sure from the look on Rachel's face when she was drawing the letters for the DOGMATISE round that she was expecting an R for ORGASMED.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:57 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:Brilliant. I think I'm almost enjoying this more than CoC XIII. Well done Kirk. Two records in three games - not bad going.

I was gobsmacked when Ben had "courters" disallowed. What are people who go out courting called then? Dylan Thomas uses it in the first sentence of Under Milk Wood, for heaven's sake - one of the most famous opening lines in 20th century literature. God, Oxford are crap.

On a brighter note, I'm pretty sure from the look on Rachel's face when she was drawing the letters for the DOGMATISE round that she was expecting an R for ORGASMED.

Yeah I thought COURTERS was very very probable as well. Just complete the eights, nobody's mentioned CREATORS yet, have they?

Steve Durney · Post by **Steve Durney** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:09 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:Brilliant. I think I'm almost enjoying this more than CoC XIII. Well done Kirk. Two records in three games - not bad going.

I was gobsmacked when Ben had "courters" disallowed. What are people who go out courting called then? Dylan Thomas uses it in the first sentence of Under Milk Wood, for heaven's sake - one of the most famous opening lines in 20th century literature. God, Oxford are crap.

On a brighter note, I'm pretty sure from the look on Rachel's face when she was drawing the letters for the DOGMATISE round that she was expecting an R for ORGASMED.

I had COURTERS too and didn't think there'd be any problem with that.

Was also waiting for the R in the DOGMATISE round!

Amazing game Kirk.

Julie T · Post by **Julie T** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:16 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:So there you have it. The max game. And it only took 27 years. Fucking beautiful.

Absolutely bloody marvellous, Kirk! I'm still grinning like a Cheshire cat!

Can I have your child while I still have time, Kirk?
Turkey baster method obviously, in case this conjures up horrific images! LOL!

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:17 pm

Simon Myers wrote:I remember Charlie jumping up and punching the air when I fed in the last selection (the PESETA round actually - my sheets of paper were a mess) and the max came up as a 6. He seemed more excited about it than Kirk did actually.

Maybe Kirk was feeling a little deflated about losing either Thursday's or Friday's show which would have been filmed before this moment took place?

Congratulations on the max game Kirky!

See, now NAIANT, and giving the definition, that was clever

JimBentley · Post by **JimBentley** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:31 pm

Brilliant stuff, Kirk. When you didn't get the conundrum within five seconds and started writing stuff down, I feared you were going to fall at the final hurdle, but I should've known better than to doubt the power of the Kirkulator. Fearsome.

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:32 pm

Julie T wrote:Can I have your child while I still have time, Kirk?
Turkey baster method obviously, in case this conjures up horrific images! LOL!

The turkey baster method is surely less visually pleasing.

I mean, I've never googled for porn, but I guess there's more of a market for 'traditional' sex than basting...

BTW and off topic, what's your avatar from? I saw it in a shop window and recognised it as being yours.

Julie T · Post by **Julie T** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:39 pm

Lesley Jeavons wrote:
Julie T wrote:Can I have your child while I still have time, Kirk?
Turkey baster method obviously, in case this conjures up horrific images! LOL!
The turkey baster method is surely less visually pleasing. I mean, I've never googled for porn, but I guess there's more of a market for 'traditional' sex than basting...

BTW and off topic, what's your avatar from? I saw it in a shop window and recognised it as being yours.

I meant that Kirk has met me at CoLin, so knows that I'm a lot older than him, etc, so that he's unlikely to desire the traditional method!

The avatar is a motivational poster from WW2:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7869458.stm

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:46 pm

Julie T wrote:I meant that Kirk has met me at CoLin, so knows that I'm a lot older than him, etc, so that he's unlikely to desire the traditional method!

The avatar is a motivational poster from WW2:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7869458.stm

Ah I see, and I hope you're not too disappointed and can live with that.

Thanks for the link - interesting.

I think your avatar could be having an affect on Charlie's attitude these days too.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 6:53 pm

Posting in a legendary thread.

Richard Priest · Post by **Richard Priest** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 7:06 pm

Great stuff Kirk.Well done.