Spoilers for Friday January 18th 2013 (Birthday R32 Game 1)

[Jordan F]

After all the prelims yesterday, we end the week with the first game in the round of 32. This first game features who I would call two underrated series finalists, in the sense that both of these people were very strong, they just happened to have other very strong people in their series. One of these people is Tom Rowell, a quarterfinalist in series 63 who, despite scoring well over 700 points in his octochamp run, was only the number 6 seed and lost to Daniel Pati. The other is Peter Lee, a semi-finalist from series 66 who got 801 points with spots such as BRESAOLA and MORGANITE, but lost in a very tough match to Jack Worsley in the semi-finals. Both of these people are tough players who I feel in another series could have easily gone further than what they did. We'll see how they do today.

Join Heather for the recap later.

[James Robinson]

Here are the stats:

Firstly, Series 66 Semi-Finalist Peter Lee - 11 Games, 10 Wins, 1,101 Points (Average: 99.18) (Not Including His Game In Series 47)
Highest Score: 132 vs. Dave Taylor (Special Game)
Lowest Score: 78 vs. Niall Seymour (4th Game)
9's Achieved: 6/7
Total Points/Max/%: 1101/1380 (80%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 792/943 (84%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 229/327 (70%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 80/110 (73%)

Secondly, Series 63 Quarter-Finalist Tom Rowell - 9 Games, 8 Wins, 841 Points (Average: 93.44)
Highest Score: 109 vs. Joan Wright (7th Game)
Lowest Score: 67 vs. Daniel Pati (Quarter-Final)
9's Achieved: 1/3
Total Points/Max/%: 841/1088 (77%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 579/734 (79%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 222/264 (84%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 40/90 (44%)

[Tony Atkins]

And presumably this is also the last show from Granada Studios?

[James Robinson]

And presumably this is also the last show from Granada Studios?

Yes, indeedy. And also the last with the yellow displays for the scores and CECIL (shortly to be re-christened CECIS. )

[Jordan F]

1st numbers alternate: (75+3) x 7 + 8

[tomrowell]

I could have had CABRIOS in the ROBOTICS round as well

[Ben Wilson]

R12- FRONTIER

[Bob De Caux]

R13 ADHERENTS

[Jordan F]

Very well done Tom, PARADIGM and HEADREST were two great spots, and appropriately that's what gave you the win. Tough luck Peter, I thought you might have had him going into the third segment, but you were strong throughout.

[szodiac]

R12- FRONTIER

Got that one too - one of my daughters school part-website address

Mauro

[szodiac]

Good game which swung back and forth like a tennis match. Well done Peter and Tom.

Question to you guys: Did the conundrum stump you both as it was already a word in itself?

Mauro

[Peter Mabey]

And presumably this is also the last show from Granada Studios?

Yes, indeedy. And also the last with the yellow displays for the scores and CECIL (shortly to be re-christened CECIS. )

Why has Rachel decided to call him Elmo

[Jordan F]

And presumably this is also the last show from Granada Studios?

Yes, indeedy. And also the last with the yellow displays for the scores and CECIL (shortly to be re-christened CECIS. )

Why has Rachel decided to call him Elmo

I think she was referring to herself and how she thought she sounded like Elmo with her throat bug. Not 100% sure though.

[Ben Wilson]

Yet another great game today. Well played both.

[tomrowell]

Good game which swung back and forth like a tennis match. Well done Peter and Tom.

Question to you guys: Did the conundrum stump you both as it was already a word in itself?

Mauro

Yes Mauro. All i could think of for about 15s was 'Isn't parotitis a word?' Will be interesting to see if they go down that route with any more conundrums this series

[Martin Long]

Another great game. Really tough conundrum at the end!

Was RAMPAGED there as an equaller in the PARADIGM round?

[John Garcia]

Was it just me or was there a scoring error in there somewhere? Thought Tom was awarded 10 points for his 8 letter word to go ahead, only for it to be surreptitiously amended back to 8. Or am I imagining things??? (wouldn't be the first time!).

[Martin Long]

Was it just me or was there a scoring error in there somewhere? Thought Tom was awarded 10 points for his 8 letter word to go ahead, only for it to be surreptitiously amended back to 8. Or am I imagining things??? (wouldn't be the first time!).

I noticed this.

On one camera shot, his score was 84 then it switched back to the correct score of 82 on the next camera shot.

[Jojo Apollo]

Another top quality game, well done both.

[Rhys Benjamin]

As no doubt James will tell you, the RELAPSING/SPANGLIER round in 1993 shows that it can happen.

[James Robinson]

As no doubt James will tell you, the RELAPSING/SPANGLIER round in 1993 shows that it can happen.

Or the PULVERISE/REPULSIVE conundrum I happened to be in the audience for in 2009.

[Jack Worsley]

Another close and entertaining game, well done to both for some great spots.

[Gavin Chipper]

As no doubt James will tell you, the RELAPSING/SPANGLIER round in 1993 shows that it can happen.

That's not how it was originally intended to happen though - http://www.c4countdown.co.uk/viewtopic. ... ier#p15754

[szodiac]

I think she was referring to herself and how she thought she sounded like Elmo with her throat bug. Not 100% sure though.

Rachel made a similar comment at the end of the McLeod/Grossman game where she likened her voice to either Mickey Mouse or Elmo from Sesame Street.

Mauro

[Adam Gillard]

Good close game that, some crucial decisions from Tom made all the difference in the end. Well played both.

[James Robinson]

First Round Game 1 2020 Word Update

The max would have increased by THIRTEEN points (from 131 to 144) if played today thanks to 8's available in Rounds 2, 6 and 8, plus a NINE in Round 7 that weren't around in 2013.

New Words Now Allowed:

R1: AULETES, EXCUSAL, SELECTA, SEXTULA, SEXUALE, SEXUATE
R2: UNORDAIN (increase MAX from 7 to 8)
R6: ACRITUDE (increase MAX from 7 to 8)
R7: MOTELIERS (increase MAX from 8 to 18!!)
R8: OATMEALS, PLASTOME (increase MAX from 7 to 8)
R9: MOILEYS, MYELONS
R13: NEATHERDS

[Gavin Chipper]

Good game which swung back and forth like a tennis match. Well done Peter and Tom.

Question to you guys: Did the conundrum stump you both as it was already a word in itself?

Mauro

Yes Mauro. All i could think of for about 15s was 'Isn't parotitis a word?' Will be interesting to see if they go down that route with any more conundrums this series

It's a pretty obscure word though. I would have thought that if you knew that word it would probably be from Apterous in which case it would only come up with its anagram. So you should have got it!

Sad watching the late Peter Lee there.