Today sees 3 times champion Priscilla Munday aiming to go half way towards becoming an Octochamp. However, she is sure to face a stern challenge today from one of our apterites, Sam Hodkin.
Countdown recap for Friday 24 January 2014.
C1: Champion Priscilla Munday (3 wins, 230 points.) A retired pharmacist from Redhill, Surrey. She's also a member of her local Scrabble club.
C2: Challenger Sam Hodkin 22 years old, an apterite from Stretford in Manchester. A big supporter of FC United, who were founded in 2005 by disenfranchised Manchester United fans, displeased with the Glazers' takeover.
DC: Susie Dent and Matt Allwright.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: P S E U D A R H T
R02: E O I S W S Q U N
R03: 9, 8, 5, 10, 7, 25. Target: 624.
TTT: THECHATS - "The chats they had were productive, so they decided to bury these."
R04: R L S O E I D T O
R05: V L A E D A P E X
R06: 2, 7, 8, 1, 25, 100. Target: 138.
R07: R N I E R G O S I
R08: O I U H M T S E Y
R09: 9, 5, 1, 8, 7, 100. Target: 597.
TTT: SEESMIST - "He may be a great footballer, but he's so untidy."
R10: N T R A I U C F O
R11: M N I E Z S O I D
R12: C H L E A O P K N
R13: L V U E T A E O M
R14: 6, 10, 9, 2, 2, 6. Target: 260.
R15: P L O U G H D I N (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: P S E U D A R H T
C1: HARDEST (7)
C2: PHRASED (7)
DC: PASTURED (8)
OT: DUSTHEAP (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
The HARDEST round is always the first one, but Sam PHRASED his word correctly to share 7 points with Priscilla.
Round 2: E O I S W S Q U N
C1: sequin
C2: SWINE (5)
DC: SEQUINS (7)
Score: 7–12 (max 15)
Priscilla declared 7, but then forgot to add the S on to her declaration, making sequin invalid. Sam becomes a SWINE and takes a 5 point lead.
Round 3: 9, 8, 5, 10, 7, 25. Target: 624.
C1: 625. (7+8+10) x 25 (7)
C2: 621.
RR: 624. (9x10) - (7+5) x 8 (10)
Score: 14–12 (max 25)
Priscilla takes the lead by coming within 1 of 624, while Sam could only manage 621.
Teatime teaser: THECHATS -> HATCHETS
Round 4: R L S O E I D T O
C1: TOROIDS (7)
C2: SOLDIER (7)
DC: STOOLIE (7) TOILERS (7) SORTIED (7)
OT: OESTRIOL (8)
Score: 21–19 (max 33)
Seven each again here. TOROIDS and SOLDIER.
Round 5: V L A E D A P E X
C1: PAVED (5)
C2: PEALED (6)
DC: APEXED (6)
OT: LEAPED (6) LEAVED (6) LEVADE (6) PALEAE (6)
Score: 21–25 (max 39)
Priscilla's 5 PAVED the way for Sam to regain the lead with PEALED.
Round 6: 2, 7, 8, 1, 25, 100. Target: 138.
C1: 138. (2 x 7) -1 + 25 + 100 (10)
C2: 138. 100 + 25 + 8 + 7 - 2 (10)
Score: 31–35 (max 49)
Maximum points on the numbers as both players get 138.
Matt Allwright talks about the Wild West.
Round 7: R N I E R G O S I
C1: RINGERS (7)
C2: GROINS (6)
DC: IGNORERS (8)
OT: SEIGNIOR (8)
Score: 38–35 (max 57)
Sam got a kick where it hurts as he got GROINS while Priscilla got RINGERS for 7.
Round 8: O I U H M T S E Y
C1: YOUTHS (6)
C2: MOIST (5)
DC: MOUTHS (6) MOUSEY (6) HOMIEST (7)
OT: ISOHYET (7) TIMEOUS (7)
Score: 44–35 (max 64)
YOUTHS were on Priscilla's side here, as Sam could only manage MOIST for 5.
Round 9: 9, 5, 1, 8, 7, 100. Target: 597.
C1: 597. (7-1) x 100 - (8-5) (10)
C2: 598.
Score: 54–35 (max 74)
Sam could only get 1 away, so Priscilla extended her lead by getting 597, and 10 points.
Teatime teaser: SEESMIST -> MESSIEST
Round 10: N T R A I U C F O
C1: FRACTION (8)
C2: FACTOR (6)
DC: FURCATION (18)
Score: 62–35 (max 92)
Sam could only get 6 here. That was a real FACTOR in him only getting a FRACTION of Priscilla's score so far.
DC got a 9 in FURCATION, which apparently describes a process of splitting in two.
Round 11: M N I E Z S O I D
C1: DOMINIES (8)
C2: MONIES (6)
DC: SIMONIZED (18)
Score: 70–35 (max 110)
Talking of splitting in two, Sam's score is now half of Priscilla's. Another 8 for Priscilla with DOMINIES, as Sam struggles with his MONIES.
Susie talks about the origin of ASBESTOS.
Round 12: C H L E A O P K N
C1: PLEACH (6)
C2: CLEAN (5)
DC: CEPHALON (8)
Score: 76–35 (max 118)
Another 6 for Priscilla with PLEACH. Sam could only CLEAN up his own mess.
Round 13: L V U E T A E O M
C1: VALUE (5)
C2: LEAVE (5)
DC: OVULATE (7) EMULATE (7)
OT: EVOLUTE (7) VELOUTE (7)
Score: 81–40 (max 125)
Clearly Priscilla will VALUE this round. Sam must be wanting to LEAVE by now.
Round 14: 6, 10, 9, 2, 2, 6. Target: 260.
C1: 260. (2x9) +( 6 + 2 ) x 10 (10)
C2: -
Score: 91–40 (max 135)
Sam doesn't get anywhere near 260, but Priscilla gets it spot on, so marches on.
Round 15: P L O U G H D I N
C1 buzzes on 7 seconds to say UPHOLDING which is correct.
Final Score: 101–40 (max 145)
Priscilla found UPHOLDING in just 7 seconds. And what a formidable player she is turning out to be. Who would have thought MUNDAY would still be here on MONDAY? But that's what's happening now. Well done Priscilla and bad luck to Sam. So Priscilla will continue her reign into next week. Join Andy McGurn on Monday to see the next stage in the process.
I shall be back next Friday. In the meantime, once again, thank you very much for reading, and goodbye. 
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=70
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