Monday 7th March 2016 (Series 74, Prelim 31)

[Sean Fletcher]

Apologies for the lateness of this recap. With 3 wins under his belt, Paul Craib is looking to get halfway to octochampdom. James Hogan will be hoping he doesn't get there.

Countdown recap for Monday 7 March 2016.

C1: Champion Paul Craib (3 wins, 288 points.) A purchasing assistant from Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.
C2: Challenger James Hogan. A freelance translator and copy editor. He likes doing bouldering in his spare time as well.
DC: Susie Dent and Dan Walker.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: V P R A E I M T S
R02: T U R B O E L T I
R03: 4, 8, 6, 2, 9, 75. Target: 962.
TTT: NICERJAR - "It sounds like Mr. Springer is able to hold his liquor"
R04: W P L C U E A O Q
R05: S R D A U I A T E
R06: 9, 2, 5, 9, 1, 25. Target: 660.
R07: S G N O O E T H W
R08: R S O I N D U O E
R09: 6, 5, 3, 50, 75, 25. Target: 810.
TTT: WIREPIGS - " Did Mr. Mason wear these hairpieces? "
R10: T L N S A E I A D
R11: Y R D U A I S V E
R12: L N M I A E D H U
R13: T G P I O E M F I
R14: 7, 10, 75, 100, 25, 50. Target: 802.
R15: D O O M H A T E R (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: V P R A E I M T S

Paul: VAMPIRES (8)
James: VAMPIRES (8)
DC: PRIVATES (8) TAMPERS (7)
OT: PRIMATES (8) PRISMATE (8) PRISTAVE (8) VAMPIEST (8)
Score: 8–8 (max 8)

Numerous 8's available and both contestants spot the same one.

PRISTAVE: In Imperial Russia: (originally) an official appointed to receive and take care of foreign ambassadors; (later) a commissioner, police commander, or overseer.

Round 2: T U R B O E L T I

Paul: TROUBLE (7)
James: TROUBLE (7)
DC: BLOTTER (7) BRITTLE (7)
OT: LIBRETTO (8)
Score: 15–15 (max 16)

No TROUBLE for the contestants as they both get an extra 7 points.

LIBRETTO: The text of an opera or other long vocal work.

Round 3: 4, 8, 6, 2, 9, 75. Target: 962.

Paul: 961.
James: 962. (9+4)*(75-(6+2)/8) (10)
Score: 15–25 (max 26)

The champ can only get 1 away giving James an early lead.

Teatime teaser: NICERJAR -> JERRICAN

Round 4: W P L C U E A O Q

Paul: COUPLE (6)
James: COUPLE (6)
DC: OPAQUE (6) PLAQUE (6)
OT: COEQUAL (7)
Score: 21–31 (max 33)

A COUPLE of 6's for the contestants maintains James' lead. The darrenic max is missed by all in the studio.

Round 5: S R D A U I A T E

Paul: staired
James: DUSTIER (7)
DC: ASTRIDE (7) RADIATES (8)
OT: DATARIES (8) DATURIAS (8)
Score: 21–38 (max 41)

Paul's risky 7 allows James to strengthen his lead.

DATARIES: A person who registers and dates a document. More generally: a chronologer; an expert in dates.

Round 6: 9, 2, 5, 9, 1, 25. Target: 660.

Paul: -
James: -
RR: 660. (25*9-5)*(2+1) (10)
Score: 21–38 (max 51)

Both contestants blank the round leaving Rachel to show them how it's done.

Dan talks about when he was covering England in Brazil at the 2014 World Cup, where he got involved in a selfie scramble with the Italian team.

Round 7: S G N O O E T H W

Paul: HOOTS (5)
James: HONEST (6)
DC: SOOTHE (6) STOOGE (6) GENTOOS (7)
Score: 21–44 (max 58)

A few 6's available but Paul's 5 allows James to further his lead again. DC spot the darrenic max.

Round 8: R S O I N D U O E

Paul: INDOORS (7)
James: roundies
DC: RESOUND (7)
OT: NIDOROUS (8)
Score: 28–44 (max 66)

A risk by James allows Paul to cut the arrears. The max is missed by the studio.

NIDOROUS: Of the nature of a nidor, or evoking this; having a strong and unpleasant smell, especially resembling that of cooking animal fat.

Round 9: 6, 5, 3, 50, 75, 25. Target: 810.

Paul: -
James: 806. (75+25)*(5+3)+6 (7)
RR: 810. (75+6)*50/5 (10)
Score: 28–51 (max 76)

Paul blanks and fails to score on the numbers again, whilst James can only get 4 away. Rachel shows us perfection.

Teatime teaser: WIREPIGS -> PERIWIGS

Round 10: T L N S A E I A D

Paul: STAINED (7)
James: ENTAILS (7)
DC: SALINATED (18)
Score: 35–58 (max 94)

Seven points a piece for the contestants. DC get a chance to shine with a 9!

Round 11: Y R D U A I S V E

Paul: advisery
James: DIVERS (6)
DC: ADVISER (7)
OT: DASYURE (7) DYSURIA (7) RESIDUA (7)
Score: 35–64 (max 101)

Unlucky for Paul as it's ADVISORY not ADVISERY, and by dropping the Y he would have won the round.

OoW: Susie talks about phrases from Aesop's fables.

Round 12: L N M I A E D H U

Paul: UNMAILED (8)
James: HAULED (6)
Score: 43–64 (max 109)

A nice Darren spot by Paul puts him 21 behind.

Round 13: T G P I O E M F I

Paul: POET (4)
James: GIMP (4)
DC: IMPETIGO (8)
Score: 47–68 (max 117)

A tough selection leaves both contestants stuck on 4 and keeps James in a, now unassailable, 21 point lead. DC spot a tough 8.

IMPETIGO: A contagious bacterial skin infection forming pustules and yellow crusty sores.

Round 14: 7, 10, 75, 100, 25, 50. Target: 802.

Paul: 800. 7*100+75+25 (7)
James: 800. 75*10+50 (7)
RR: 802. (100/50+75)*10+25+7 (10)
Score: 54–75 (max 127)

Paul scores on the numbers for the first time today with a straight forward 2 away solution. James matches him and Rachel has work to do again.

Round 15: D O O M H A T E R

No one buzzes. The answer was MOTORHEAD.
Final Score: 54–75 (max 137)

The start of the week introduces a new champion. Paul struggled with the numbers today, as well as having a coupe of disallowed words but should be happy with his 3 wins. James got some good spots and seems a decent player. How far can he go? Join Johnny tomorrow to see if he can get win number 2.

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=74

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