Dave Costello faced two crucial conundrums before emerging victorious on Friday. Can he get an easier win today. Briony Hunter will be hoping he can't.
Countdown recap for Monday 25 April 2016.
C1: Champion Dave Costello (1 win, 93 points.) An actuary and father of three from Bath.
C2: Challenger Briony Hunter. Head of Music at Helsby High School. Plays flute, saxophone, clarinet and piano. Also a member of Chester Triathlon Club.
DC: Susie Dent and Charlotte Hawkins.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: W N P A O I G R U
R02: V D S E A E N H I
R03: 10, 6, 5, 25, 100, 50. Target: 231.
TTT: AFINETAN - "He's got a fine tan; he lazes around on the beach all day doing nothing."
R04: R M S E U R N A O
R05: D X T A I E M L I
R06: 7, 4, 5, 9, 1, 75. Target: 190.
R07: R N U I E V L N A
R08: R T S Y E I E O Q
R09: 1, 9, 5, 25, 100, 50. Target: 141.
TTT: OUSTDIRE - "The odds on him ousting the champion are pretty dire."
R10: S P T A E A M G U
R11: I E I S R T W N D
R12: F D S O U E L Z A
R13: T C T I O A G D T
R14: 1, 7, 9, 10, 4, 50. Target: 110.
R15: C U F F R I S E R (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Enjoy the show.
Round 1: W N P A O I G R U
Dave: POURING (7)
Briony: POURING (7)
DC: WARPING (7)
OT: PORANGI (7) ROUPING (7) WURPING (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
Seven a piece for both contestants.
PORANGI: Mad; crazy
Round 2: V D S E A E N H I
Dave: HEAVENS (7)
Briony: SHINED (6)
DC: ADHESIVE (8) VANSIHED (8)
OT: EVANISHED (18)
Score: 14–7 (max 25)
Dave takes the lead with his 7. Two straight forward 8's are spotted by DC, but a 9 was available.
Round 3: 10, 6, 5, 25, 100, 50. Target: 231.
Dave: 234.
Briony: 230. 5*50-10-100/25-6 (7)
RR: 231. 5*25+6+100 (10)
Score: 14–14 (max 35)
Briony's 1-away allows her to draw level, as Dave can only get 4-away. Rachel gets it exact.
Teatime teaser: AFINETAN -> FAINEANT
Round 4: R M S E U R N A O
Dave: MOANERS (7)
Briony: arouser
DC: MOURNERS (8) NEUROMAS (8)
OT: ENAMOURS (8) MANURERS (8) RANSOMER (8)
Score: 21–14 (max 43)
Unlucky for Briony as she has her word disallowed, meaning Dave's lead is restored. DC spot 2 of the available eights.
MANURER: Originally: a person who cultivates or occupies land. In later use also: a fertilizer of land.
Round 5: D X T A I E M L I
Dave: DETAIL (6)
Briony: TAXIED (6)
DC: LIMITED (7)
OT: DELIMIT (7)
Score: 27–20 (max 50)
The contestants enhance their scores by 6 points, but miss a common 7.
Round 6: 7, 4, 5, 9, 1, 75. Target: 190.
Dave: 190. (75+5*4)*(9-7) (10)
Briony: 190. (75+5*4)*(9-7) (10)
Score: 37–30 (max 60)
Ten points each in a straight forward numbers game.
Charlotte talks about the language development of her one year old daughter.
Round 7: R N U I E V L N A
Dave: LEARN (5)
Briony: ALIVE (5)
DC: UNRIVEN (7)
OT: RAVELIN (7) UNALIVE (7) UNLEARN (7) UNRAVEL (7) URANILE (7)
Score: 42–35 (max 67)
The contestants are stuck on five in a round with numerous seven's available.
RAVELIN: An outwork of fortifications, with two faces forming a salient angle, constructed beyond the main ditch and in front of the curtain.
Round 8: R T S Y E I E O Q
Dave: STOREY (6)
Briony: YETIS (5)
DC: OYSTER (6)
OT: RYOTEIS (7)
Score: 48–35 (max 74)
Dave furthers his lead with a 6. A tough 7 was hidden.
RYOTEIS: In Japan: a traditional restaurant, especially a prestigious one.
Round 9: 1, 9, 5, 25, 100, 50. Target: 141.
Dave: 141. 100+50-9 (10)
Briony: 141. 100+50-9 (10)
Score: 58–45 (max 84)
Moving on.
Teatime teaser: OUSTDIRE -> OUTSIDER
Round 10: S P T A E A M G U
Dave: sputame
Briony: tapages
DC: UPSTAGE (7) STUMPAGE (8)
Score: 58–45 (max 92)
Both contestants risk a 7. Both words are disallowed.
Round 11: I E I S R T W N D
Dave: WINDIEST (8)
Briony: WINDIEST (8)
DC: DISINTER (8)
OT: NITRIDES (8)
Score: 66–53 (max 100)
Eight a piece for the players maintains Dave's lead.
Susie talks about words that were created by writers.
Round 12: F D S O U E L Z A
Dave: FOULED (6)
Briony: ZEALOUS (7)
Score: 66–60 (max 107)
A good darrenic max from Briony puts her back within ten at this late stage of the game.
Round 13: T C T I O A G D T
Dave: TOAD (4)
Briony: COAT (4)
DC: TACIT (5) DACOIT (6)
Score: 70–64 (max 113)
Not the easiest of selections, and the contestants are stuck on four. DC manage to stretch to a six.
Round 14: 1, 7, 9, 10, 4, 50. Target: 110.
Dave: 110. 50*4-9*10 (10)
Briony: 110. (9-7)*50+10 (10)
Score: 80–74 (max 123)
Another straight forward numbers means a crucial is needed.
Round 15: C U F F R I S E R
Dave buzzes on 27 seconds to say SCRUFFIER which is correct.
Final Score: 90–74 (max 133)
A late solve by Dave seals victory.
Briony pushed Dave all the way, but he survives another crucial conundrum to seal his second win.
Will he be able to get his third win tomorrow, and if so will he need another crucial conundrum. Join Tim to find out.
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=74
Monday 25th April 2016 (Series 74, Prelim 59)
Moderator: James Robinson
-
Sean Fletcher
- Acolyte
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Sat May 31, 2014 4:39 pm
- Location: Bournemouth