C1: Champion Tim Reypert (2 wins, 182 points.)
C2: Challenger Ian Scott.
DC: Susie Dent and James Whittaker.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: N D C A E A G B O
R02: E N O L S R I J T
R03: P S G T E O U S O
R04: A T P O N R A Q I
R05: 6, 7, 8, 3, 10, 25. Target: 245.
TTT: SIRPRONE - "He forms part of a captive audience"
R06: E I R T S A H D O
R07: Y R S I E I L C U
R08: E D I P S D E M T
R09: N H N O I E R D O
R10: 9, 2, 8, 1, 8, 100. Target: 983.
TTT: RUNICSON - "Mythical beasts in Oxford perhaps"
R11: V N F A U A M P E
R12: L A O T X E L M A
R13: I A B T N O K E Z
R14: 9, 10, 6, 1, 6, 25. Target: 617.
R15: P H O N E B O X E (conundrum)
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
Tim has won his first two games without the need of the conundrum. While most people agree that his letters are fine (what else would you expect from a Scrabbler?) some have expressed concern about numbers, conundra/conundrums and consistency. However, as Jim pointed out yesterday, a close game will really reveal Tim's mettle ... but will today be that test?
Round 1: N D C A E A G B O
C1: BONDAGE (7)
C2: BANDAGE (7)
DC: DECAGON (7)
OT: DOGBANE (7) CONGAED (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
DOGBANE refers to a variety of plants that are poisonous to dogs.
Round 2: E N O L S R I J T
C1: JOINERS (7)
C2: JOINERS (7)
DC: JOINTERS (8)
OT: ONLIEST (7) only a seven but is Ben Pugh's favourite word
Score: 14–14 (max 15)
Round 3: P S G T E O U S O
C1: STOOGES (7)
C2: SPOUTS (6)
DC: GOOSES (6) (vb. to poke in the bottom) GUSSET (6) (where one is goosed)
OT: OUTGOES (7)
Score: 21–14 (max 22)
Round 4: A T P O N R A Q I
C1: PATRON (6)
C2: RATION (6)
DC: TAIPAN (6)
OT: Quite a few sixes but nothing better
Score: 27–20 (max 28)
Round 5: 6, 7, 8, 3, 10, 25. Target: 245.
C1: 245.25*10-8+3 (10)
C2: 246.
Score: 37–20 (max 38)
Teatime teaser: SIRPRONE -> PRISONER
Round 6: E I R T S A H D O
C1: HARDIEST (8)
C2: ROASTED (7)
OT: ASTEROID (8) (Michael Wallace) HOARIEST (8) (Ben Pugh)
Score: 45–20 (max 46)
Round 7: Y R S I E I L C U
C1: SLUICE (6)
C2: SLUICE (6)
OT: CLERISY (7) (Joseph Bolas) CRUISIE (7) (Ben Pugh)
Score: 51–26 (max 53)
A CRUISIE is a variant spelling of CRUSIE which is a type of lamp with a handle that burns oil or tallow so Ben must have been burning the midnight oil to come up with that one,
Round 8: E D I P S D E M T
C1: IMPEDES (7)
C2: TIMES (5)
DC: DEMISTED (8)
Score: 58–26 (max 61)
Round 9: N H N O I E R D O
C1: HINDER (6)
C2: DINNER (6)
DC: HOODIE (6)
OT: Loads of sixes and nothing better
Score: 64–32 (max 67)
Round 10: 9, 2, 8, 1, 8, 100. Target: 983.
C1: 984.(9+1)*100-8-8 (7)
C2: -
CV: 983. (100+8+2)*9-8+1 (10)
Score: 71–32 (max 77)
Teatime teaser: RUNICSON -> UNICORNS
Round 11: V N F A U A M P E
C1: FAME (4)
C2: FAUNA (5)
DC: PAVANE (6)
OT: PNEUMA (6) (Conor Travers) UMFAAN (6) APEMAN (6)
Score: 71–37 (max 83)
PNEUMA is from the Greek for wind, air or breath and was used, in the past, to refer to the soul; an UMFAAN amongst the Xhosa-speaking people is an initiated male who is yet to take a wife, amongst the Zulu-speaking people it refers to a boy and if I use the term it is derogatory and aimed at my black domestic servant.
Round 12: L A O T X E L M A
C1: MALLET (6)
C2: totale
DC: MALATE (6)
OT: OATMEAL (7) (Ben Pugh) OXALATE (7) (Conor Travers)
Score: 77–37 (max 90)
Another winner from Ben, I hope his solver isn't battery charged
Round 13: I A B T N O K E Z
C1: OBTAIN (6)
C2: BATON (5)
DC: BEATNIK (7) BOTANIZE (8)
OT: DC get the only seven and the only eight
Score: 83–37 (max 98)
Round 14: 9, 10, 6, 1, 6, 25. Target: 617.
C1: 618.(10+9+6)*25-6-1 (7)
C2: 619.
Score: 90–37 (max 105)
One away appears to be as close as you can get which is irritating because I have spent 15 minutes trying to get this one when a quick solver check would have saved me the effort!
Round 15: P H O N E B O X E
C1 buzzes on 2 seconds to say XENOPHOBE which is correct.
Score: 100–37 (max 115)
Tim, deservedly, hits his first century and does so with a very low available maximum. There were a few easy words missed today and at least one easy numbers game but this shouldn't take away from some good spots, like STOOGES, and an excellent conundrum spot: well done!
Further summaries are at:
http://www.thecountdowncorral.com/cd/se ... ?series=58
