C1: Champion Gemma Geoghegan (1 win, 96 points.) A compliance manager from Corsham, Wiltshire.
C2: Challenger Paul Boniface. A machine technician from Walthamstow, Greater London. He loves Peter Sellers movies, particularly Two Way Stretch, The Wrong Arm of the Law and The Party.
DC: Susie Dent and Tom Kerridge.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: B T W D E I O C E
R02: L X T A U R M E Y
R03: 50, 100, 9, 3, 5, 2. Target: 186.
TTT: SEEMBREAD - "It would seem every last millimetre of the bread was covered in chocolate spread."
R04: D S P I O A T P E
R05: S Z S C O A I T U
R06: 75, 25, 7, 1, 3, 6. Target: 314.
R07: N K L T E O A N E
R08: R J C I U E T R N
R09: 25, 6, 8, 7, 5, 2. Target: 715.
TTT: BEARSCALE - "It's nothing to do with gas or electric, but it's a sauce of green energy."
R10: R S G A I U R D O
R11: L P M I E A F S D
R12: N T H O I U N F A
R13: D R S N O E I H A
R14: 25, 50, 10, 8, 9, 1. Target: 977.
R15: T O M S D I N E R (conundrum)
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Round 1: B T W D E I O C E
Gemma: COWED (5)
Paul: TWICE (5)
DC: BOWIE (5) BODICE (6)
OT: BETIDE (6) BOETIE (6) DECEIT (6) TWOCED (6)
Score: 5–5 (max 6)
5's apiece to start proceedings today.
To BETIDE is a literary term meaning to happen.
A BOETIE (or BOETI or BOOTIE) is a South African term meaning brother.
TWOCED (or TWOCKED) is an adjective for a car stolen, especially for the purpose of joy-riding.
Round 2: L X T A U R M E Y
Gemma: TAMER (5)
Paul: METAL (5)
DC: MATURELY (8)
Score: 10–10 (max 14)
More and more 5's, but DC spot the darrenic 8 here.
Round 3: 50, 100, 9, 3, 5, 2. Target: 186.
Gemma: 188.
Paul: 187. 100 + 50 + (3 x 9) + (2 x 5) (7)
Tom Kerridge: 186. (2 x 100) - (9 + 5) (10)
Score: 10–17 (max 24)
An early lead for Paul, as it's left to Tom Kerridge to wrap up the numbers game here.
Teatime teaser: SEEMBREAD -> BESMEARED
Round 4: D S P I O A T P E
Gemma: STOPPED (7)
Paul: DEPOSIT (7)
DC: TOPSIDE (7) APPOSITE (8) DAPPIEST (8)
OT: DIOPTASE (8)
Score: 17–24 (max 32)
More great eights from DC, but our players can't stay off each other in the letters games at least.
DIOPTASE is a rare mineral occurring as emerald green or blue-green crystals. It consists of a hydrated silicate of copper.
Round 5: S Z S C O A I T U
Gemma: COASTS (6)
Paul: SCOUTS (6)
DC: COATIS (6)
OT: ACTIOUS (7) CASUIST (7) SCOTIAS (7)
Score: 23–30 (max 39)
Still sticking together in the letters....
ACTIOUS is an adjective meaning active, energetic, eager.
A CASUIST is a person who uses clever but unsound reasoning, especially in relation to moral questions.
Chiefly in classical architecture, a SCOTIA is a concave moulding, especially at the base of a column.
Round 6: 75, 25, 7, 1, 3, 6. Target: 314.
Gemma: 313. ((3 + 1) x 75) + 6 + 7 (7)
Paul: 313. ((3 + 1) x 75) + 6 + 7 (7)
RR: 314. ((75 - 25) x 6) + ((3 - 1) x 7) (10)
Score: 30–37 (max 49)
Now they're sticking together in the numbers too...
Tom talks about his travels all around the world, particularly cooking at the Monaco Grand Prix and chatting to the Prince of Monaco and the King of Sweden!
Round 7: N K L T E O A N E
Gemma: ANKLET (6)
Paul: ANKLET (6)
DC: NEONATE (7)
OT: ALKENONE (8)
Score: 36–43 (max 57)
The same ANKLET, the same points...
An ALKENONE is a ketone containing an unsaturated hydrocarbon group with one or more carbon–carbon double bonds.
Round 8: R J C I U E T R N
Gemma: CRETIN (6)
Paul: UNITER (6)
DC: JUICER (6) RECRUIT (7)
OT: CUNTIER (7) CURRENT (7) INJURER (7) REINCUR (7) RUNTIER (7)
Score: 42–49 (max 64)
And appropriately, UNITER appears too.
CUNTIER (relating from CUNTY) means very unpleasant, disagreeable, or annoying or relating to or resembling the female genitals.
Round 9: 25, 6, 8, 7, 5, 2. Target: 715.
Gemma: 711. ((8 / 2) x 7 x 25) + 6 + 5 (7)
Paul: -
RR: 715. ((25 x 6) - 7) x 5 (10)
Score: 49–49 (max 74)
Now we're truly level again.
Teatime teaser: BEARSCALE -> CALABRESE
Round 10: R S G A I U R D O
Gemma: GUARDS (6)
Paul: RADIOS (6)
DC: GIAOURS (7)
OT: DAIGOUS (7) RADIOUS (7) RIGOURS (7)
Score: 55–55 (max 81)
7/7 letters games without gaps..., are we gonna have 10/10....
A DAIGOU (plural DAIGOUS) is a person outside China who buys consumer goods on behalf of people living in China, in situations where particular goods are not available or are more expensive in China itself.
RADIOUS is an adjective meaning radiant, bright.
Round 11: L P M I E A F S D
Gemma: SAMPLED (7)
Paul: FLAMED (6)
DC: MISPLEAD (8)
OT: IMPLEADS (8) PELAMIDS (8) SIDELAMP (8)
Score: 62–55 (max 89)
No, we're not, and Gemma takes the lead for the first time today with her 7.
A PELAMID (or PELAMYD or PELAMYS) is a young or small bonito or tunny; specifically the Atlantic bonito, Sarda sarda.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of some rules that we don't know to do with language.
Round 12: N T H O I U N F A
Gemma: FOUNTAIN (8)
Paul: FOUNTAIN (8)
OT: INFONAUT (8)
Score: 70–63 (max 97)
The FOUNTAIN of all-knowledge provides both players with a nice 8.
An INFONAUT (or INTERNAUT) is a user of the Internet, especially a habitual or skilled one.
Round 13: D R S N O E I H A
Gemma: HANDIER (7)
Paul: SHINED (6)
DC: IRONHEADS (18)
OT: RHOEADINS (18)
Score: 77–63 (max 115)
Gemma doubles her lead, whilst DC get a 9 to finish off the day.
RHOEADIN (or RHOEADINE or RHEADIN or RHEADINE) is a mildly toxic alkaloid present in the seed capsules of the corn poppy.
Round 14: 25, 50, 10, 8, 9, 1. Target: 977.
Gemma: 975. ((10 + 9 + 1) x 50) - 25 (7)
Paul: 975. ((10 + 9 + 1) x 50) - 25 (7)
RR: 977. ((10 + 9) x (50 + 1)) + 8 (10)
Score: 84–70 (max 125)
A little stinky 2 large means that Paul's chances of a late win are evaporated, and Gemma has her 2nd win secured.
Round 15: T O M S D I N E R
Gemma buzzes on 2.75 seconds to say "Nope, no, it's gone, sorry", which is incorrect.
Paul does not buzz.
The answer was MODERNIST.
Final Score: 84–70 (max 135)
Well, she might not have got the conundrum, but this game was so attritional, I'm sure Gemma is glad it wasn't a crucial. Let's see if she can make it 3 in a row tomorrow, when she takes on PDC darts scorer Andy Shaw.
Statistics Corner
Gemma:
Total score - 84
Raw score - 91
Total % of max - 62
Raw % of max - 67
Total average score per round - 5.6
Raw average score per round - 6.1
Number of maxes - 1
Paul:
Total score - 70
Raw score - 82
Total % of max - 52
Raw % of max - 61
Total average score per round - 4.7
Raw average score per round - 5.5
Number of maxes - 1
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=82