Tuesday 1st September 2015 (series 73, prelim 44)

[Sean Fletcher]

Hello, I'm stepping in for this recap as Jen has not had time to do it. Apologies if I don't recap to her standard but I'll do my best. Another win for Mr Wynn will put him on the brink of octochampdom.

Countdown recap for Tuesday 1 September 2015.

C1: Champion Jonathan Wynn (6 wins, 680 points.) An apterite and maths teacher from Oxford.
C2: Challenger David Vernon. A medical student from Carronbridge. Enjoys long distance running and ran the 10k in Tallinn for GB juniors in 2011.
DC: Susie Dent and Greg Rusedski.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: T N B E A O R I H
R02: S L T Z E A I S D
R03: 25, 5, 5, 2, 9, 7. Target: 868.
TTT: TOOLLANE - "It's not a laughing matter if you have to take this"
R04: Y T Q O A E G S N
R05: R P M O I E O R A
R06: 50, 1, 4, 1, 9, 10. Target: 798.
R07: N C M E U I P E S
R08: X N S A I O E D V
R09: 75, 3, 8, 6, 5, 4. Target: 383.
TTT: UNITOOLS - "The answer to this isn't that solid"
R10: M R T H A E I B E
R11: L R V I A O S U O
R12: F G T R U E A I J
R13: G D S E U A O T D
R14: 50, 6, 9, 9, 1, 7. Target: 760.
R15: A M I N F R O N T (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: T N B E A O R I H

Jonathan: BARITONE (8)
David: abortion
DC: BANTER, (6) HORNET (6)
OT: OBTAINER (8)
Score: 8–0 (max 8)

A phantom O gives the champ an early lead.

Round 2: S L T Z E A I S D

Jonathan: LAZIEST (7)
David: DETAILS (7)
DC: DILATES (7)
OT: DELISTS (7) DESALTS (7) SALTIES (7)
Score: 15–7 (max 15)

The DETAILS taken from this round suggest no one in the studio is the LAZIEST.

Round 3: 25, 5, 5, 2, 9, 7. Target: 868.

Jonathan: 868. 5*7*25 - (9+5)/2 (10)
David: 868. 5*7*25 - 9 + 2 (10)
Score: 25–17 (max 25)

An easy enough numbers round gives both players ten points.

Teatime teaser: TOOLLANE -> ATENOLOL

Round 4: Y T Q O A E G S N

Jonathan: ONSTAGE (7)
David: STAGE (5)
DC: NOSEGAY (7) TANGOES (7)
Score: 32–17 (max 32)

Jonathan is ON it here as he beats David's STAGE to further his lead.

Round 5: R P M O I E O R A

Jonathan: EMPORIA (7)
David: ROOMIER (7)
OT: ARMOIRE (7) IPOMOEA (7)
Score: 39–24 (max 39)

Seven apiece keeps Jonathan with a healthy lead.
IPOMOEA: A plant of the genus Ipomoea in the convolvulus family, especially (in gardening) a morning glory.

Round 6: 50, 1, 4, 1, 9, 10. Target: 798.

Jonathan: 799. 50*(10+9+1-4) - 1 (7)
David: 800.
RR: 798. (10+4)*(50+9-1-1) (10)
Score: 46–24 (max 49)

A not so easy numbers allows Jonathan to extend his lead. It's left to Rachel to take the plaudits though.

Round 7: N C M E U I P E S

Jonathan: SPECIMEN (8)
David: MINCES (6)
DC: PUMICES (7)
Score: 54–24 (max 57)

A great spot from the champion, showing what an intelligent SPECIMEN he is.

Round 8: X N S A I O E D V

Jonathan: EVASION (7)
David: EVASION (7)
DC: INVADES (7) DIOXANE (7)
OT: ANODISE (7) OXIDASE (7)
Score: 61–31 (max 64)

Quite a few 7's here and they don't evade the contestants.
DIOXANE: A colourless toxic liquid used as an organic solvent OR a heterocyclic compound with a ring of four carbon and two oxygen atoms; chemical formula: C4H8O2


Round 9: 75, 3, 8, 6, 5, 4. Target: 383.

Jonathan: 383. 75*5 + 8 (10)
David: 383. 75*5 + 8 (10)
Score: 71–41 (max 74)

Nice. Simple. Numbers.
Teatime teaser: UNITOOLS -> SOLUTION

Round 10: M R T H A E I B E

Jonathan: BREATHE (7)
David: BREATHE (7)
DC: MITHER (6)
OT: BEAMIER (7) EMIRATE (7) MEATIER (7) THERMAE (7)
Score: 78–48 (max 81)

THERMAE: (In ancient Greece and Rome) hot baths used for public bathing.

Round 11: L R V I A O S U O

Jonathan: valorious
David: VARIOUS (7)
DC: VALOROUS (8) SAVIOUR (7)
OT: VARIOLOUS (18)
Score: 78–55 (max 99)

Unlucky for Jonathan as his word does sound plausible. Will this open the door for a comeback? DC spot an 8 due to Jonathans failed 9.

Round 12: F G T R U E A I J

Jonathan: FRUITAGE (8)
David: FIGURE (6)
Score: 86–55 (max 107)

An excellent spot from the champion gives him an almost unassailable lead.

Round 13: G D S E U A O T D

Jonathan: OUTAGES (7)
David: GUSTED (6)
DC: STAGED (6) OUSTED (6)
OT: DOTAGES (7)
Score: 93–55 (max 114)

And the win is wrapped up with a countdown favourite. Not sure why Jonathan thought it was risky though....

Round 14: 50, 6, 9, 9, 1, 7. Target: 760.

Jonathan: 760. (6+9)*50 + 9 + 1 (10)
David: 760. (6+9)*50 + 9 + 1 (10)
Score: 103–65 (max 124)

A straight forward numbers game brings the century.

Round 15: A M I N F R O N T

Jonathan buzzes on 2 seconds to say INFORMANT which is correct.
Final Score: 113–65 (max 134)

A very quick solve from Jonathan to wrap the game up.


Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=73

So Jonathan gets his 7th win and becomes the 2nd seed. One more win with a score of 91 or higher will see him overtake Stephen Briggs as #1 seed.
David was unlucky to run into Jonathan. He seemed a good player and was very gracious in his defeat. Tune in tomorrow to see if Jonathan can reach octochampdom.