C1: Champion Harry "The Southampton Slugger " Savage (10 wins, 1161 points.)
C2: Champion Viraj "The Orpington Onager " Seelam (10 wins, 1068 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Christopher Biggins
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: J R L S E U O E D
R02: N R T A I S E Y A
R03: 25, 10, 4, 2, 9, 8, . Target: 260.
TTT: OCTOFINAL - "It's going to be great; you can just smell it."
R04: E O L P H I N T A
R05: R G S D O I U A H
R06: 2, 6, 3, 2, 7, 10. Target: 674.
R07: C W S N E I E O Q
R08: T U L D A F I U G
R09: 50, 8, 4, 2, 3, 5, . Target: 681.
TTT: REDUNDIES - " I gave Santa a pair for Christmas but he didn't want them. "
R10: S P E C N O I M A
R11: R T G W E I A U K
R12: R O N E G A P E V
R13: T F S R U I E I L
R14: 3, 3, 2, 10, 9, 5, . Target: 499.
R15: M E G A S T T A R (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: J R L S E U O E D
Harry: DELOUSE (7)
Viraj: DELOUSE (7)
DC: DELOUSE (7)
OT: URODELES (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
7s all round they were toying with Delouser for 8 which Susie said no to........there was an 8 with Urodeles
Round 2: N R T A I S E Y A
Harry: ARTESIAN (8)
Viraj: SANITARY (8)
OT: ANTISERA (8)
Score: 15–15 (max 16)
Top marks from our finalists as 8s are the order of the day
Round 3: 25, 10, 4, 2, 9, 8. Target: 260.
C1: 260. (9 × 2 + 8) × 10 (10)
C2: 260. 25 × 10 + 2 + 8 (10)
Score: 25–25 (max 26)
Top marks all round from our grand finalists.........I like Harry's solution better he used the LNAFP method to bag himself 10 points
Teatime teaser: OCTOFINAL -> OLFACTION
Round 4: E O L P H I N T A
Harry: OLIPHANT (8)
Viraj: ANTIPOLE (8)
DC: PHONATE (7)
OT: APHELION (8)
Score: 33–33 (max 34)
8s all round this contest is bulding up nicely
Round 5: R G S D O I U A H
Harry: DAIGOUS (7)
Viraj: ROGUISH (7)
OT: DISHRAG (7) GIAOURS (7) HAIRDOS (7) RADIOUS (7)
Score: 40–40 (max 41)
7s all round.......Moving on !
Round 6: 2, 6, 3, 2, 7, 10. Target: 674.
C1: 670.
C2: 674. (2 × 3 + 10) × 6 × 7 + 2 (10)
Score: 40–50 (max 51)
First blood to our No 2 seed Viraj........the first lead in this Grand Final could be most important of all
Round 7: C W S N E I E O Q
Harry: WINCES (6)
Viraj: WINCES (6)
DC: COSINE (6)
OT: SENECIO (7)
Score: 46–56 (max 58)
6s all round.............an interesting 7 hidden away with Senecio......spotted by our very own Tracey Mills
Round 8: T U L D A F I U G
Harry: AIDFUL (6)
Viraj: AUDIT (5)
DC: GUTFUL (6)
OT: DUTIFUL (7)
Score: 52–56 (max 65)
What a fantastic 6 from our No 1 seed........could this be the turning point for Harry ?.............there was a 7 with Dutiful that I spotted
Round 9: 50, 8, 4, 2, 3, 5. Target: 681.
C1: 680. (3 × 50 − 4 − 8 − 2) × 5 (7)
C2: -
RR: 681. (8 + 5) × (50 + 3) − 2 × 4 (10)
Score: 59–56 (max 75)
Indeed it is ! Viraj blanks this round.......Harry takes advantage of the situation by getting 1 away and taking the lead..........Ms Riley shows our grand finalists how it is done
Teatime teaser: REDUNDIES -> UNDESIRED
Round 10: S P E C N O I M A
Harry: COMPANIES (18)
Viraj: CANOPIES (8)
OT: CAMPESINO (18)
Score: 77–56 (max 93)
What a final this is Harry getting a 9 no less that extends his lead further........you guessed it I spotted this one !
Round 11: R T G W E I A U K
Harry: GAWKIER (7)
Viraj: GUITAR (6)
Score: 84–56 (max 100)
Another piece of brilliance from Mr Savage
Round 12: R O N E G A P E V
Harry: PARENGO (7)
Viraj: OVERAGE (7)
DC: AVENGER (7)
OT: PRENOVAE (8)
Score: 91–63 (max 108)
7s all round........nothing to complain over
Round 13: T F S R U I E I L
Harry: TRIFLES (7)
Viraj: FLUSTER (7)
DC: FUSILIER (8)
OT: UTILISER (8)
Score: 98–70 (max 116)
7s all round.......this now means that Harry Savage is the series 88 champion ! DC get to shine with their 8 Fusilier
Round 14: 3, 3, 2, 10, 9, 5. Target: 499.
C1: 500. (9 + 3 − 2) × 10 × 5 (7)
C2: 500. (3 ÷ 3 + 9) × 10 × 5 (7)
RR: 498/500 (7)
Score: 105–77 (max 123)
Rachel says that one either side is as good as it gets
Round 15: M E G A S T T A R
C1 buzzes on 29.75 seconds to say STRAGMATE which is incorrect.
C2 buzzes on 29.5 seconds to say TESTAGRAM which is incorrect.
The answer was STRATAGEM.
Final Score: 105–77 (max 133)
Neither finalist answers the conundrum correctly , however it is left to our recap writer Tracey Mills to solve it. What an amazing series this has been all the finalists have been fantastic throughout, firstly congratulations to Harry Savage on becoming the 88th Series Champion and his name on the Richard Whiteley Memorial Trophy, Secondly take nothing away from Viraj who performed admirably he will happy with his runners up prize a tablet and a piece of Kryptonite, you should be both of proud of your achievements you have been amazing throughout your run in this series......who knows you may compete in a future Champion of Champions. As I have mentioned I will be taking temporary retirement recapping as I feel it is taking up a lot of my time and I will miss it, I would like to wish my my fellow Countdowners a Merry Christmas a Happy New year, Series 89 will return on the 2nd January and hopefully more legends will be made, love and peace to you all x
