C1: Champion Lju Lazaveric (2 wins, 169 points.)
C2: Challenger Ciaran McCarthy.
DC: Susie Dent and Chris McCausland.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: C R S O E A M S L
R02: W B I O N G E I K
R03: 75, 3, 10, 3, 5, 6. Target: 877.
TTT: DOOMRISE - "It might be currency, but only on the Orient Express."
R04: N S A E T D O E A
R05: N T R O E I L M N
R06: 50, 75, 25, 9, 10, 10. Target: 508.
R07: R S T U E I H M S
R08: L P A O L G E L J
R09: 7, 4, 9, 5, 4, 1. Target: 734.
TTT: ADINGCUE - " If you're feeling snookered, you might want to get some advice"
R10: R N O A T G E S Q
R11: R T P U E U V S R
R12: F R E A S W E N R
R13: T D T I E U F C T
R14: 50, 25, 75, 9, 10, 10. Target: 502.
R15: B E N D M I D G E (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: C R S O E A M S L
Lju: SCREAMS (7)
Ciaran: LACROSSE (8)
DC: LACROSSE (8)
OT: SCLEROMAS (18)
Score: 0–8 (max 18)
A great start from our challenger Ciaran with his 8 Lacrosse, but there was a 9 hidden away with Scleromas.......one that I missed !
This is me when I miss a word........or when my hubby beats me on a round which isn't often ...........or on apterous when somebody beats me on a teaser ! I throw my toys out of pram or give people the V sign !
Round 2: W B I O N G E I K
Lju: BOWING (6)
Ciaran: BIKING (6)
DC: BOWING (6) BIKING (6)
OT: BINKIE (6) BIOINK (6) BOKING (6) KINGIE (6) WIGEON (6) WINKIE (6)
Score: 6–14 (max 24)
Sixes all round nothing worth arguing over.........lets play nicely now
Round 3: 75, 3, 10, 3, 5, 6. Target: 877.
C1: -
C2: 876. (5 × 3 + 75 − 3) × 10 + 6 (7)
RR: 877. (10 + 3) × (75 − 5 − 3) + 6 (10)
Score: 6–21 (max 34)
A good 1 away solve from our challenger Ciaran this allows him to extend his lead further..........Rachel gets to show off by producing a perect 10
Teatime teaser: DOOMRISE -> MOIDORES
Round 4: N S A E T D O E A
Lju: destone
Ciaran: DONATES (7)
DC: DENOTES (7) STANDEE (7)
Score: 6–28 (max 41)
Sevens all round but not for Lju as Susie disallows hers........again nothing worth having a catifght over !
Round 5: N T R O E I L M N
Lju: MOTLIER (7)
Ciaran: oilment
DC: RETINOL (7)
OT: INTONER (7) MENTION (7) NOINTER (7) ONLINER (7)
Score: 13–28 (max 48)
Sevens all round but not Ciaran though, the damage is minor at this point as Ciaran is 15 points ahead with everything left to play for in this all apterite battle
Round 6: 50, 75, 25, 9, 10, 10. Target: 508.
C1: 509. 10 × 50 + 9 (7)
C2: 509. (75 − 25) × 10 + 9 (7)
RR: 508. ((75 × (25 + 9) − 10) × 10) ÷ 50 (10)
Score: 20–35 (max 58)
A good 1 away solve from our champion and challenger.........Ms Riley gets to shine and produces a perfect solution !
Round 7: R S T U E I H M S
Lju: MUSHIEST (8)
Ciaran: MUSHIEST (8)
DC: SMITHERS (8)
Score: 28–43 (max 66)
Top marks all round with both our champion and challenger spotting Mushiest as their eight.........DC spot an eight too with Smithers.........so let's jump ahead to next round......
Round 8: L P A O L G E L J
Lju: PLAGE (5)
Ciaran: LEGAL (5)
DC: GALLOP (6)
Score: 33–48 (max 72)
Fives all round........over in DC they aren't horsing around as their six is Gallop..........so let's trot along to the next round
Round 9: 7, 4, 9, 5, 4, 1. Target: 734.
C1: -
C2: -
RR: 735. ((9 − 4) × 5 + 1) × 5 × 7 (7)
Score: 33–48 (max 79)
Both contestants blank this rather difficult 6 small........Rachel says this cannot be solved perfectly 735 is as good as it gets.......I got 736 using the 9 cubed method
5*4=20
20*4=80
80+1=81
81*9=729
729+7=736
Otherwise known as the omelette method........for those of you who don't know what that is........you have to use all the numbers.......but in most cases you don't need to
Teati me teaser: ADINGCUE -> GUIDANCE
Round 10: R N O A T G E S Q
Lju: GROANS (6)
Ciaran: NEGATORS (8)
DC: NEGATORS (8)
OT: RAGSTONE (8)
Score: 33–56 (max 87)
A fantastic round from our challenger Ciaran with the old Countdown favourite Negators.........my spot was Ragstone but you don't get any extra points for spotting it
Round 11: R T P U E U V S R
Lju: UPSET (5)
Ciaran: PUREST (6)
DC: RUPTURES (8)
Score: 33–62 (max 95)
Another fine round from our challenger Ciaran sadly Lju doesn't get to score with her 5.............but over in DC they get to steal the show with their
eight ruptures.........you guessed it I spotted this one !
Now this is a show stealer the late Freddie Mercury, In 1985 his band Queen stole the show at Live Aid prompting them to tour in 1986.
Round 12: F R E A S W E N R
Lju: WAFERS (6)
Ciaran: ANSWERER (8)
Score: 33–70 (max 103)
A brilliant round from our challenger with his eight Answerer that steals the show yet again ........and much to my annoyance this was one that I chickened !
Round 13: T D T I E U F C T
Lju: TUFTED (6)
Ciaran: FITTED (6)
OT: TUTTED (6)
Score: 39–76 (max 109)
Sixes all round let's move on !
Round 14: 50, 25, 75, 9, 10, 10. Target: 502.
C1: 502. Mistake in working.
C2: 502. 50 × 10 + (75 ÷ 25) − (10 − 9) (10)
Score: 39–86 (max 119)
Nice and straightforward from our newest champion Ciaran that bags him 10 points.........again using the omelette method......this can only mean one thing that Ciaran is our new champion
Round 15: B E N D M I D G E
C2 buzzes on 1.5 seconds to say EMBEDDING which is correct.
Final Score: 39–96 (max 129)
A very speedy conundrum solve from our newest champion Ciaran he will be feeling glad all over now that he has bagged the teapot..... not quite a century but a good performance overall.......I have a feeling that we could see Ciaran over the coming days. But take nothing away from Lju she gave as good as she got she will be satisfied with her two wins and the teapot.......you can join me again and find out if Ciaran can bag his second win.......in meantime it is bye for now
