Spoilers for Tues 16 June 2009 - Series 60 4th QF

[Philip Jarvis]

As mentioned yesterday, it was one hell of a challenge trying to come up with something for Mr Zussman. I was sat next to Neil's parents during the final day of filming and so decided to include them in order to create a link to the only reasonable rhymes I could come up with.

p.s. I made it up about the limo.
***********************************************

Round 4 and it’s Mr Roberts, more commonly known as Shane,
The tension is now building up, but will he feel the strain?
Whether he’s flushed with success or all washed up, I haven’t got a clue,
But I’m confident that, after the game, he’ll manage to sink a few,
Will he go on to win again, or will all his efforts go down the drain?

Up against him today is the unflappable Neil Zussman,
Alas, any hopes of a rhyme went straight in the dustpan,
Unlike some previous contestants, Neil is an extremely modest Joe,
So when his parents booked a limousine, for after the show,
He said “It’s OK, I’ll take the bus mam – why all the fuss man?”

[Derek Hazell]

Some say Kirk is a god, but Zuss is king of the gods.

[Phil Reynolds]

As mentioned yesterday, it was one hell of a challenge trying to come up with something for Mr Zussman. I was sat next to Neil's parents during the final day of filming and so decided to include them in order to create a link to the only reasonable rhymes I could come up with.

As I've already mentioned, it's easier if you pronounce Zussman the way that Neil does rather than the way Jeff does.

[Philip Jarvis]

As mentioned yesterday, it was one hell of a challenge trying to come up with something for Mr Zussman. I was sat next to Neil's parents during the final day of filming and so decided to include them in order to create a link to the only reasonable rhymes I could come up with.

As I've already mentioned, it's easier if you pronounce Zussman the way that Neil does rather than the way Jeff does.

Oh - I never realised that's how you pronounce it.

[Phil Reynolds]

All together now!

[Ben Wilson]

Okay, did Rachel just say what I thought she said? And given Charlie was in the audience for this episode, was there any Aptovertising?

[Matt Morrison]

Rachel - that's a pretty poor effort to be playing a Countdown clone online and for it NOT to be apterous. Tut tut, I hope Charlie roundly told her off afterwards. (Though if she's ever read some of the yawn-inducing "phwoar!" comments on this forum then she'd clearly sign up under a different name.)

my method for 1st numbers:

9 x (8+4) = 108
108 x 5 = 540, - (5-3) = 538

[Ben Hunter]

Rachel doesn't play under her own name but yeah I'm pretty sure she was referring to Apterous. She's pretty good too .

[James Doohan]

She is signed up under a different name

[Matt Morrison]

Rachel doesn't play under her own name but yeah. She's pretty good too .

I've always wondered if -- -- is Rachel, but just presumed that Rachel didn't play. Now I'm 95% sure that -- -- is Rachel.

[Ben Hunter]

She is signed up under a different name

Yeah. Apterous is the best place for her to get better at her job.

[Ben Hunter]

Rachel doesn't play under her own name but yeah. She's pretty good too .

I've always wondered if -- -- is Rachel, but just presumed that Rachel didn't play. Now I'm 95% sure that -- -- is Rachel.

I'm 95% sure I know who you're referring to. She didn't tell us her Apterous-alias when Kirby and I asked so it's probably best it remains an open secret.

[Andy Wilson]

(Though if she's ever read some of the yawn-inducing "phwoar!" comments on this forum then she'd clearly sign up under a different name.)

Speaking of which, i'm glad she toned it down for todays qf

[Junaid Mubeen]

Rachel doesn't play under her own name but yeah. She's pretty good too .

I've always wondered if -- -- is Rachel, but just presumed that Rachel didn't play. Now I'm 95% sure that -- -- is Rachel.

I'm 95% sure I know who you're referring to. She didn't tell us her Apterous-alias when Kirby and I asked so it's probably best it remains an open secret.

Ah yes, this explains a lot.

[Andy Wilson]

that was a huge chance for Shane there... located was screaming out of that selection.

[Liam Tiernan]

(75+1)*8=608
100/25=4
608+50+4=662
2 away

[Ray Folwell]

Also 2 away 25 x (100-75) + 50 - 8 -1 = 666
But I think it's possible

[Andy Wilson]

Well done Neil.

[Jojo Apollo]

Well played Neil, I was expecting it to be a lot closer given how good Shane is, unlucky Shane. ROTAMERS is excellent btw.

Was a bit surprised you picked four large for the second numbers game, instead of playing it safe (relatively speaking) with one large, considering you were over 10 points ahead. I suppose you were thinking Shane may come back a bit into conundrum range later on and hoping to get a bigger lead.

Roll on the big match tomorrow: Neil vs King Kong Kirk. This could have easily been the final.

ps. those rounds containing the letter selections: TION, IEST, LESS, NESS, STONE, LINE etc all at once (as in the TONELESS round) are tricky buggers, you are frantically looking for a nine, you could also go down a dead end path eg. the NESS ending and end up not getting the max for that round, as there are so many routes to explore in the 30 seconds.

[Phil Reynolds]

Also 2 away 25 x (100-75) + 50 - 8 -1 = 666
But I think it's possible

It is, by coincidence employing the 51 / 3 = 17 trick that Rachel used earlier on:

(50 + 1) / (75 / 25) = 17
(100 - 17) x 8 = 664

(I hasten to add I didn't get this myself - I used the automated solver for recapping purposes. It has a difficulty rating of 89%.)

[Tim]

Damn! I DID get it this way, without aid of a solver, and someone has posted the answer first!

[JimBentley]

Rachel doesn't play under her own name but yeah. She's pretty good too .

I've always wondered if -- -- is Rachel, but just presumed that Rachel didn't play. Now I'm 95% sure that -- -- is Rachel.

Wow, I've often wondered about _____ _____ and assuming I'm thinking about the same person, a lot of things suddenly now make sense. Very interesting, and most excellent news.

[Kirk Bevins]

It was nice to get name-checked at the end there from Jeff and I was flattered when Neil said he doesn't think he's going to make it 10 wins on the bounce. Confidence mate!

[Gavin Chipper]

Adrian Chiles was quite good in the heats but I think he let himself down today. It wasn't simply that Neil played brilliantly. Maybe it was nerves. It was a shame.

[Neil Zussman]

That was easily the worst of the quarter-finals wasn't it? It felt at the time like we were both playing rubbishly, but having seen it again, the letters were horrible, as were the numbers. Easiest round was the conundrum! From a quick look at the recap, I still got 9 maxes, although it seemed a lot worse at the time. The max was one of the lowest of the series which also didn't help. Still, I'll definitely need to up my game tomorrow.
Shane was a nice guy, but as I'm sure you could see, he was incredibly nervous (but then, so was I, so that's not much of an excuse). He was really unlucky though. Geases was a quality spot, and he was very unlucky it was an irregular plural. (A very irregular plural actually). He also got Coated, but didn't write it down, and didn't say so. So he deserved to finish a lot closer than he did. Not that I'm complaining; after some of my heat games, I was glad for the opportunity to be able to relax before the last numbers!
In our defence, it's pretty hard to concentrate when the whole nation has just been told that we're '6 small people'...
The one bright spot for me was obviously Rotamers, watching loads of episode of Countdown in the past really helped there.

[Andrew Feist]

I've never wondered about ____ ____, but I've often wondered (just in general) about xxxx xxxx and ++++ ++++ and especially ^^^^ ^^^^.

(No really: am I the only one who doesn't know what's going on? Not that I need to know what's going on, I just need to know there's somebody else who doesn't know and I'm fine.)

[Andy Wilson]

it's pretty hard to concentrate when the whole nation has just been told that we're '6 small people'...

a very funny moment!

I'll definitely need to up my game tomorrow.

Aye, be sure n get a good night sleep tonight!

[Phil Reynolds]

I'll definitely need to up my game tomorrow.

Well, Kirk has upped his game - so up yours.

I thank you.

[Jimmy Gough]

I've never wondered about ____ ____, but I've often wondered (just in general) about xxxx xxxx and ++++ ++++ and especially ^^^^ ^^^^.

(No really: am I the only one who doesn't know what's going on? Not that I need to know what's going on, I just need to know there's somebody else who doesn't know and I'm fine.)

It's rumoured that Alex Ferguson, Amy Winehouse and Amir Kahn also have accounts on apterous. Oh yeah, and Mylene Klass.

[Derek Hazell]

Well done Zeus, man!!

Glad to see you were bluffing when you kept saying what a weak player you are on here

[Gavin Chipper]

That was easily the worst of the quarter-finals wasn't it?

Well I thought you seemed to settle into the game better after the first "half" or so, but Adrian Chiles never seemed to get going.