COMA- The Countdown Online Masters competition

Mark Tournoff · Post by **Mark Tournoff** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:55 pm

Thanks Ben,

I'll see if Ben is back by tomorrow evening. If not, I can do Tuesday evening instead.

Mark

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 5:35 pm

I can play tonight, my email address is benjpugh@hotmail.com but this is the last day I can play as I have a German exchange student coming tomorrow, so if Mark can't play tonight then DoD will have to replace me.

Mark Tournoff · Post by **Mark Tournoff** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:39 pm

Hi Ben,

Yes, I can play this evening. Is 9pm okay?

Mark

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:04 pm

For anyone reading this, the game is about to kick off. Get yourself on MSN Messenger pronto!

Mark Tournoff · Post by **Mark Tournoff** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:30 pm

Hi Charlie, I wish it were about to kick off! I've tried to get hold of Ben, via the forum and via email, but haven't had a reply yet. I've just had a problem with my PC, which appears resolved now, so I'll try emailing him again.

Mark

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:18 pm

The game seems to have been played, as there is a final score on the Countdownwiki. Ben won 90-89, by just one point!

Martin

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 7:54 pm

Indeed- the semi-finals are now decided, and they are:

Conor Travers vs. Chris Wills
Paul Howe vs. Ben Pugh

Games are all best-of-3 15 rounders- the winner of each tie will be the first to win two games outright regardless of score- and are to be completed by Friday 21st March.

Note- for sanity's sake, you don't have to play the entire semi-final on one night!

Especially not when the final will be best-of-5...

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:21 pm

Can the group inform us of any games that are going on and what dates, I'd quite like to watch, as would many others.

Martin

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 4:28 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:Can the group inform us of any games that are going on and what dates, I'd quite like to watch, as would many others.

Martin

I normally stay away from Countdown games in Messenger, but I would like to see the final, if it hasn't been played yet.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:11 pm

First game of the Wills/Travers semi-final is being played tonight- I've not heard anything from either Paul or Ben so not sure what's happening there. Deadline for SF games to be completed is March 21st.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:54 pm

What time is the match being played tonight?

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:28 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:First game of the Wills/Travers semi-final is being played tonight- I've not heard anything from either Paul or Ben so not sure what's happening there. Deadline for SF games to be completed is March 21st.

Oh yeah, sorry about that, been very busy lately and this just slipped my mind.

Ben, I can play any evening this week after 7 (after 10 on Weds). If you read this in time can I suggest we get the first game out of the way tonight, either before or after Conor vs Chris ?

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:56 pm

Conor Travers beat Chris Wills 2-0 in the best of three, the second of those games is here : http://www.countdownwiki.com/COMA_-_Chr ... %2C_game_2.

Martin

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:00 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:Conor Travers beat Chris Wills 2-0 in the best of three, the second of those games is here : http://www.countdownwiki.com/COMA_-_Chr ... %2C_game_2.

Martin

What time was this match on last night? I logged on to see if I could catch it and I think I missed it.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:56 pm

If anyone wants to watch, me and Ben should be playing the second match of our semi-final tonight, not sure what time yet. I won the first game 90-67

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:20 pm

I'll be online tonight at about 7, so if Conor is there we can get another game of the COMA final played.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Fri Mar 28, 2008 8:34 pm

Any news on when game 2 of the final is likely to be played?

Conor · Post by **Conor** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:11 pm

I've been on holiday for a week and had no Internet access. But I can play at any time now.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:53 pm

I should be online this evening sometime, probably about half seven.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:27 pm

Any more word of this game being played? If you are stuck for a host I am more than willing ...

PS I will have a specific conundrum

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:34 pm

Yes, sorry to keep you all waiting, I've been unexpectedly busy. Conor, can you do Friday at about 8?

David, your offer to host is gratefully accepted, but I think you should email me the conundrum beforehand so I can check it's not ridiculously obscure.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:01 pm

2nd leg is being played right now- look for results soon!

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:41 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:2nd leg is being played right now- look for results soon!

Is the game over or is there still chance to catch it?

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:13 pm

Game 3's just started. Will this be the decider...?

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:04 pm

Expect an awesome recap coming up from one of the participants soon.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:29 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:Game 3's just started. Will this be the decider...?

Is the COMA over or is there still games to play?

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:41 pm

Paolo won a cracker after a crucial conundrum to take the final to 2-1- expect a recap shortly.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:44 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:Paolo won a cracker after a crucial conundrum to take the final to 2-1- expect a recap shortly.

Do we know when the next (or final) game is? If the games are crackers, I don't want to miss this.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 5:36 pm

Any news on when we can see game 4 of the final, guys? Don't want to prolong the agony any further.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:01 pm

Ah yes, sorry Ben! I'll leave myself signed in on MSN for the next three nights, it might take me a few minutes to respond to any messages though as I'll mostly be doing revision.

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:23 pm

Final should be starting soon.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:25 pm

Ben Pugh wrote:Final should be starting soon.

How do you mean final? as in match 4 or match 5?

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 9:29 pm

Match 4.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:15 pm

Paul wins 99-92 after the conundrum goes unsolved, meaning this one's going right to the wire!

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:32 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:Paul wins 99-92 after the conundrum goes unsolved, meaning this one's going right to the wire!

Oooh, what was the conundrum?

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:51 pm

CANNYPLEG

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

...

PLANGENCY.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:02 am

The answer still looks like a conundrum scramble

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:53 am

Corby wrote:The answer still looks like a conundrum scramble

I agree with you Corby

.

I don't really like it to be honest, when the conundrum only has 2 vowels.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:21 am

Joseph Bolas wrote:I don't really like it to be honest, when the conundrum only has 2 vowels.

I guess when you run a successful tournament, you can choose how many vowels are in the conundrums.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:48 am

Joseph Bolas wrote:I don't really like it to be honest, when the conundrum only has 2 vowels.

Why?

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:34 pm

Corby wrote:
Joseph Bolas wrote:I don't really like it to be honest, when the conundrum only has 2 vowels.
Why?

I'd guess it's because it couldn't come up in a standard letter round.

Richard Brittain · Post by **Richard Brittain** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:05 pm

Are there any conundrums with 1 vowel? I can think of 'strengths' off hand, but that is pluralised so not really valid.

Also, what conundrum has the most amount of vowels in it?

The first to answer wins a rotting Many-Zoned Polypore fungus.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:15 pm

Michael Wallace wrote:I'd guess it's because it couldn't come up in a standard letter round.

Well yeah, that's the obvious reason for making the distinction, but... why would that cause dislike?

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:44 pm

Richard Brittain wrote:Are there any conundrums with 1 vowel? I can think of 'strengths' off hand, but that is pluralised so not really valid.

Also, what conundrum has the most amount of vowels in it?

The first to answer wins a rotting Many-Zoned Polypore fungus.

I think it was mentioned on Countdown once before that STRENGTHS is the only one-vowel 9-letter word. Off hand the highest vowel:consonant ratio I can think of for a conundrum is 6:3 in LEUKAEMIA. Is that the right answer? If there's a 7:2 one I'll be impressed.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:56 pm

There was a related thread on the old group about the 9 with the most syllables; the closest we got was OCEANARIA but we decided that it probably only had five. Anyway, that turfed up plenty of 6 vowelled 9's but none with 7 vowels. Riveting stuff.

Back to the subject of the thread, I accidently deleted the MSN window containing the details of last night's game, so here's an executive summary: I got SEVICHE, Conor got CITROUS, I got GATEAUS, everyone got ECZEMA, the numbers were ridiculously easy and the conundrum was ridiculously hard. Oh, and there was some excellent literary discussion about the onanistic subtext of the Harry Potter novels.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:07 pm

Michael Wallace wrote:
Corby wrote:
Joseph Bolas wrote:I don't really like it to be honest, when the conundrum only has 2 vowels.
Why?
I'd guess it's because it couldn't come up in a standard letter round.

Pretty much. I try to learn every 9 that comes up in either word rounds and/or used for the conundrum (practicing for COLIN or COBRIS) so I think that the conundrum should tie in too with that rule (incase the letters of the conundrum came up in a word round and it was not an everyday or common word).

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:13 pm

Joseph Bolas wrote:Pretty much. I try to learn every 9 that comes up in either word rounds and/or used for the conundrum (practicing for COLIN or COBRIS) so I think that the conundrum should tie in too with that rule (incase the letters of the conundrum came up in a word round and it was not an everyday or common word).

But the 3-vowel rule exists solely (I think) so that one player can't intentionally sabotage the round, so it's not relevant in the slightest. It doesn't exist so that you have to learn less words.

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:17 pm

dinos_the_chemist wrote:I think it was mentioned on Countdown once before that STRENGTHS is the only one-vowel 9-letter word.

There are loads, SPRIGHTLY, LYNCHPINS, SKYLIGHTS etc.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 5:03 pm

Ben Pugh wrote:
dinos_the_chemist wrote:I think it was mentioned on Countdown once before that STRENGTHS is the only one-vowel 9-letter word.
There are loads, SPRIGHTLY, LYNCHPINS, SKYLIGHTS etc.

STRENGTHS might be the only one-syllable 9? There aren't many of them, anyway.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:48 pm

STRAIGHTS is the only other 1-syllable niner I can think of.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:34 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:STRAIGHTS is the only other 1-syllable niner I can think of.

GRAUNCHED is a word isn't it? STRETCHED definitely is.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:52 am

Ben Pugh wrote:
dinos_the_chemist wrote:I think it was mentioned on Countdown once before that STRENGTHS is the only one-vowel 9-letter word.
There are loads, SPRIGHTLY, LYNCHPINS, SKYLIGHTS etc.

Yeah but Y is effectively a vowel in those words.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:55 am

Gevin-Gavin wrote:GRAUNCHED is a word isn't it?

Yes it is (anagram of UNCHARGED) STRENGTHS is still my favourite. Its many consonant sounds make it difficult to repeat quickly and successively

Richard Brittain · Post by **Richard Brittain** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:46 pm

dinos_the_chemist wrote:
Richard Brittain wrote:Are there any conundrums with 1 vowel? I can think of 'strengths' off hand, but that is pluralised so not really valid.

Also, what conundrum has the most amount of vowels in it?

The first to answer wins a rotting Many-Zoned Polypore fungus.
I think it was mentioned on Countdown once before that STRENGTHS is the only one-vowel 9-letter word. Off hand the highest vowel:consonant ratio I can think of for a conundrum is 6:3 in LEUKAEMIA. Is that the right answer? If there's a 7:2 one I'll be impressed.

I don't know what the answer is! But I doubt there is anything more than 6:3 as well, Leukaemia is good.

Ben Pugh wrote:There are loads, SPRIGHTLY, LYNCHPINS, SKYLIGHTS etc.

Ah, good one.

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:34 pm

6 vowels is the most in a nine letter word, of which there are quite a few, such as LEUKAEMIA, AUDITORIA, IDEOLOGUE, AUDACIOUS and best of all BOOBOISIE.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:36 pm

Richard Brittain wrote:
dinos_the_chemist wrote:
Richard Brittain wrote:Are there any conundrums with 1 vowel? I can think of 'strengths' off hand, but that is pluralised so not really valid.

Also, what conundrum has the most amount of vowels in it?

The first to answer wins a rotting Many-Zoned Polypore fungus.
I think it was mentioned on Countdown once before that STRENGTHS is the only one-vowel 9-letter word. Off hand the highest vowel:consonant ratio I can think of for a conundrum is 6:3 in LEUKAEMIA. Is that the right answer? If there's a 7:2 one I'll be impressed.
I don't know what the answer is! But I doubt there is anything more than 6:3 as well, Leukaemia is good.

Got to admit here I cheated and stuck it through zyzzyva- whilst it doesn't work fully with Oxford, it does at least say there aren't any 7:2s in Collins.

There are a few 6:2 eights though- sadly none of which are Oxford-friendly.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:02 pm

I know there's AUDIOTAPE and a few others with 6 vowels, I could run it through my program and tell you, not counting the Y as a vowel.

Ok so here it is, using the Scrabble dictionary unless someone wants to send me a text version of the Oxford, all capital letter, one word per line. Unless they get used as conundrums, you can't play them in the letters games as you need at least 4 consonants.

ABOIDEAUS
ABOIDEAUX
ABOITEAUS
ABOITEAUX
AEOLIPILE
AEROPAUSE
AMOEBAEAN
ANAEROBIA
ANOXAEMIA
APIACEOUS
APOLOGIAE
AQUILEGIA
ARAUCARIA
AUBRIETIA
AUDACIOUS
AUDIENCIA
AUDIOBOOK
AUDIOTAPE
AUDITORIA
AUREITIES
AURICULAE
AUTECIOUS
AUTOCUTIE
AUTOGUIDE
AUTOICOUS
AUTOROUTE
AVIFAUNAE
AZOTAEMIA
BEAUTEOUS
BOOBOISIE
BOUSOUKIA
BOUZOUKIA
DIOECIOUS
ELAEOLITE
ELAIOSOME
EPIFAUNAE
EPIGAEOUS
EPINEURIA
EPOPOEIAS
EQUIPOISE
EQUIVOQUE
EUDEMONIA
IDEALOGUE
IDEOLOGUE
IMINOUREA
IONOPAUSE
ISEIKONIA
LAQUEARIA
LEUCAEMIA
LEUKAEMIA
MAIASAURA
MEIOFAUNA
NEOTEINIA
NIAISERIE
OCEANARIA
OENOMANIA
OLEACEOUS
OLIGAEMIA
OLOLIUQUI
RELIQUIAE
SEAQUARIA
ZOOGLOEAE

And with only one vowel.

CHRYSANTH
CHYMISTRY
CRYPTONYM
CYMBLINGS
DYSTHYMIC
DYSTROPHY
FLYSPECKS
GLYCERYLS
GLYCOSYLS
GYPSYDOMS
GYPSYISMS
GYPSYWORT
HYDRANTHS
HYDROXYLS
HYPERNYMS
HYPERNYMY
KLYSTRONS
LYNCHINGS
LYNCHPINS
MISTRYSTS
NAPHTHYLS
PHYLARCHS
PHYLARCHY
POLYPTYCH
POSTSYNCS
PROPHYLLS
PSYCHISMS
PSYCHISTS
PYGMYISMS
RHYTHMICS
RHYTHMIST
SCHMALTZY
SKYLIGHTS
SPRIGHTLY
STRENGTHS
STRONGYLS
STRYCHNIC
STYLISHLY
SYMPHYSES
SYMPHYSIS
SYMPHYTIC
SYMPLASTS
SYNCHRONY
SYNCHYSES
SYNCHYSIS
SYNDACTYL
SYNGRAPHS
SYNTHPOPS
TRIGLYPHS
TRIPTYCHS
TSKTSKING
TWELFTHLY

Of these, the only two without a Y are STRENGTHS and TSKTSKING

Martin

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:15 pm

Nice lists Martin.

If you download Countmax I believe you get a notepad document in the zip file where each word allowed on Countdown is listed alphabeticallly (all capital letters, one word per line).

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:19 pm

6 vowels and valid in the OED:

AUDITORIA
EQUIPOISE
IONOPAUSE
QUILEGIA
EQUIVOQUE
AUDACIOUS
MEIOFAUNA
AUDIOBOOK
BOOBOISIE
AUBRIETIA
DIOECIOUS
OLEACEOUS
LEUKAEMIA
OLIGAEMIA
RELIQUIAE
ARAUCARIE
BEAUTEOUS
IDEOLOGUE
AUTOROUTE
OCEANARIA
AUDIOTAPE

1 vowel, valid in the OED:

SCHMALTZY
TWELFTHLY
FLYSPECKS
CHRYSANTH
STRENGTHS
HYDROXYLS
SYMPHYSIS
CRYPTONYM
HYPERNYMS
SYNDACTYL
SYMPLASMS
DYSTROPHY
GYPSYWORT
DYSTHYMIC
POLYPTYCH
SPRIGHTLY / TRIGLYPHS
LYNCHPINS
SYMPLASTS
SYMPHYSES
SYMPHYLAN
SKYLIGHTS
KLYSTRONS STYLISHLY
SYNCHRONY

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:26 pm

How do you pronounce TSKTSKING?