Tuesday, May 20th (Series 58: Game 96)

[David O'Donnell]

Countdown recap for Tuesday 20th May 2008.

C1: Champion Carl Dundas (1 win, 85 points.)
C2: Challenger Nick Horton or it could be Norton - I should really pay attention at the start.
DC: Susie Dent and Richard Digance.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: P Y N O I J S A G
R02: M T E I R B E L R
R03: O E E G G S A I M
R04: L T N U E A R C P
R05: 100, 75, 50, 25, 10, 8. Target: 751.
TTT: DAFTHOME - "Worked it out under the sea."
R06: T V I O I S Z R O
R07: E I A T N L D A S
R08: R D S E I E O R N
R09: E O R F D O N T U
R10: 10, 2, 3, 4, 5, 25. Target: 639.
TTT: ICEGALES - "They are left behind but never forgotten."
R11: K S H M I E A X L
R12: E A S R T W I I N
R13: E A P D T N O S M
R14: 25, 3, 5, 7, 9, 1. Target: 953.
R15: S H O R E H O S E (conundrum)


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Mr Dundas, who is no relation to Dundas Keating because Dundas is his surname whilst it's Dundas Keating's first name and that's not how familial relationships work, has joined us from beyond the grave. I am not sure whether Damian read the uproar that erupted (?!) on the message board spewing vitriolic lava upon all of us as we joined behind Corby, 'the glorious leader', in saying "down with this type of thing." I am also not sure if this prompted him to give Carl another bite of the whip, crack of the cherry, hair of the dog? - Don't mind if I do. I suspect that Damian, whilst sifting in between an interminable number of posts regarding which countdowner really is the greatest lover (it's soooo me and I'm crap which doesn't say a helluva lot about the rest of you), did agree that a valid point was being made. Does this not show what power we forumites wield? Now, let us use it: we all know there is one person who has been dying for another bite of the whip, or crack of the cherry (you did this-Ed.) and can we all now speak as one and get him on the show. C'mon Damian et al give Amey just one more chance; third time's a charm Okay enough of this, let us see if Carl can advance upon what was described as an "inconsistent" second debut (can you have a second debut?).

Round 1: P Y N O I J S A G
C1: SOAPING (7)
C2: agonise^
DC: SPAYING (7)
OT: That's all the sevens they saw and that's all there is folks!
Score: 7–0 (max 7)

Round 2: M T E I R B E L R
C1: TREMBLE (7)
C2: METIER (6)
DC: TREMBLER (8) - Richard Digance tells the contestant he is going to kick himself.
OT: You are going to kick yourself, Richard - TREMBLIER (18)
Score: 14–0 (max 25)

Round 3: O E E G G S A I M
C1: MOGGIES (7)
C2: GAMES (5)
DC: oggies^
OT: MAGGIES (7) (Michael Wallace)
Score: 21–0 (max 32)

Round 4: L T N U E A R C P
C1: CENTAUR (7)
C2: PUNTER (6)
DC: CAPTURE (7) NEUTRAL (7)
OT: DC miss another nine, CRAPULENT (18)
Score: 28–0 (max 50)

Round 5: 100, 75, 50, 25, 10, 8. Target: 751.
C1: 750.10*75 (7)
C2: 750.8*100-50 (7)
CV: 750. 10*75 (And an absolutely fantastic shot of Des looking completely shell-shocked) (7)
OT: 751. (100+50/25)*8-75+10 (10)
Score: 35–7 (max 60)

Teatime teaser: DAFTHOME -> FATHOMED

Round 6: T V I O I S Z R O
C1: TRIOS (5)
C2: VISITOR (7)
DC: VIZORS (6)
OT: Only one 7 and one 6.
Score: 35–14 (max 67)

Round 7: E I A T N L D A S
C1: DETAINS (7)
C2: salinated
DC: LANDTIES (8)
OT: DEINSTAL (8)
Score: 42–14 (max 75)

Round 8: R D S E I E O R N
C1: resider
C2: derides
DC: ENDORSER (8)
OT: INDORSER (8) is fine too.
Score: 42–14 (max 83)

Round 9: E O R F D O N T U
C1: FRONTED (7)
C2: UNDERFOOT (18)
Score: 42–32 (max 101)

Round 10: 10, 2, 3, 4, 5, 25. Target: 639.
C1: 639.Same Method. (10)
C2: 639.(2+3)*5*25+10+4 (10)
Score: 52–42 (max 111)

Teatime teaser: ICEGALES -> LEGACIES

Round 11: K S H M I E A X L
C1: LEASH (5)
C2: MASHIE (6)
OT: Quite a few sixes but I suspect I ought to mention ALKIES. (6)
Score: 52–48 (max 117)

Round 12: E A S R T W I I N
C1: WINTERS (7)
C2: WINTERS (7)
DC: RAINIEST (8) (Des)
OT: WISTERIA (8) (John Brackstone)
Score: 59–55 (max 125)

Round 13: E A P D T N O S M
C1: STAMPED (7)
C2: ADOPTS (6)
DC: NOTEPADS (8)
OT: TONEPADS (8) TAMPONED (8) as I missed in another heat game
Score: 66–55 (max 133)

Round 14: 25, 3, 5, 7, 9, 1. Target: 953.
C1: 953.Same Method. (10)
C2: 953.(9*5-7)*25+3 (10)
Score: 76–65 (max 143)

Round 15: S H O R E H O S E
C1 buzzes on 0.5 seconds to say which that he's fluffed it which is incorrect.
C2 buzzes on 19 seconds to say HORSESHOES which is incorrect .
The answer was HORSESHOE.
Score: 76–65 (max 153)


Quite a few talking points today. Firstly, there was a very high maximum available which will probably end up on Soo's stat page as one of the highest available maxes of all time. The other talking point is that neither DC nor the forumites, who were online, seemed to spot them either. That's really strange as I spotted them in a split second after I keyed the letters into Countmax . The challenger was hampered by nerves, I thought, today. This generated quite a few mistakes even though, as his fabulous niner spot showed, he did have the ability. But mistakes are costly, and misdeclarations just hand the points to your opponent. The challenger's game was summed up by his offer of HORSESHOES for the conundrum - I bet if he was playing at home he wouldn't have any such difficulty. It's a lot easier at home and I think I am probably the first person to make this point. Another point of contention is the growing suspicion that Carl is 'doing a Jeffrey', that is, instantaneously buzzing in the conundrum round hoping to unscramble it in the milliseconds before he is prompted for an answer. I say, "kudos" but it's a high risk approach and you could see that Carl had worked out the conundrum a few seconds later and had to wait dejectedly for his opponent to solve it. Also, I suspect the production crew will have had their suspicion aroused and will be prompting Des to harangue Carl immediately upon his buzzing in.

Okay, I won't be here next week as I will be in Leeds suffering a humiliating QF defeat where upon falling behind by 100 points I begin weeping and telling Des that I don't want to play anymore. So, in my stead, will someone mind doing next week's recap?

Further summaries are at:
http://www.thecountdowncorral.com/cd/se ... ?series=58

[Joseph Bolas]

Round 13: E A P D T N O S M
C1: STAMPED (7)
C2: ADOPTS (6)
DC: NOTEPADS (8)
OT: TONEPADS (8) TAMPONED (8) as I missed in another heat game
Score: 66–55 (max 133)

I didn't realise they said NOTEPADS . All I remember was Richard going on about Valentines Day .

[JasonCullen]

I would do it David but I'm occupied too on that day Ironically, today's conundrum HORSESHOE was the first EVER conundrum I got correct when I was about 7 years old. The only difference being I got it in 1.5 seconds today as opposed to around 10 seconds 8 - 9 years ago

[Dinos Sfyris]

I would also offer to do it but I have an exam that day. But my last one is June 6th and then I'll probably be able to fill in if someone fancies a rest.

Good luck in the finals David And remember if you miss any maxes whatsoever the whole forum will rip you to pieces like a pack of rabid dogs but I'm sure you'll do fine

[Howard Somerset]

I'd offer too David, but I'll be in Eurodisney, helping to celebrate my daughters' birthday (and for the pedants - of which I count myself as one - the punctuation is correct).

And it was Horton, btw.

[Jon Corby]

I'll do Tuesday's recap if you like

Good luck in the finals matey, but I don't think you'll be needing it.

Is there a current seeding list anywhere?

Cool Howard, have a great time I'll be there the week after next for my son's birthday, so I'll need cover then actually. Maybe Dave can return the favour

Don't like Carl's conundrum buzzing either PAULINE HUGGINS' CHEATING rankled me greatly last year because I quite liked Carl and felt bad for him, but I'm beginning to lose this fondness now. Am I being taught a "be careful what you wish for" lesson? Or is Carl just a victim too? Has he just felt he needed to adapt, having faced a cheat? It's like all those honest salt-of-the-earth English footballers, playing a man's game, suddenly confronted by all the diving fancy-dans from the continent - they've had to adopt these evil tactics too just to try and keep on a level playing field? Is that what has happened to Carl? I don't know. But I don't like it.

This is Jon Corby, saying "be good to yourself, and each other."

Goodnight.

[David O'Donnell]

Cheers, Jon.

[JimBentley]

Is there a current seeding list anywhere?

I make it as follows:

1. David O'Donnell (8 wins, 880 points)
2. Michael MacDonald-Cooper (8 wins, 780 points)
3. Tim Reypert (8 wins, 773 points)
4. Barry Smith (7 wins, 648 points)
5. Richard Priest (6 wins, 697 points)
6. Peter Davies (6 wins, 642 points)
7. Ben Hanks (6 wins, 580 points)
8. Jason Cullen (4 wins, 421 points)

I might have some of the points totals slightly wrong (sometimes I forget to add on points for conundrums) but I think it's right.

[Jon Corby]

Cool, cheers Jim

[Howard Somerset]

Seeding list is correct Jim. Well, it agrees with my list.

[Benji Hanks]

Oddly, I believe I may be busy next wednesday as well... and i'm not talking about the 9am exam I have...

[Howard Somerset]

I'm not sure that INDORSER is valid in round 8, in spite of it being shown by CountMax. ...ER words must be specifically listed in the dictionary to be allowed.

Under the ENDORSE heading, although INDORSE is given as a US & Law variant, there is no mention of INDORSER alongside the derivative ENDORSER.

Under the INDORSE heading, there is no INDORSER derivative listed.


And the very best of luck to everyone who just happens to be busy next week.

[Jon Corby]

Under the INDORSE heading, there is no INDORSER derivative listed.

I don't believe it needs to be, provided that INDORSE is given as an alternate spelling to the main entry, any derivatives take the form too. I don't have any specifically examples to hand, but there must be a raft of -iser words which have been deemed valid where -ise is given as the alternative spelling and only -izer is specified. If that makes sense.

[Damian E]

I don't believe it needs to be, provided that INDORSE is given as an alternate spelling to the main entry, any derivatives take the form too.

Yep - that's correct Jon. Another example is REALIZER / ISER.

INDORSER would be allowed if offered.

[Howard Somerset]

Thanks for clarifying.

[Howard Somerset]

Nobody seems to have volunteered to do the recap that David will miss, so I'm happy to do it now that I'm back. It'll have to wait until Friday, though, so if anyone else can do it in the meantime, then please go ahead.

[Jon Corby]

From further up:

I'll do Tuesday's recap if you like

You can do it if you like though Howard, seeing as I'm already doing Thursday's

[Howard Somerset]

You can do it if you like though Howard, seeing as I'm already doing Thursday's

I'm quite happy for you to do yesterday's as well, Jon. Especially as I wouldn't be able to do it until Friday.

Sorry I missed that bit of your post. I'd certainly seen the rest of it.

[Jon Corby]

No really Howard, it's all yours

One recap per week is quite enough, what with all the international football,The Apprentice and Britain's Got Talent and stuff. It's just too much for me to cope with.