Spoilers For Friday January 29th 2010

[James Robinson]

Well, Countdown has reached the end of the week and James is looking very assured as champion, despite that slight mini-dip mid-way through yesterday's show.

It would be quite impressive to have 2 octochamps with less than a month gone, wouldn't it

As always, Paul Zenon has been fantastic in DC. Those 2 tricks yesterday got me so pmsl. Having said that, how many people would've thought he is 45. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Zenon

I certainly didn't. Must be some kind of magic, either that or just the fact that he doesn't have that facial hair on him any more.

Still, can James stay on top form and reach 5 wins Stay tuned to find out.

P.S. Hope everyone going to COLIN tomorrow has a very good time.

[Marc Meakin]

Sorry James I seem to have duplicated this thread.

[Marc Meakin]

I thought GAZUNDER was another name for a piss pot.

[Kirk Bevins]

An hilarious trick to finish the week. Brilliant stuff.

[Marc Meakin]

LOVABLE was there.

[Peter Mabey]

Simpler first numbers: (9+2)x(9+5)

[Marc Meakin]

Great contest developing.

[Ray Folwell]

REFLEX for a DC equaller.
Can James recover from 5 non-scoring rounds ?

[Kirk Bevins]

LOVABLE was there.

No it wasn't. Only one L.

[Marc Meakin]

LOVABLE was there.

No it wasn't. Only one L.

My bad.

[Kirk Bevins]

Great game. Sad to see James go as he was a great champion. Well played Howard - you kept your nerve.

[Peter Mabey]

Third numbers:(50-7)x(6+3)

[Marc Meakin]

Great game, well done Howard.
Bad luck James,you seemed to lose it in the middle section there.

[Liam Tiernan]

I thought boatraces was there in rd 8. Invalid, though it's a nice scramble for ASCORBATE (tx Lexplorer)

[Matt Morrison]

I feel like James threw this one away a touch.

He was pretty solid on the numbers so I was surprised he missed 154, and then wasn't he 2nd to declare on the BLEND/BALOONED* round? Seems a bit unnecessary to go for an 8 which you're almost sure is spelt wrong when you've got a 16 point lead (even after losing 10 points on the 154 previously).

Think he'd prob be annoyed at missing FREELY in R7 and PUKING or KEYING in R13 too, the -LY and -ING suffixes seemed to stick out in a bunch of not-great letters.

That said, I did think Howard was going to re-throw it away again when he missed that final numbers.

Really good game from two quality players - particularly liked ENGINES and ACROBATS from Howard.

[Marc Meakin]

I thought boatraces was there in rd 8. Invalid, though it's a nice scramble for ASCORBATE (tx Lexplorer)

Yeah I found out that way too.
I wonder if anyone got it legitamately?

[Kirk Bevins]

I thought boatraces was there in rd 8. Invalid, though it's a nice scramble for ASCORBATE (tx Lexplorer)

Close!

[Ryan Taylor]

Really good game, enjoyed it from start to finish. Thought it was over as a contest when James picks out MEDIATES and NEMATODES early on, I imagined he would continue in this form - but no! Howard did excellent to comeback from that deficit early on when it would be so easy to think the game was over. The trick was great too as Scott said. Then the 387 declaration you think its game over and BAM Howard's used the 1 twice. Gripping stuff!

http://www.apterous.org/viewgame.php?ga ... 8#r2387048 pencil for GAZUNDERS yet I missed GAZUNDER today, hmph.

[Chris Davies]

I bloody love Paul Zenon.

[Joyce Phillips]

After a great nine, James let it go rather. A shame, because he was a great contestant, but that takes nothing away from Howard, who did really well.

[Gavin Chipper]

It was a good game, from the point of view of being exciting. But James played a bit of a shocker, with those five non-scoring rounds in a row! He was possibly a bit unlucky with the hard conundrum, but there's no guarantee it would have been him that got it. And although that first numbers wasn't massivley hard, I imagine he was expecting Rachel to pick one from the top and that might have thrown him. Never give the choice to Rachel unless you really don't care what you get! Didn't David Williams makes that mistake once?

[David Williams]

Never give the choice to Rachel unless you really don't care what you get! Didn't David Williams makes that mistake once?

If only.

[James Rawson]

So what's the etiquette on commenting on your own show?

I don't think I was at my best - I got complacent and made some shocking choices near the beginning, then when Howard took advantage I didn't have enough energy in reserve to stop the Lovelady war machine. But he played the better game and deserved to win.

Hope he does well this week, I'll be following him closely.

[Clive Brooker]

Hi James. Welcome to the forum and well played.

IMO commenting on your own games is good once your run is finished. Up to that I think you need to be careful - even posting to tell everyone your transmission date carries an implication that you didn't completely embarrass yourself - but now I'm sure we'd all like to know how it was for you.

Having said that, I disobeyed my own advice after my first show and probably bored most of the forum. But everyone "knew" I was going to get flattened the next day!

[Alec Rivers]

Welcome, James. I think I speak on behalf of a number of people here when I say I was rooting for you to go all the way, as you'd started your run with some impressive games. Pity it ended when it did. And hats off to you for conceding:

I got complacent and made some shocking choices near the beginning ...

After the good start you made, I also thought you were going to coast it. It's easy to get carried away, I suppose. But congrats on some good games, nonetheless.

[James Robinson]

James was definitely in with a good shout of octochampdom, he had the talent and ability to go far in this series, without a shadow of a doubt.

By the way, if you're reading this, James. I sent you a private message on Friday, and you still haven't read it yet.

If you're having trouble finding it, look up near the top of the page in the middle of the screen.

[Davy Affleck]

[quote="James Robinson"]
By the way, if you're reading this, James. I sent you a private message on Friday, and you still haven't read it yet.
quote]


Maybe the restraining order hasn't kicked in yet

[Howard Lovelady]

I have only discovered this website yesterday. What an absolute treasure trove of trivia on CD. Thank you for all kind comments about my success against James. Particular thanks to James for his kind words. Sorry that I was as rank on Monday 1 Feb as I was inspired on 29 January. What a buzz being on Countdown was.

[Andy Wilson]

Surprised no one spotted reflex just then.

[Andy Wilson]

Enjoyed seeing that again.