Monday 8th September 2014 (series 71, prelim 42)

[Andy McGurn]

Countdown recap for Monday 8 September 2014.

C1: Champion Paul Bradley (1 win. 68 points) Paul made his debut on Friday, beating Szelong Ng. He is our Newcastle united fan from North Shields.

C2: Challenger Jamie Ilet-Jones. A recent graduate of theatre, film and television at Bristol university, now looking for jobs. Nick says there may be a job for him on the show. Jamie seems really happy to be there. He is apparently an apterite but not one who uses his real name.


DC: Susie Dent and Janet Street-Porter.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: R A N T I S E M L
R02: R I F A S U R S E
R03: 4, 4, 6, 9, 1, 100. Target: 984.
TTT: COMATUFT - "when it comes to work hes the Jack of all trades"
R04: G O Y E P O S N A
R05: T U L W O L E B T
R06: 3, 5, 7, 9, 8, 75. Target: 919.
R07: S A N D U P O Q E
R08: D I M E L A R N E
R09: 2, 3, 9, 10, 3, 50. Target: 166.
TTT: RAYVOTES - "Ray votes to remain in the country longer than his visa allows"
R10: C I N O G E R D W
R11: L I V O N D A R O
R12: T E G A S I D R C
R13: E I S F T E O Z T
R14: 2, 7, 4, 6, 10, 25. Target: 140.
R15: T R E E O M I L K (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: R A N T I S E M L

Paul: MANTLES (7)
Jamie: TRAMLINES (18)
DC: TERMINALS (18)
Score: 0–18 (max 18)

Jamie begins his time on countdown in the best possible way with a nine in his first round. Paul declared a “safe seven” so he may have had something longer.



Round 2: R I F A S U R S E

Paul: FUSSIER (7)
Jamie: FUSSIER (7)
DC: SURFERS (7) FISSURE (7)
OT: ARRISES (7) ASSURER (7) FRAISES (7) RAISERS (7) SAURIES (7) SIERRAS (7) SURFIES (7)
Score: 7–25 (max 25)

An easy spot for both players with FUSSIER, just one of ten max words available here.
A SAURY (plural SAURIES) is a fish of the family Scomberesocidae



Round 3: 4, 4, 6, 9, 1, 100. Target: 984.

Paul: 986.
Jamie: 984. ((9+1)*100)-(4*4) (10)
Score: 7–35 (max 35)

Spot on for Jamie as Paul misses a pretty simple solve. It may be that that nine in round one has already made him feel the pressure.



Teatime teaser: COMATUFT -> FACTOTUM

Round 4: G O Y E P O S N A

Paul: GOOSE (5)
Jamie: SPONGEY (7)
DC: NOSEGAY (7)
Score: 7–42 (max 42)

Jamie’s not showing any sign of nerves as he beats the champ for the third time in four rounds. He looks to be a certain winner after just four rounds.



Round 5: T U L W O L E B T

Paul: BULLET (6)
Jamie: BULLET (6)
DC: BOTTLE (6) BELLOW (6) OWLET (5)
OT: BOULLE (6) BUTTLE (6) LOBULE (6) OUTLET (6)
Score: 13–48 (max 48)

This flat round enables the champ to get more points on the board though the gap remains the same as Jamie is still on for a max game.




Round 6: 3, 5, 7, 9, 8, 75. Target: 919.

Paul: 920. ((9+3)*75)+7+5+8 (7)
Jamie: 920. ((7+5)*75)+8+9+3 (7)
RR: 919. (75+9)*(8+3)-5 (10)
Score: 20–55 (max 58)


One of those numbers rounds where getting one away is simple but getting it spot on requires more expertise. Rachael certainly has the latter as she’s needed to provide the answer here.


Round 7: S A N D U P O Q E

Paul: QUADS (5)
Jamie: POUNDS (6)
DC: DAPSONE (7)
OT: OPAQUES (7) UNPOSED (7)
Score: 20–61 (max 65)

Well, Paul has got a teapot and I’m sure it will sit proudly on his mantle piece.




Round 8: D I M E L A R N E

Paul: EMAILER (7)
Jamie: ALDERMEN (8)
DC: REMAINED (8) REMEDIAL (8)
OT: MADRILENE (18)
Score: 20–69 (max 83)

An excellent spot by Jamie. He says it as if he is not sure but its hard to believe he wasn’t sure of it given that the simpler REMAINED was also there.
No one spots the awesome nine in the mix
MADRILENE is a type of tomato soup.


Round 9: 2, 3, 9, 10, 3, 50. Target: 166.

Paul: 166. (50*3)+(9-3)+10 (10)
Jamie: 166. ((50*3)+10)+(3*2) (10)
Score: 30–79 (max 93)

A simple numbers game means 10 more points for both contestants.


Teatime teaser: RAYVOTES -> OVERSTAY

Round 10: C I N O G E R D W

Paul: REDOING (7)
Jamie: RECODING (8)
DC: CRINGED (7) CROWDING (8)
OT: COWERING (8) DOWERING (8)
Score: 30–87 (max 101)

Paul has spotted some nice words today, but Jamie continues to prove himself better in all areas of the game. This is the case here as Paul’s nice seven is again eclipsed by Jamie’s max



Round 11: L I V O N D A R O

Paul: VIOLA (5)
Jamie: DOORNAIL (8)
DC: VINDALOO (8)
Score: 30–95 (max 109)

Another great spot by Jamie. DC get VINDALOO however, which in my mind is a much tastier word.

Also, this round seals Jamie’s victory and while there have been frequent instances of the game being won with four rounds still to play, its quite rare that a debutant beats the reigning champion in this way (well done Jamie).


Round 12: T E G A S I D R C

Paul: ASTRIDE (7)
Jamie: AGRESTIC (8)
DC: DIRECTS (7) SIDECAR (7)
OT: DISGRACE (8)
Score: 30–103 (max 117)

And again….

I think even if we didn’t already know that Jamie played on apterous under a pseudonym we would all be able to tell from his performance. AGRESTIC being a perfect example.



Round 13: E I S F T E O Z T

Paul: FOIST (5)
Jamie: SOFTIE (6)
Score: 30–109 (max 123)

A Darren from Jamie who is not letting up at all despite having already sealed the win.



Round 14: 2, 7, 4, 6, 10, 25. Target: 140.

Paul: 140. (25*6)-10 (10)
Jamie: 140. 7*2*10 (10)
Score: 40–119 (max 133)

A final easy numbers game enables Paul to get more points on the board and Jamie to increase his score to a very impressive total for a debutant. Can he increase by another 10 by getting the conundrum?


Round 15: T R E E O M I L K

Jamie buzzes on 11 seconds to say KILOMETRE which is correct.
Final Score: 40–129 (max 143)


And the answer is yes as Jamie finishes the game off in fine style with a quality conundrum solve. I make that a 12 max game on his debut which is a very impressive start.

That was certainly the best debut performance of the series and one you’d expect Jamie to build on. If I’ve got this right he would play Paul Worsley in his eighth game should he get there, which would surely be a great game, but he’s got a long way to go to get there so lets just see how he does.

Callum Todd will be here tomorrow to recap the second stage of Jamie’s quest to become an octochamp.


Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=71

[James Robinson]

C2: Challenger Jamie Ilet-Jones.

Just for clarity, it's Jamie ILLET-JONES.

[Johnny Canuck]

C2: Challenger Jamie Ilet-Jones.

Just for clarity, it's Jamie ILLET-JONES.

Actually, the wiki says ILETT-JONES.

[James Robinson]

C2: Challenger Jamie Ilet-Jones.

Just for clarity, it's Jamie ILLET-JONES.

Actually, the wiki says ILETT-JONES.

That's what I meant to say.