c4countdown

It's possibly coronation day for Matthew Tassier as he looks to confirm his octochamp status. He needs to score 122 to leapfrog John Hardie in the seedings to move up to Number 4 in the Series 73 table.

Will Matthew become an octochamp?
Will he fall at the last to join the plethora of 7 times winners?
Will the letters be kind to see him leapfrog Not only John, but also No 3 seed Stephen Briggs with a record score to boot?

Find out with James Robinson later...

TRAITOR as a beater in the QINTAR round.

Alt 2nd nos (100+10-6)x9+7/7 and (100-7)x10+7

LOGIES as an alternative to GOSPEL.

15 away seems to be best for third numbers (crosswordtools.com made 450).

How on earth did Matt miss IMPARTED? it was practically spelt out in the selection!

R14 (75 + 4*4)*8 + 6/2

Many congrats on becoming an octochamp, Matthew. Good set of games there.

Jojo Apollo wrote:Many congrats on becoming an octochamp, Matthew. Good set of games there.

Cheers Jojo, chuffed to get the 8 wins.
When watching it back I was sure I was going to spot IMPARTED. hey-ho.

Congratulations Matthew. In a way it was a bit surprising to hear you were number 5 seed. Obviously a high standard of octochamp, as well as a few that could have become octochamp but didn't (e.g. Liam Moloney and James Rowan), so a high standard series!

Well done on your 8 wins Matthew
,you were well below your usual level today, mental fatigue?

Steven M. McCann wrote:How on earth did Matt miss IMPARTED? it was practically spelt out in the selection!

I've noticed this sort of thing from top players on several occasions. I guess it's because many of them write the letters down in a circular formation, and therefore might miss something that looks obvious to someone who just looks at the selection as it appears on screen.

Very well done, Matthew! Great set of games and well-deserved octochampdom. Unlucky to narrowly miss out on the 800 club as well, as I think your tactical play cost you a considerably higher total.

Thanks Gev/Steven/Jack.
I think a couple of the misses today were more down to the pressure of wanting to be an octochamp than mental fatigue. I was lucky to get away to a good early lead in 3 of the 5 filmed that day. Also I didn't use the circular formation, so no excuses there!
As to being 5th seed, as Jack suggests I didn't really go all out to maximise my score with my picks. Although given how far ahead of me on points the other octochamps were it probably wouldn't have made much difference if I had! If only seeding was done by fewest points conceded instead ...

Well done Matthew on becoming octochamp.

Cheers Martin, hope you've enjoyed the 6s action.

Congratulations Matthew, very well deserved. The other contestant seemed the loveliest man. Gweilos was the 7 in the gospel round.

Congratulations Matthew well deserved Octochampdom !!!

Thanks all. Jim was indeed lovely, and actually all 8 of my opponents were, particularly those who ended up in the Holiday Inn bar with me until past 3am. I tried not to take the whole thing too seriously and had a lot of fun during these two visits to Salford. Thoroughly recommended for anyone who has not been brave enough to go on the show yet.

Matthew Tassier wrote:Cheers Martin, hope you've enjoyed the 6s action.

I did indeed. They were some very challenging numbers rounds in your run, I hope for more of these come the quarter finals!

Are all your travel and accommodation expenses paid for by channel 4/Countdown?

Martin Long wrote:

Matthew Tassier wrote:Cheers Martin, hope you've enjoyed the 6s action.

I did indeed. They were some very challenging numbers rounds in your run, I hope for more of these come the quarter finals!

Are all your travel and accommodation expenses paid for by channel 4/Countdown?

Rest assured I am likely to be sticking with 6s come the qfs. There were some tricky rounds, particularly under studio pressure! Travel expenses and accommodation at the Holiday Inn Express (walking distance from the studios) are indeed paid for, and I can thoroughly recommend applying.