Wednesday 18th May 2022 (Series 85, Preliminary 98)

[James Robinson]

Countdown recap for Wednesday 18 May 2022.

C1: Champion Ryan Carlsen (5 wins, 488 points.) An transaction reporter for an investment bank from Glasgow.
C2: Challenger Ed Freshwater. A mental health nurse from Birmingham, but originally from the Shetland Islands.
DC: Susie Dent and Nicki Chapman.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: O E O I L N T G S
R02: N M D U I R E A W
R03: 100, 5, 2, 1, 9, 3. Target: 476.
TTT: BITDENSE - "He's a bit dense, but he's very flexible."
R04: E A E U T B T G M
R05: S R J N E E O E T
R06: 50, 4, 5, 2, 8, 3. Target: 106.
R07: D B R N O A I U T
R08: M S P U I E R H G
R09: 6, 2, 10, 2, 4, 9. Target: 689.
TTT: TONINGUP - "It's not the best way of achieving something, but it's effective."
R10: C N S L U E I S P
R11: A E O G S L K I M
R12: F T D U A O C R A
R13: E E I H P D T O R
R14: 75, 7, 5, 9, 1, 6. Target: 998.
R15: C R U S H G E A R (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: O E O I L N T G S

Ryan: LOONIEST (8)
Ed: LONGEST (7)
DC: OILSTONE (8) NEOLOGIST (18)
Score: 8–0 (max 18)

Round 2: N M D U I R E A W

Ryan: UNARMED (7)
Ed: MINDER (6)
DC: MANURED (7) UNWARMED (8)
OT: MINDWARE (8) MUDARINE (8) MURAENID (8)
Score: 15–0 (max 26)

Round 3: 100, 5, 2, 1, 9, 3. Target: 476.

Ryan: 476. (5 x 100) - ((9 - 1) x 3) (10)
Ed: 476. (5 x 100) - ((9 x 3) - 2 - 1) (10)
Score: 25–10 (max 36)

Teatime teaser: BITDENSE -> BENDIEST

Round 4: E A E U T B T G M

Ryan: BAGUETTE (8)
Ed: MUTATE (6)
Score: 33–10 (max 44)

Round 5: S R J N E E O E T

Ryan: STONER (6)
Ed: JESTER (6)
DC: ENTREES (7) SERENE (6)
OT: RETENES (7) TEENERS (7)
Score: 39–16 (max 51)

Round 6: 50, 4, 5, 2, 8, 3. Target: 106.

Ryan: 106. (50 + 3) x 2 (10)
Ed: 106. (50 x 2) + 4 - 3 + 5 (10)
Score: 49–26 (max 61)

Nicki talks about the success of Escape To The Country.

Round 7: D B R N O A I U T

Ryan: INBOARD (7)
Ed: AROUND (6)
DC: UNITARD (7) DURATION (8)
OT: TURBINADO (18)
Score: 56–26 (max 79)

Round 8: M S P U I E R H G

Ryan: GRUMPS (6)
Ed: UMPIRES (7)
DC: MURPHIES (8) GRUMPISH (8)
Score: 56–33 (max 87)

Round 9: 6, 2, 10, 2, 4, 9. Target: 689.

Ryan: 684. Mistake in working.
Ed: 684. ((((9 + 2) x 6) + 2) x 10) + 4 (7)
RR: 690. (7)
OT: 688. ((10 x 9) - 4) x (6 + 2) (7)
Score: 56–40 (max 94)

Teatime teaser: TONINGUP -> GUNPOINT

Round 10: C N S L U E I S P

Ryan: UNCLES (6)
Ed: SPINES (6)
DC: SCULPINS (8) SPICULES (8)
OT: ESCULINS (8) INCLUSES (8) SPLENIUS (8)
Score: 62–46 (max 102)

Round 11: A E O G S L K I M

Ryan: GOALIES (7)
Ed: SLIME (5)
OT: ALOGISM (7) GLIOMAS (7) MALKIES (7)
Score: 69–46 (max 109)

Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "gravy" and "tweed".

Round 12: F T D U A O C R A

Ryan: FACTOR (6)
Ed: CARAT (5)
DC: AUTOCAR (7)
OT: AUTORAD (7)
Score: 75–46 (max 116)

Round 13: E E I H P D T O R

Ryan: PERIDOT (7)
Ed: TORPID (6)
DC: PRITHEE (7)
OT: PROTEIDE (8) TROPHIED (8)
Score: 82–46 (max 124)

Round 14: 75, 7, 5, 9, 1, 6. Target: 998.

Ryan: 997. ((6 + 7) x (75 + 1)) + 9 (7)
Ed: -
RR: 997/999. (7)
OT: 998. ((((75 / 5) x 7) + 6) x 9) - 1 (10)
Score: 89–46 (max 134)

Round 15: C R U S H G E A R

Ryan buzzes on 5.75 seconds to say SURCHARGE which is correct.
Final Score: 99–46 (max 144)

Statistics Corner

Ryan:
Total score - 99
Raw score - 105
Total % of max - 69
Raw % of max - 73
Total average score per round - 6.6
Raw average score per round - 7.0
Number of maxes - 5

Ed:
Total score - 46
Raw score - 87
Total % of max - 32
Raw % of max - 60
Total average score per round - 3.1
Raw average score per round - 5.8
Number of maxes - 3

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=85