Wednesday 19th March 2025 ( Series 91 Preliminary 53 )

[Tracey Anne Mills]

Hello and welcome to another action packed recap !

C1: Champion Matt Fife (1 win, 77 points.)
C2: Challenger Stephen Ashley.
DC: Susie Dent and Katharine Merry.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: B L I O G T N L A
R02: N V D T E A I E R
R03: 75, 100, 50, 2, 7, 3, . Target: 357.
TTT: SLICECUT - "Hands down, the 10-point Scrabble letter amuses me"
R04: F S N G O E A H I
R05: N Y T J E A I C E
R06: 50, 1, 9, 6, 1, 8, . Target: 865.
R07: N D G U A E T S A
R08: R C L P O E U O I
R09: 75, 25, 100, 10, 2, 6. Target: 601.
TTT: ASKASUMO - "When it comes to food, "Greece" is the word"
R10: R S W T E O U P S
R11: M T H I E I T L E
R12: R N D R O E U T O
R13: U S N M O I R E S
R14: 100, 9, 1, 3, 8, 10. Target: 370.
R15: G I A N T T U N E (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: B L I O G T N L A

Matt: BALLOTING (18)
Stephen: BALLOTING (18)
Score: 18–18 (max 18)

Round 2: N V D T E A I E R

Matt: INVERTED (8)
Stephen: INVERTED (8)
DC: INVERTED (8) RETAINED (8) DERIVATE (8)
OT: DETAINER (8) EVIRATED (8) REINVADE (8)
Score: 26–26 (max 26)

Round 3: 75, 100, 50, 2, 7, 3. Target: 357.

C1: 357. 3 × 100 + 50 + 7 (10)
C2: 357. 3 × 100 + 50 + 7 (10)
Score: 36–36 (max 36)

Teatime teaser: SLICECUT -> CUTICLES

Round 4: F S N G O E A H I

Matt: SHEAFING (8)
Stephen: HOAGIES (7)
Score: 44–36 (max 44)

Round 5: N Y T J E A I C E

Matt: INJECT (6)
Stephen: NICETY (6)
DC: ENTICE (6)
OT: CYANITE (7)
Score: 50–42 (max 51)

Round 6: 50, 1, 9, 6, 1, 8. Target: 865.

C1: 866. (9 + 8) × (50 + 1) − 1 (7)
C2: 866. (9 + 8) × (50 + 1) − 1 (7)
Score: 57–49 (max 58)

Round 7: N D G U A E T S A

Matt: unstaged
Stephen: unstaged
DC: GATEAUS (7)
OT: AGENDAS (7) AGNATES (7) AUGENDS (7) DANGEST (7)
Score: 57–49 (max 65)

Round 8: R C L P O E U O I

Matt: POLICER (7)
Stephen: POLICER (7)
DC: COUPLER (7) LOOPIER (7)
OT: COULOIR (7)
Score: 64–56 (max 72)

Round 9: 75, 25, 100, 10, 2, 6. Target: 601.

C1: 601. 6 × 100 + 75 ÷ 25 − 2 (10)
C2: 601. 6 × 100 + 75 ÷ 25 − 2 (10)
Score: 74–66 (max 82)

Teatime teaser: ASKASUMO -> MOUSSAKA

Round 10: R S W T E O U P S

Matt: outpress
Stephen: POSTURES (8)
DC: SPOUTERS (8)
Score: 74–74 (max 90)

Round 11: M T H I E I T L E

Matt: METTLE (6)
Stephen: HELMET (6)
DC: HELMET (6)
OT: MIELIE (6)
Score: 80–80 (max 96)

Round 12: R N D R O E U T O

Matt: UNROOTED (8)
Stephen: tournedo
DC: UNROOTED (8)
Score: 88–80 (max 104)

Round 13: U S N M O I R E S

Matt: SERMONS (7)
Stephen: SERMONS (7)
DC: SERMONS (7)
OT: SENSORIUM (18)
Score: 95–87 (max 122)

Round 14: 100, 9, 1, 3, 8, 10. Target: 370.

C1: 370. 3 × 100 + (8 − 1) × 10 (10)
C2: 370. 3 × 100 + (8 − 1) × 10 (10)
Score: 105–97 (max 132)

Round 15: G I A N T T U N E

C1 buzzes on 13.5 seconds to say TAUTENING which is correct.
Final Score: 115–97 (max 142)