Hello and welcome to another recap, and with Christmas just around the corner.......this is no ordinary recap it is the grand final of Series 92. Over the past 6 months 126 contestants have graced the Countdown studios 7 of those became octo-champs in their own right and the oldest Countdown contestant ever was 96 years old. After witnessing 4 bruising quarter finals and 2 amazing semi-finals we are down to the last two. Will Brett Davids aka The Winking Goliath sink his teeth into the top seed Jase Cullen aka Jase and Status as they both brace themselves for Countdown glory. So let's get the party started enjoy your mulled wine and mince pies !
Which one of these amazing legends will walk away with the Richard Whiteley memorial trophy and the bragging rights of Series 92 ?
A few notable higlights from series 92 include
Brett Davids achieving a max game in his prelims
146 points is the highest score for series 92 that was recorded by the eventual series champion Jase Cullen
A record 26 contestants coming back for another go
Series 92 produced 7 octo-champs and two 900 club members which are our grand finalists
Donald Elsom was the oldest ever Countdown contestant on the show at the age of 96 years
One game that recorded a score under 30 points due to the change in the audition process, Countdown auditions are no longer phone auditions they are on zoom.
A huge thank you to all of the contestants that have particiapted in Series 92
C1: Champion Jase "Jase and Status " Cullen (10 wins, 1163 points.)
C2: Champion Brett "The Winking Goliath " Davids (10 wins, 1148 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Christopher Biggins .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: E I C W A O K L D
R02: S T R N E I O U G
R03: 75, 25, 50, 8, 1, 9. Target: 480.
TTT: HEROGIFTS - "Mum was a hero with Christmas gifts thanks to her early planning"
R04: M H T B I E I D N
R05: A U E O P R G S T
R06: 100, 3, 1, 10, 4, 8. Target: 967.
R07: A E I S M O N B R
R08: C D T R E A I L E
R09: 75, 25, 100, 5, 1, 1. Target: 228.
TTT: HITLEGEND - "As a panto legend, Biggins has done this to our moods for decades"
R10: P W L R I O A N E
R11: T Q R U I O A M E
R12: T S M J E O A C I
R13: A O E A T S G L P
R14: 50, 100, 25, 5, 4, 4. Target: 833.
R15: G U S T O F O I L (conundrum)
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Round 1: E I C W A O K L D
Jase: CLOAKED (7)
Brett: CLOAKED (7)
DC: WEDLOCK (7) WICKED (6)
OT: OILCAKE (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
A great start from our grand finalists Brett and Jase............as sevens seem to be the max in this opening round
Round 2: S T R N E I O U G
Jase: ROUTINES (8)
Brett: ROUTINES (8)
DC: STURGEON (8) ROUSTING (8)
OT: GENITORS (8) ROUTEING (8) SOIGNEUR (8) TRIGONES (8)
Score: 15–15 (max 15)
Eights all round not worth arguing over.........there were quite a few of them...........let's not argue about this.........and be nice to each other
Round 3: 75, 25, 50, 8, 1, 9. Target: 480.
C1: 480. (50 + 9 + 1) × 8 (10)
C2: 482.
Score: 25–15 (max 25)
Game changer the first lead could be the most important ! Could there be an early attack of nerves from our No 2 seed Brett as he misses this fairly easy numbers game
Teatime teaser: HEROGIFTS -> FORESIGHT
Round 4: M H T B I E I D N
Jase: MINTED (6)
Brett: HENBIT (6)
DC: BEHIND (6) BHINDI (6) MENDHI (6)
OT: HINTED (6) HITMEN (6) INDEBT (6) INDITE (6) MEHNDI (6) MIHIED (6)
Score: 31–21 (max 31)
Okay.......next please........let's jump ahead to the next round
Round 5: A U E O P R G S T
Jase: APTEROUS (8)
Brett: OUTRAGES (8)
OT: GROUPSET (8) PORTAGES (8) POTAGERS (8)
Score: 39–29 (max 39)
Nothing to see here as there is a few eights.........I like the eight Jase has Apterous.............if you want to come on Countdown like these guys have........Apterous is very helpful for practice and was created by the series 59 runner up Charlie Reams in 2008........if you have an Android phone there is an app designed by Series 63 champion Jack Hurst that is very helpful as well.
https://www.apterous.org/ Here is the link for Apterous If you want to join you get 30 trial games to start off with and you have the option to purchase a membership that is good value for money and renewable every year it is entirely your decision whether you choose to join apterous where you can play people that are well known in the Countdown community and people all over the world.
Round 6: 100, 3, 1, 10, 4, 8. Target: 967.
C1: 967. (100 − 3) × 10 − 4 + 1 (10)
C2: 967. (100 − 4) × 10 + 8 − 1 (10)
Score: 49–39 (max 49)
Nice and straightforward not too taxing.......this bags our grand finalists 10 points each
Round 7: A E I S M O N B R
Jase: ROMAINES (8)
Brett: MORAINES (8)
OT: BARONIES (8) ROMANISE (8)
Score: 57–47 (max 57)
More brilliance from our grand finalists........as eight seems to be the max in this round
Round 8: C D T R E A I L E
Jase: DERELICT (8)
Brett: RETAILED (8)
DC: DECALITRE (18)
Score: 65–55 (max 75)
Eights all round from our grand finalists,but there was a 9 that DC and our recap writer managed to spot..........this can only mean one thing that Jase's max game is off
Round 9: 75, 25, 100, 5, 1, 1. Target: 228.
C1: 227. 25 × 5 + 100 + 1 + 1 (7)
C2: 230.
RR: 228. (75 + 1) × (100 ÷ 25 − 1) (10)
Score: 72–55 (max 85)
A good numbers solve from Jase and 7 valuable points........but Ms Riley gets to shine and produce a perfect 10
Teatime teaser: HITLEGEND -> LIGHTENED
Round 10: P W L R I O A N E
Jase: OPALINE (7)
Brett: AILERON (7)
DC: PRALINE (7)
OT: ALIENOR (7) PINWALE (7) PLAINER (7) PROLINE (7)
Score: 79–62 (max 92)
Sevens all round.......I'm not gonna waste my time having a huge catfight over these.........so let's play nicely now
Round 11: T Q R U I O A M E
Jase: MURIATE (7)
Brett: EQUATOR (7)
DC: QUORATE (7)
Score: 86–69 (max 99)
More of the same...........let's move on shall we ?
Round 12: T S M J E O A C I
Jase: MAJESTIC (8)
Brett: ATOMISE (7)
Score: 94–69 (max 107)
Our top seed Jase is looking rather Majestic in this round as he spots the only available eight...........25 points separates them both.....but is there still hope for Brett to make one final push ?
Round 13: A O E A T S G L P
Jase: APOSTLE (7)
Brett: LEGATOS (7)
DC: GELATOS (7)
OT: PALATES (7) PELOTAS (7) POSTAGE (7) POTAGES (7)
Score: 101–76 (max 114)
Sadly not it is game over for Brett he is crowned as the series 92 runner up, Jase is crowned the series 92 champion
There were quite a few 7s to be had...........no extra points for spotting most of those
Round 14: 50, 100, 25, 5, 4, 4. Target: 833.
C1: 835. (4 + 4) × 100 + 25 + 50 ÷ 5 (7)
C2: 830.
RR: 832. (7)
Score: 108–76 (max 121)
Not easiest of 3Ls Rachel says that 1 away is as good as it gets.......Jase does well to get 2 away and 7 useful points
Round 15: G U S T O F O I L
C1 buzzes on 2.75 seconds to say UFOLOGIST which is correct.
Final Score: 118–76 (max 131)
What an amazing grand final this has been and a cracking conundrum solve from our newly crowned series champion. Firstly congratulations to Jase on becoming the 92nd series champion and the latest recipient of the Richard Whiteley memorial trophy he will also recieve a state of the art Mac-Book computer. Secondly commiserations to Brett he gave as good as he got but Jase gradually got the better of him, he can be proud of what he has achieved getting a max game in the prelims is amazing, getting to the grand final is huge acheivement in it's self Brett won't be going away empty handed he will recieve a tablet as his runners up prize. Hopefully these guys may compete in an future COC who knows ? The 93rd series of Countdown will be back on the 5th January which is my birthday ! Countdown would not be possible without Rachel Susie and Colin hosting. But let's give a special mention to Damian Eadie the beating heart of Countdown who wasn't there to oversee the grand final as producer as he was Ill for some time as mentioned by Colin.......on behalf of all of the Countdown community let's all wish Damian a speedy recovery and hopefully he will be back for Series 93...........and taking the piss out of me ! I will be taking a well earned break hopefully catching up with a few recaps........and getting those up to speed.
Merry Christmas to everybody in the Countdown Community
Peace and Love to you all xxxx
