Monday 14th June 2010 (Series 62 QF3)

[Ryan Taylor]

Countdown recap for Monday 14 June 2010.

C1: Lee Graham (6 wins, 627 points.)
C2: Dave Wilkinson (7 wins, 618 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Paul Zenon.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: T S W E A I T N R
R02: C L E I X F U G R
R03: A E O B C D Q T R
R04: Y H E I L D N E S
R05: 25, 4, 5, 9, 5, 1. Target: 573.
TTT: ICONDICE - "Sebastian went indoors at the same time"
R06: G Z M A E R S I R
R07: S M O E U T D R G
R08: N S O I R P D E M
R09: S P N O E S L I D
R10: 50, 3, 6, 2, 3, 8. Target: 239.
TTT: CHIPLARD - "You might give this fish to the builder's cat"
R11: N T L T E O U A W
R12: R J V O I I B E A
R13: N T L U A E K T A
R14: 10, 3, 1, 7, 4, 8. Target: 420.
R15: R E A D S L I P S (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Lee Graham burst onto the Countdown scene by narrowly beating fellow finalist Nicki Sellars and if Lee wins today he will play her again in the semi final. This would make a great semi final as both Nicki and Lee are possibly the 2 most likable and easy to watch contestants of series 62.

Dave Wilkinson started his run of 7 wins in the best style posible. He beat Kevin Davis on a crucial conundrum so is my favourite finalist of series 62. Despite Dave's 7 wins versus Lee's 6 this match could not be tighter and it wouldn't be surprising to see this one settled on a crucial.

This quarter final is gonna be good.

Enjoy the show.

Round 1: T S W E A I T N R

C1: swattier
C2: NATTERS (7)
DC: TAWNIEST (8)
OT: NITRATES (8) STRAITEN (8) WARTIEST (8) WRENTITS (8)
Score: 0–7 (max 8)

A confident 8 declaration from Lee would make it seem like he will take the 8 points in this first round as Dave could only offer 7. However, when SWATTIER turned out to be invalid it was Lee who was sat on 0 after one round. The word SWOTTIER is valid (to be more of a swot).

Round 2: C L E I X F U G R

C1: UGLIER (6)
C2: fluxer
DC: LUCIFER (7)
Score: 6–7 (max 15)

Probably nerves I reckon as it's Dave's turn to offer a dodgy word. REFLUX would have been valid but Lee is happy to scoop up 6 points. Good darren from DC.

Round 3: A E O B C D Q T R

C1: BRACED (6)
C2: COATED (6)
DC: BROCADE (7) REDCOAT (7)
OT: ABORTED (7) CORDATE (7)
Score: 12–13 (max 22)

This quarter final has yet to kick into action really as the 3rd and 6th seeds miss some typical Countdown 7's.

Round 4: Y H E I L D N E S

C1: enshield
C2: YIELDS (6)
DC: ENSILED (7)
OT: DYELINES (8)
Score: 12–19 (max 30)

Another risky 8 from Lee sees Dave extend his lead to 7 points. Lee is feeling the need to go for things in this game and I fear it will backfire on him. Cool darren available there btw.

Round 5: 25, 4, 5, 9, 5, 1. Target: 573.

C1: -
C2: -
OT: 574. ((4+5+9+5)*25) - 1
Score: 12–19 (max 37)

Rachel got "2 away" and apparently the target is impossible to get.

DC Guest Time: Paul Zenon, always a delight when he is on, entertains us with some magic trick. This one involves a story with a deck of cards. Nothing outstanding by his standard but still good nonetheless.

Teatime teaser: ICONDICE -> COINCIDE

Round 6: G Z M A E R S I R

C1: MARRIES (7)
C2: MIRAGES (7)
DC: GRAZERS (7) GRAZIERS (8)
OT: ARMIGERS (8)
Score: 19–26 (max 45)

Jump out sevens boost both scores.

Round 7: S M O E U T D R G

C1: GROUTED (7)
C2: TRUDGES (7)
DC: GOURMETS (8)
Score: 26–33 (max 53)

Same again. This quarter final has still not sparked.

Round 8: N S O I R P D E M

C1: PROMISED (8)
C2: PRISONED (8)
Score: 34–41 (max 61)

This is more like it. 2 available 8's and they pick both of them. Good play.

Round 9: S P N O E S L I D

C1: DISPOSE (7)
C2: OPINED (6)
DC: SPINDLES (8) DOPINESS (8) EPSILONS (8)
OT: DESPOILS (8)
Score: 41–41 (max 69)

That 7 point lead of Dave's is slashed as he can only find a 6 amongst that very appealing set of letters. Lee manages one better but I am feeling slightly let down, perhaps I am expecting too much.

Origin of Words: Susie describes the roots of the word CORNY when used in reference to jokes being CORNY.

Round 10: 50, 3, 6, 2, 3, 8. Target: 239.

C1: 239. (3+2)*50-8-3 (10)
C2: 239. (3+2)*50-8-3 (10)
Score: 51–51 (max 79)

A good numbers game form both of them sees them pass the half a century mark level pegging.

Teatime teaser: CHIPLARD -> PILCHARD

Round 11: N T L T E O U A W

C1: OUTWENT (7)
C2: TALENT (6)
DC: TOWNLET (7)
Score: 58–51 (max 86)

More of this please Lee. Yes! Yes! YES! OUTWENT from a tricky set of letters shows Lee's genuine ability and it sees him take the lead for the first time.

Round 12: R J V O I I B E A

C1: JIVER (5)
C2: rioja
DC: JERBOA (6)
OT: VIBRIO (6)
Score: 63–51 (max 92)

And Dave is beginning to crack. A strange offer of RIOJA which is capitalised when much simpler 5's were available. DC show off with JERBOA which is a rodent and VIBRIO was also available.

Round 13: N T L U A E K T A

C1: LATENT (6)
C2: TALENT (6)
OT: ALKANET (7)
Score: 69–57 (max 99)

Obscure 7 which I'm sure audience members will have expertly picked out whilst Dave goes with TALENT again and Lee with an anagram of it. This game despite not being high scoring and somewhat lacking in quality has emerged into a decent affair as this numbers game coming up will be pivotal to the outcome.

Round 14: 10, 3, 1, 7, 4, 8. Target: 420.

C1: 420. (8-3+1)*7*10 (10)
C2: 420. (4*8+7+3)*10 (10)
Score: 79–67 (max 109)

Dave's tactics of 6 small is a good one, unfortunately for him his luck is out and the target is easy. Game set and match to Lee.

Round 15: R E A D S L I P S

C2 buzzes on 19 seconds to say PRIDELESS which is incorrect.
C1 buzzes on 29 seconds to say PRESIDALS which is incorrect.
The answer was DISPERSAL.
Score: 79–67 (max 119)

A smile is brought to everyone's face as the friendly face of Jack Hurst in a hooped t-shirt solves the conundrum from the audience and joins his older brother Josh with a countdown mug. Will this be the last time we see Jack's face in a quarter final?

To the game...Lee was by far the deserving winner in this quarter final and I look forward to his semi final on Thursday against Nicki Sellars. Dave didn't really do himself much justice and looked out of his depth against Lee today.

I feel this recap has a very cynical, dull and basically sad feel to it. Forgive me, it is late and I am grouchy. It is just an honest account of how I saw it and how you would have seen it too had you watched.

Craig Chittenden is on tomorrow against Peter Zyss which perks me up slightly so Dinos will finally make his return to recapping by filling you in with what happens in the last quarter final of the series.

This is Ryan Taylor, signing off, GOODNIGHT.

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=62

[James Robinson]

Round 9:(8) (max 69)
Round 10:(10) (max 76)
Round 11:(7) (max 83)
Round 12:(6) (max 92)

How did that happen

[Ryan Taylor]

Round 9:(8) (max 69)
Round 10:(10) (max 76)
Round 11:(7) (max 83)
Round 12:(6) (max 92)

How did that happen

I submitted the recap without including the max points for the first numbers round. So I went back and edited the maxes but it would seem I missed these lot out when editing it.

[Kevin Davis]

He beat Kevin Davis on a crucial conundrum so is my favourite finalist of series 62.

Something I said?

[Ryan Taylor]

He beat Kevin Davis on a crucial conundrum so is my favourite finalist of series 62.

Something I said?

No. It was that shirt. I haven't been able to sleep for months.

[Kevin Davis]

He beat Kevin Davis on a crucial conundrum so is my favourite finalist of series 62.

Something I said?

No. It was that shirt. I haven't been able to sleep for months.

Fair enough. My friend calls it the "Shirt Louder Than War".