c4countdown

We have quite the match-up today. If I were to put a theme on this it'd be two number one seeds, but more than that, this is a match up between two very strong competitors, I arguably would have put both of these people in my top 10 contestants of this series. One end, you have Mark Deeks, series 65 number one seed who lost in the semi-finals to the controversial Carl Williams. He's since put in a lot of practice and has improved his game even beyond that series. On the other hand, you have Jack Hurst, the man who arguably had the best on-air performance out of anybody in Countdown history, certainly the highest score out of 8 games and a very strong performance in the finals including a grand final one away from the max to win series 63. I'm excited to see how this one turns out.

Perhaps even more excited will be James, who will get to take care of the recap later.

Stats for the contestants:

Firstly, Series 63 Champion Jack Hurst - 11 Games, 11 Wins, 1,276 Points. (Average: 116)
Highest Score: 133 vs. Alex Curran (7th Game)
Lowest Score: 108 vs. Peter Godwin (Quarter-Final)
9's Achieved: 6/7
Total Points/Max/%: 1276/1377 (93%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 871/948 (92%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 315/318 (99%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 90/110 (82%)

Secondly, Series 65 Semi-Finalist Mark Deeks - 10 Games, 9 Wins, 1,021 Points. (Average: 102.10)
Highest Score: 126 vs. Lesley Lewis (8th Game)
Lowest Score: 81 vs. Someone Whose Name Escapes Me (Semi-Final)
9's Achieved: 2/6
Total Points/Max/%: 1021/1243 (82%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 682/846 (81%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 279/297 (94%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 60/100 (60%)

Jordan F wrote:Perhaps even more excited will be James, who will get to take care of the recap later.

YOU BET I AM!!! BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!

[quote="James Robinson"]Stats for the contestants:

Firstly, Series 63 Champion Jack Hurst - 11 Games, 11 Wins, 1,276 Points. (Average: 116)
Highest Score: 133 vs. Alex Curran (7th Game)
Lowest Score: 108 vs. Peter Godwin (Quarter-Final)
9's Achieved: 6/7
Total Points/Max/%: 1276/1377 (93%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 871/948 (92%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 315/318 (99%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 90/110 (82%)

I had no idea that Jack's high score came against Steven Gerrard's wife!

So huge.

James Robinson wrote:Stats for the contestants:

Firstly, Series 63 Champion Jack Hurst - 11 Games, 11 Wins, 1,276 Points. (Average: 116)
Highest Score: 133 vs. Alex Curran (7th Game)
Lowest Score: 108 vs. Peter Godwin (Quarter-Final)
9's Achieved: 6/7
Total Points/Max/%: 1276/1377 (93%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 871/948 (92%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 315/318 (99%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 90/110 (82%)

116 is one crazy mo-fo average!

Really looking forward to this one. I suspect it will be close.

Lowest score 108?! Holy crap, that is insane consistency. This should be good.

LAMIAE in R8. Great game so far!

Would like to know what Mark had written on his paper that made Jack laugh there.

Good game guys! I was looking forward to seeing more Deeks on my telly, but well done Jack. And thanks for your awkward number chat. I loved that.

Is this the...third time both players have scored a century in history? Or 4th? I know it's not many.

Very well done to both of you, both of you were on top form, and it was about as much of a clash as we expected. I also love the fact that we had two contestants who had great personalities to them. Very unlucky Mark, as I said you came across Jack in his top form, and who knows what would have had been different had the OUTLEAPT risk worked out.

Great game there! One of the most enjoyable episodes of Countdown in recent times I reckon!

Excellent double ton game, well played, lads.

Jordan F wrote:Is this the...third time both players have scored a century in history? Or 4th? I know it's not many.

There've been quite a few more actually.
http://wiki.apterous.org/Category:Double_century_games

Great game and fantastic entertainment provided by both players. Unlucky with OUTLEAPT, Mark. It's a much more plausible word than a lot of the -OUT words that are in the dictionary in my opinion. Well done to Jack for a hard-fought victory; surely a contender to win the whole thing!

Andy Wilson wrote:Would like to know what Mark had written on his paper that made Jack laugh there.

"YOU'RE REALLY GOOD! "

Jack Worsley wrote:Unlucky with OUTLEAPT, Mark.

Aye, bit of a bugger. OUTJUMP is valid; OVERLEAP is valid; OUTLEAP is valid in Scrabble and one of Apterous's most frequently disallowed words. So all very plausible. I should, however, have probably learnt from this, which happened only two weeks before filming.

Hope you guys enjoyed the show. I did. Winning would be more fun than losing, but, as losses go, that wasn't a bad way to do it. So I'm cool with it. We just tried to have a little fun up there, hence the comments and the notes and what have you, so hopefulyl anyone who didn't like that can at least appreciate it was just for a good laff.

Oh by the way Jack you're really gonna have to explain that maths joke to me. I still don't get it.

Also I spent 20 seconds in the consumer round debating whether MUCRONES was in, spending so much time doing so I didn't look for the other eights. Turns out it was in and I should have gone for it. D'oh.

Really well done to both Mark and Jack. A super game which really deserved to be won on the Conundrum.
Great spot Mark. Really unlucky Mark, but kudos to Jack. Enjoyed that game and thanks to both of you.

Great game guys! One of the most entertaining games in ages. Great banter. Unlucky with outleapt Mark. I too was thinking of MUCRONES but probably wouldn't have risked it. This series is shaping up to be awesome. The latter stages are going to be incredible.

I feel bad that one of these had to lose so early in the draw - both immensely talented and entertaining, either of whom could have gone deep into this tournament if not win it. I hope it's not the last time we see you Mark, but if it is you've been a memorable contestant and watching the show has been a much more enjoyable experience than is usual when you're in the chair. And to your conqueror (and mine for that matter - let's make a club?), hats off Jack, your consistency will be tough to beat and I wish you all the best in your future games. If this is what we've gotten used to after just 3 games I really can't wait for the rest of it!

I feel bad that in order to win i've had to put Mark out of the first round. He's a great player (and apparently you guys find his bravado entertaining), so it's a real shame he doesnt grt to play any more games.

Looking forward to playing Wayne on Friday, not sure what to expect from a former national scrabble champ. Lets hope there are no nines from ASDERIOTN in scrabble!

Congrats to the two of you for producing such a high quality game. Its a shame in a way that you both got drawn against each other so early on. Great entertainment and one where it was great to watch from the audience. Both of you are really nice guys and it was great to meet you both on the day itself.

T

Great stuff from both Mark and Jack. Had no idea we'd be getting a double century this soon.

Fun fact: If this game had been a 9-rounder (featuring the first 6 letters, the first 2 numbers and the conundrum), Mark would have won 66-63.

Spotted POGONIA in the round when Mark & Jack only offered sixes. Not mentioned by Dictionary Corner, either.

Darryl Francis wrote:Spotted POGONIA in the round when Mark & Jack only offered sixes. Not mentioned by Dictionary Corner, either.

I just checked this, appears to be Scrabble valid only.

So hang on, you end round early after 3 seconds, yet I'M the one with bravado?

Mark Deeks wrote:So hang on, you end round early after 3 seconds, yet I'M the one with bravado?

I'm not the one who passed the other notes calling them a c*nt. Trying to apply Carl Williams' Tactics against me obviously didnt work!

I didn't show you that until after the game had ended. It was hardly a strategy to throw you off, especially since it was clearly a joke. Dude, we had good fun that day, gone on, and both played well, let's not sully it now.

Mark Deeks wrote:I didn't show you that until after the game had ended. It was hardly a strategy to throw you off, especially since it was clearly a joke. Dude, we had good fun that day, gone on, and both played well, let's not sully it now.

What's this?

I jokingly wrote it on a bit of paper after he'd won.

Mark Deeks wrote:I jokingly wrote it on a bit of paper after he'd won.

At what point did he see it?

As we shook hands at the end. Watch the tape, you can see it.

Mark Deeks wrote:As we shook hands at the end. Watch the tape, you can see it.

Classy. Did it simply say "cunt" or was there more to it?

It said "....but you're still a", a follow-up joke from the one that made him laugh. Come on, let's not try and find soap operas here. It was a good clean fun game.

Emailing the Daily Mail immediately.

Mark Deeks wrote:It was a good clean fun game.

There's nothing "clean" or "fun" about the word cunt.

Jon Corby wrote:

Mark Deeks wrote:It was a good clean fun game.

There's nothing "clean" or "fun" about the word cunt.

You'd certainly never use it. But then I'm not the man you are.

Unfortunately it does sound like Mark has thought "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and tried to adopt Carl's mind games.

Jack, can you think of any other things that Mark did to try and throw you? We've got the earlier note for 1, now this new crude note for 2, how many more were there? Come on, let's talk numbers.

Well I seem to remember seeing it with your second numbers solution, but maybe I am wrong. Anyhow, no hard feelings, at least you beat me at pool.

JackHurst wrote:Well I seem to remember seeing it with your second numbers solution, but maybe I am wrong. Anyhow, no hard feelings, at least you beat me at pool.

The second numbers solution was the "You're really good!" one. It's like I stressed to you as we were walking out, let's just have fun and play it respectful. And we did! Didn't we?

Also, I'm pretty sure you won at pool. Which makes you a bastard.

Mark Deeks wrote:It's like I stressed to you as we were walking out, let's just have fun and play it respectful.

Jesus, that would sound threatening coming from a big bloke like you. Really sinister. This is all deeply unsavoury.

At this rate COLIN's going to be the first ever combined countdown/MMA event.

You call me unsavoury one more time and I'm gonna get Claire to beat you up.

Mark Deeks wrote:I'm gonna get Claire to beat you up.

Let me guess, this was the content of another of your notes? You make me sick.

Jon Corby wrote:

Mark Deeks wrote:It's like I stressed to you as we were walking out, let's just have fun and play it respectful.

Jesus, that would sound threatening coming from a big bloke like you. Really sinister. This is all deeply unsavoury.

Jon Corby wrote:

Mark Deeks wrote:I'm gonna get Claire to beat you up.

Let me guess, this was the content of another of your notes? You make me sick.

Has anyone ever told you that they want to hug you and wrestle you at the same time? If not, just putting it out there.

And no, "I want to wrestle you" was not on any note I showed to Jack.

Just caught up with this. Great game, well played both of you! Unlucky with outleapt* Mark, but well done on beating Jack to the conundrum. Very solid performance Jack, a tough draw to get so early in the tournament. Now to watch Thursday's game!

Corby's missing the point here - Deeks referred to sardines as food. That's why he deserved to lose.

Other than that, great game from both players! Shame one of you had to lose, except for the one that clearly deserved to lose (see above).

How are sardines not a food?

Mark Deeks wrote:How are sardines not a food?

a)

Unlucky again Mark. I don't remember how well I did originally exactly but I definitely lost playing along, but today I tied with Jack.

So that means I win on the tie-break of doing those two numbers games the sensible way:

(50+2+1)×(6+9)=795
(75+3+5)×7=581

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:54 pm

Mark Deeks wrote:How are sardines not a food?

a)

We're still waiting for the conclusion to this thrilling post.

As was highlighted on Monday, OUTLEAPT is now valid, which I'm sure is no consolation to Mark. According to the wiki, it hasn't come up since being valid, though.

Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 3:29 pm As was highlighted on Monday, OUTLEAPT is now valid, which I'm sure is no consolation to Mark. According to the wiki, it hasn't come up since being valid, though.

Just to make it official...

Preliminary 3 2020 Word Update

The max would have increased by 1 point (from 120 to 121) if played today thanks to an 8 available in R1 that wasn't around in 2013.

And as mentioned, it would've changed the result, as Mark would've won 111-101 instead of losing 103-108....

New Words Now Allowed:

R1: OUTLEAPT (A new high MAX of 8, and also a new winning word for Mark too)
R3: BEDRAILS, BOARDIES, DISABLER, LABROIDS, RADIOBES, RADIOLES, RAILBEDS, RIBALDOS (incredibly DARIOLES was the only 8 available 7 years ago!!)
R6: GUDDLER
R7: ACCOSTER
R12: MISEASE, PEASIES
R13: INTONER, NITRONE, NOINTER, ROBINET

James Robinson wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 3:53 pm
New Words Now Allowed:
R6: GIRDLED, GRIDDLE, GUILDER, PIDDLER, PUDDLER

These were all allowed originally weren't they?

Graeme Cole wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 3:19 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:54 pm

Mark Deeks wrote:How are sardines not a food?

a)

We're still waiting for the conclusion to this thrilling post.

I think it was just a reference to this and this.

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 4:00 pm

James Robinson wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 3:53 pm
New Words Now Allowed:
R6: GIRDLED, GRIDDLE, GUILDER, PIDDLER, PUDDLER

These were all allowed originally weren't they?

Oops, accidentally deleted the only new one...

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 4:01 pm

Graeme Cole wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 3:19 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote: ↑Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:54 pm
a)

We're still waiting for the conclusion to this thrilling post.

I think it was just a reference to this and this.

Thank you for not only clarifying the meaning of this post but also reintroducing me to the discussion leading up to the legendary 2013 eating competition.

James Robinson wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 3:53 pm

Rhys Benjamin wrote: ↑Wed May 06, 2020 3:29 pm As was highlighted on Monday, OUTLEAPT is now valid, which I'm sure is no consolation to Mark. According to the wiki, it hasn't come up since being valid, though.

And as mentioned, it would've changed the result, as Mark would've won 111-101 instead of losing 103-108....

This of course is on the assumption that if OUTLEAPT was allowable at the time Jack (no relation) wouldn't have got it, which is probably unlikely.

Or Jack might even have seen it but knew it was invalid.

Anyway, having only rediscovered Countdown in mid-2013 it's the first time I'm able to see this great series - loving it already.