Thursday 14th February 2013 (30th Champs, Round 2, Game 4)
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:37 pm
Ah, love is in the air this Valentine's Day, and let me tell you, my love for Countdown has never been stronger, especially after the magic of yesterday's MAX GAME!!!!
Is it possible that we could have back-to-back MAX GAMES Well, I'm not the greedy type, but the way this series is going, we're almost bound to have another one.
Well, let's enjoy this lovely day.
Countdown recap for Thursday 14 February 2013.
C1: Series 47 Champion & CoC XI Runner-Up Chris Wills (17 Games, 15 Wins, 1,811 Points.) He works at Manchester Metroplitan University as a researcher.
C2: Series 63 Champion Jack Hurst (13 Games, 13 Wins, 1,527 Points.) An Apteforumite from Desford, Leicestershire, but is currently studying maths at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
DC: Susie Dent and Ken Bruce.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: S F G A I E D P N
R02: W P C D O I A E I
R03: L S M A O U Y N S
R04: R T M T E I U E I
R05: 75, 6, 6, 7, 8, 2. Target: 725.
TTT: ELBOWLID - "William was in debt and filled up with air"
R06: M D N T O A I O E
R07: H R V O I E F R N
R08: R P C G A U I E A
R09: N X L E I O C M T
R10: 75, 8, 7, 1, 4, 1. Target: 236.
TTT: DRABHOWL - "In the U.S., this is a bit of a bighead."
R11: H N B U E A R L S
R12: W E T A B O N R E
R13: Z S T I O E D L S
R14: 75, 6, 8, 1, 7, 4. Target: 542.
R15: B U D L L L E I A (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: S F G A I E D P N
C1: FEIGNS (6)
C2: SPAEING (7)
DC: SPADING (7)
OT: DEFANGS (7)
Score: 0–7 (max 7)
A lovely start for Jack with the least common of the trio of available 7's there.
Round 2: W P C D O I A E I
C1: COWPEA (6)
C2: COWPEA (6)
DC: cowpie
OT: COPIED (6)
Score: 6–13 (max 13)
Hmmm, you can have a COWPEA, but not a cowpie Back to the drawing board methinks.
Round 3: L S M A O U Y N S
C1: salmons
C2: SOLANUM (7)
OT: SOLANUMS (8)
Score: 6–20 (max 21)
CONTROVERSY ALERT!!!! CONTROVERSY ALERT!!!!
Well, with just about every Countdown counteracting each other in this round, it was almost inevitable that something would go amiss here, and even though Susie explains that SALMON is clearly specified as both the singular and the plural, despite the mass food rule, there do seem to be many more exceptions to this rule that have been overlooked, but I'm sure you can all debate it amongst yourselves at the water cooler tomorrow.
But, even more shockingly is after explaining the definition of SOLANUM, nobody thinks to stick the remaining S on the end to pluralise it (well, clearly Jack did, as he said "safe 7".) (That bit's my version of "Shock, Shock, Horror, Horror, Shock, Shock, Horror." )
Round 4: R T M T E I U E I
C1: TERMITE (7)
C2: TERMITE (7)
OT: EMITTER (7) TRITIUM (7)
Score: 13–27 (max 28)
Normality is resumed, that last round was starting to bug me you know.
TRITIUM is an isotope of hydrogen having an atomic weight of three.
Round 5: 75, 6, 6, 7, 8, 2. Target: 725.
C1: 730.
C2: 726. ((6 + 2 + 7 + 75) x 8) + 6 (7)
RR: 725. ((75 - (6 + 8)) x 2 x 6) - 7 (10)
Score: 13–34 (max 38)
Eeeeeeeeek, a nasty numbers comes out, an for the first time since the 1st numbers of his 2nd game, Jack hasn't got the perfect solution (Yes, my new signature tune. ) Although, Rachel also needs her extra time to solve it too.
Ken talks about his career beginnings in accountancy.
Teatime teaser: ELBOWLID -> BILLOWED
Round 6: M D N T O A I O E
C1: DOMINATE (8)
C2: DOMINATE (8)
DC: MOTIONED (8) DEMOTION (8)
Score: 21–42 (max 46)
Plenty of DOMINATE-ion here.
Round 7: H R V O I E F R N
C1: HORNIER (7)
C2: HORNIER (7)
DC: HEROIN (6)
Score: 28–49 (max 53)
Appropriately, on this romantic day, the whole studio has got considerably HORNIER.
Round 8: R P C G A U I E A
C1: AGARIC (6)
C2: PIRAGUA (7)
Score: 28–56 (max 60)
And now it's Jack's turn to turn the screw again with another awesome darren.
Round 9: N X L E I O C M T
C1: LEXICON (7)
C2: LEXICON (7)
DC: MOTILE (6)
OT: CENTIMO (7) EXCITON (7) LECTION (7)
Score: 35–63 (max 67)
WORD UP (See, this is why I'm never cool. ) But, at least they're on the ball with the brilliant word book here.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "Ken", which amazingly has 7 meanings in the dictionary.
Round 10: 75, 8, 7, 1, 4, 1. Target: 236.
C1: 236. (75 - (8 + 7 + 1)) x 4 (10)
C2: 236. ((75 + 1) x (4 - 1)) + 8 (10)
Score: 45–73 (max 77)
Definitely a much simpler numbers game this time, and Jack is still maintaining a strong lead, as we head into the final "half".
Teatime teaser: DRABHOWL -> BLOWHARD
Round 11: H N B U E A R L S
C1: BLUSHER (7)
C2: NEBULAS (7)
DC: UNLEASH (7)
OT: BRANLES (7) HAULERS (7) HERBALS (7) NEBULAR (7)
Score: 52–80 (max 84)
Seven 7's in this round. Clearly a magnificent 7 of sorts.
A BRANLE is a lively 16th and 17th Century round dance originating in France.
Round 12: W E T A B O N R E
C1: BEATER (6)
C2: BARONET (7)
Score: 52–87 (max 91)
Toff luck on Chris as BARONET is the BEATER in this one.
Round 13: Z S T I O E D L S
C1: SOLIDEST (8)
C2: SOLIDEST (8)
DC: DOZIEST (7)
Score: 60–95 (max 99)
The SOLIDEST answer seals the game in Jack's favour. No points dropped since round 5 for Jack. He's still on super top form it seems.
Round 14: 75, 6, 8, 1, 7, 4. Target: 542.
C1: 542. (7 x 75) + 6 + 8 + 4 - 1 (10)
C2: 542. (7 x 75) + 6 + 8 + 4 - 1 (10)
Score: 70–105 (max 109)
And that's 14 centuries out of 14 for Jack. Quite staggering I think only Julian Fell has done 14 consecutive tons, but I'm sure Graeme will prove me wrong shortly.
Round 15: B U D L L L E I A
C1 buzzes on 1 second to say "No, sorry, not it", which is incorrect.
C2 buzzes on 9 seconds to say LULLABIED which is correct.
Final Score: 70–115 (max 119)
WOAH!!! Chris buzzes in immediately Is Chris about to limit Jack to his lowest ever score Well.............., no, as it happens, as he admits to messing up, letting Jack use the extra time to work out the answer, which I think makes it his 2nd slowest conundrum solve after AUTHORESS in his 3rd game (27 seconds for those of you in the know )
So, another 13 maxer for Jack against a tough non-Apterite, but as we all know from his past games, Chris is a very tough competitor and gave Jack a good game, despite the SALMON/SALMONS controversy early on.
So, Jack will be back on the 26th in the final quarter-final, where he'll take on the winner of tomorrow's match between Series 61 champion Chris Davies and Series 58 champion David O'Donnell.
Heather will provide that brilliant recap for your enjoyment tomorrow.
I'll be back on Wednesday for the last Round 2 game which will see Dave Hoskisson play Neil Zussman for the right to play Jonathan Rawlinson the following day.
So, have a good weekend everybody. I know I will, as I'll be celebrating my 25th birthday on Monday, and it's not a bad present seeing Innis Carson take on Kirk Bevins on the telly either.
So, till next week, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
Chris:
Total score - 70
Raw score - 95
Total % of max - 59
Raw % of max - 80
Total average score per round - 4.7
Raw average score per round - 6.3
Number of maxes - 9
Jack:
Total score - 115
Raw score - 115
Total % of max - 97
Raw % of max - 97
Total average score per round - 7.7
Raw average score per round - 7.7
Number of maxes - 13
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=-16
Is it possible that we could have back-to-back MAX GAMES Well, I'm not the greedy type, but the way this series is going, we're almost bound to have another one.
Well, let's enjoy this lovely day.
Countdown recap for Thursday 14 February 2013.
C1: Series 47 Champion & CoC XI Runner-Up Chris Wills (17 Games, 15 Wins, 1,811 Points.) He works at Manchester Metroplitan University as a researcher.
C2: Series 63 Champion Jack Hurst (13 Games, 13 Wins, 1,527 Points.) An Apteforumite from Desford, Leicestershire, but is currently studying maths at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
DC: Susie Dent and Ken Bruce.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: S F G A I E D P N
R02: W P C D O I A E I
R03: L S M A O U Y N S
R04: R T M T E I U E I
R05: 75, 6, 6, 7, 8, 2. Target: 725.
TTT: ELBOWLID - "William was in debt and filled up with air"
R06: M D N T O A I O E
R07: H R V O I E F R N
R08: R P C G A U I E A
R09: N X L E I O C M T
R10: 75, 8, 7, 1, 4, 1. Target: 236.
TTT: DRABHOWL - "In the U.S., this is a bit of a bighead."
R11: H N B U E A R L S
R12: W E T A B O N R E
R13: Z S T I O E D L S
R14: 75, 6, 8, 1, 7, 4. Target: 542.
R15: B U D L L L E I A (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: S F G A I E D P N
C1: FEIGNS (6)
C2: SPAEING (7)
DC: SPADING (7)
OT: DEFANGS (7)
Score: 0–7 (max 7)
A lovely start for Jack with the least common of the trio of available 7's there.
Round 2: W P C D O I A E I
C1: COWPEA (6)
C2: COWPEA (6)
DC: cowpie
OT: COPIED (6)
Score: 6–13 (max 13)
Hmmm, you can have a COWPEA, but not a cowpie Back to the drawing board methinks.
Round 3: L S M A O U Y N S
C1: salmons
C2: SOLANUM (7)
OT: SOLANUMS (8)
Score: 6–20 (max 21)
CONTROVERSY ALERT!!!! CONTROVERSY ALERT!!!!
Well, with just about every Countdown counteracting each other in this round, it was almost inevitable that something would go amiss here, and even though Susie explains that SALMON is clearly specified as both the singular and the plural, despite the mass food rule, there do seem to be many more exceptions to this rule that have been overlooked, but I'm sure you can all debate it amongst yourselves at the water cooler tomorrow.
But, even more shockingly is after explaining the definition of SOLANUM, nobody thinks to stick the remaining S on the end to pluralise it (well, clearly Jack did, as he said "safe 7".) (That bit's my version of "Shock, Shock, Horror, Horror, Shock, Shock, Horror." )
Round 4: R T M T E I U E I
C1: TERMITE (7)
C2: TERMITE (7)
OT: EMITTER (7) TRITIUM (7)
Score: 13–27 (max 28)
Normality is resumed, that last round was starting to bug me you know.
TRITIUM is an isotope of hydrogen having an atomic weight of three.
Round 5: 75, 6, 6, 7, 8, 2. Target: 725.
C1: 730.
C2: 726. ((6 + 2 + 7 + 75) x 8) + 6 (7)
RR: 725. ((75 - (6 + 8)) x 2 x 6) - 7 (10)
Score: 13–34 (max 38)
Eeeeeeeeek, a nasty numbers comes out, an for the first time since the 1st numbers of his 2nd game, Jack hasn't got the perfect solution (Yes, my new signature tune. ) Although, Rachel also needs her extra time to solve it too.
Ken talks about his career beginnings in accountancy.
Teatime teaser: ELBOWLID -> BILLOWED
Round 6: M D N T O A I O E
C1: DOMINATE (8)
C2: DOMINATE (8)
DC: MOTIONED (8) DEMOTION (8)
Score: 21–42 (max 46)
Plenty of DOMINATE-ion here.
Round 7: H R V O I E F R N
C1: HORNIER (7)
C2: HORNIER (7)
DC: HEROIN (6)
Score: 28–49 (max 53)
Appropriately, on this romantic day, the whole studio has got considerably HORNIER.
Round 8: R P C G A U I E A
C1: AGARIC (6)
C2: PIRAGUA (7)
Score: 28–56 (max 60)
And now it's Jack's turn to turn the screw again with another awesome darren.
Round 9: N X L E I O C M T
C1: LEXICON (7)
C2: LEXICON (7)
DC: MOTILE (6)
OT: CENTIMO (7) EXCITON (7) LECTION (7)
Score: 35–63 (max 67)
WORD UP (See, this is why I'm never cool. ) But, at least they're on the ball with the brilliant word book here.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of "Ken", which amazingly has 7 meanings in the dictionary.
Round 10: 75, 8, 7, 1, 4, 1. Target: 236.
C1: 236. (75 - (8 + 7 + 1)) x 4 (10)
C2: 236. ((75 + 1) x (4 - 1)) + 8 (10)
Score: 45–73 (max 77)
Definitely a much simpler numbers game this time, and Jack is still maintaining a strong lead, as we head into the final "half".
Teatime teaser: DRABHOWL -> BLOWHARD
Round 11: H N B U E A R L S
C1: BLUSHER (7)
C2: NEBULAS (7)
DC: UNLEASH (7)
OT: BRANLES (7) HAULERS (7) HERBALS (7) NEBULAR (7)
Score: 52–80 (max 84)
Seven 7's in this round. Clearly a magnificent 7 of sorts.
A BRANLE is a lively 16th and 17th Century round dance originating in France.
Round 12: W E T A B O N R E
C1: BEATER (6)
C2: BARONET (7)
Score: 52–87 (max 91)
Toff luck on Chris as BARONET is the BEATER in this one.
Round 13: Z S T I O E D L S
C1: SOLIDEST (8)
C2: SOLIDEST (8)
DC: DOZIEST (7)
Score: 60–95 (max 99)
The SOLIDEST answer seals the game in Jack's favour. No points dropped since round 5 for Jack. He's still on super top form it seems.
Round 14: 75, 6, 8, 1, 7, 4. Target: 542.
C1: 542. (7 x 75) + 6 + 8 + 4 - 1 (10)
C2: 542. (7 x 75) + 6 + 8 + 4 - 1 (10)
Score: 70–105 (max 109)
And that's 14 centuries out of 14 for Jack. Quite staggering I think only Julian Fell has done 14 consecutive tons, but I'm sure Graeme will prove me wrong shortly.
Round 15: B U D L L L E I A
C1 buzzes on 1 second to say "No, sorry, not it", which is incorrect.
C2 buzzes on 9 seconds to say LULLABIED which is correct.
Final Score: 70–115 (max 119)
WOAH!!! Chris buzzes in immediately Is Chris about to limit Jack to his lowest ever score Well.............., no, as it happens, as he admits to messing up, letting Jack use the extra time to work out the answer, which I think makes it his 2nd slowest conundrum solve after AUTHORESS in his 3rd game (27 seconds for those of you in the know )
So, another 13 maxer for Jack against a tough non-Apterite, but as we all know from his past games, Chris is a very tough competitor and gave Jack a good game, despite the SALMON/SALMONS controversy early on.
So, Jack will be back on the 26th in the final quarter-final, where he'll take on the winner of tomorrow's match between Series 61 champion Chris Davies and Series 58 champion David O'Donnell.
Heather will provide that brilliant recap for your enjoyment tomorrow.
I'll be back on Wednesday for the last Round 2 game which will see Dave Hoskisson play Neil Zussman for the right to play Jonathan Rawlinson the following day.
So, have a good weekend everybody. I know I will, as I'll be celebrating my 25th birthday on Monday, and it's not a bad present seeing Innis Carson take on Kirk Bevins on the telly either.
So, till next week, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
Chris:
Total score - 70
Raw score - 95
Total % of max - 59
Raw % of max - 80
Total average score per round - 4.7
Raw average score per round - 6.3
Number of maxes - 9
Jack:
Total score - 115
Raw score - 115
Total % of max - 97
Raw % of max - 97
Total average score per round - 7.7
Raw average score per round - 7.7
Number of maxes - 13
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=-16