C1: Champion Tom Stevenson (3 wins, 359 points.)
C2: Challenger Lauren Bowley.
DC: Susie Dent and Eve Muirhead .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: T E S C A T R E A
R02: G N I E T F G E R
R03: 4, 6, 7, 8, 3, 3, . Target: 208.
TTT: LUTEAREA - "Hugh had dinner with a poet."
R04: L S I U W L D A O
R05: E U T A N F S C A
R06: 50, 4, 1, 7, 2, 2, . Target: 689.
R07: T W G O E A P K L
R08: B T E I M S O R N
R09: 25, 1, 9, 10, 10, 9, . Target: 225.
TTT: DOWNSIDE - "The downside is they're going to stop funding you."
R10: Q O E L R I H S E
R11: I A M R E N L I N
R12: T G O I R V S E H
R13: P C U S A X E N J
R14: 10, 3, 8, 2, 5, 6, . Target: 108.
R15: U N L E T O V E R (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: T E S C A T R E A
Tom: CASTRATE (8)
Lauren: CASTRATE (8)
DC: CASTRATE (8)
OT: ACETATES (8) RASCETTA (8) RASCETTE (8) STEARATE (8)
Score: 8–8 (max 8)
A great start for both of our contestants 8s all round
Round 2: G N I E T F G E R
Tom: GREETING (8)
Lauren: FREEING (7)
DC: INTEGER (7)
Score: 16–8 (max 16)
Round 3: 4, 6, 7, 8, 3, 3. Target: 208.
Tom: 208. (7 × 4 − 6 ÷ 3) × 8 (10)
Lauren: 206.
Score: 26–8 (max 26)
A nice straightforward solve from Tom......he has no trouble in solving this bad boy !!!
Teatime teaser: LUTEAREA -> LAUREATE
Round 4: L S I U W L D A O
Tom: DISALLOW (8)
Lauren: SWILL (5)
Score: 34–8 (max 34)
Round 5: E U T A N F S C A
Tom: NUTCASE (7)
Lauren: FAUNAS (6)
DC: CAFTANS (7)
OT: ACUATES (7) CATENAS (7) FAUCETS (7)
Score: 41–8 (max 41)
Lots of 7s lets not argue about this !!!
Round 6: 50, 4, 1, 7, 2, 2. Target: 689.
Tom: 689. (7 × 50 − 4) × 2 − 2 − 1 (10)
Lauren: 688.
Score: 51–8 (max 51)
Another good solve from Mr Stevenson !!
Round 7: T W G O E A P K L
Tom: GELATO (6)
Lauren: POLKA (5)
DC: TOWAGE (6)
OT: KGOTLA (6) KOTWAL (6) LEGATO (6) LOWAGE (6) PELOTA (6) POTAGE (6)
Score: 57–8 (max 57)
Plenty of 6s........... NEXT..............!!!!!
Round 8: B T E I M S O R N
Tom: BRIMSTONE (18)
Lauren: tersion
Score: 75–8 (max 75)
A great 9 Tom with Brimstone......this was one I spotted !!!!
Round 9: 25, 1, 9, 10, 10, 9. Target: 225.
Tom: 225. 9 × 25 (10)
Lauren: 225. (10 + 10) × (9 + 1) + 25 (10)
Score: 85–18 (max 85)
Ahem !!!!!!!!!!!.................LETS MOVE ON !!!!!!!!
Teatime teaser: DOWNSIDE -> DISENDOW
Round 10: Q O E L R I H S E
Tom: HEROISE (7)
Lauren: HOLES (5)
OT: LOERIES (7)
Score: 92–18 (max 92)
5 Rounds to go
I don't want to jinx Tom just yet or even tempt fate ..............he is 5 rounds away from a max game in the new 15R format......the last two to achieve this feat was by Dan McColm in 2014 ( Series 71 Champion ) in his semi final against George Ford, Luke Johnson Davies in 2020 ( Series 82 Champion ) in his quarter final against Dave Kempshall
Round 11: I A M R E N L I N
Tom: MAINLINER (18)
Lauren: LINEAR (6)
Score: 110–18 (max 110)
4 rounds to go...........
Round 12: T G O I R V S E H
Tom: OVERSIGHT (18)
Lauren: SHIVER (6)
Score: 128–18 (max 128)
Tom's third 9 of the day he could on for a big score.......and one I spotted.......but not quite an ambulance........but a flake instead !!!!!!
3 rounds to go
Round 13: P C U S A X E N J
Tom: PECANS (6)
Lauren: excuse
OT: PUCANS (6) UNCAPS (6) UNCASE (6) UPCASE (6) USANCE (6)
Score: 134–18 (max 134)
2 rounds to go
Round 14: 10, 3, 8, 2, 5, 6. Target: 108.
Tom: 108. (8 + 2) × 10 + 5 + 3 (10)
Lauren: 108. 5 × 2 × 10 + 8 (10)
Score: 144–28 (max 144)
ONE MORE ROUND LEFT........................for Tom............and not the hardest of numbers solve by both contestants..............not too taxing .......all that remains is the conundrum to surpass the highest score that was previously achieved by Elliott Mellor with his 152 in 2019..... and a max game from our champion !!!
Stand by here we go !!!!!
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3.25 Tom Buzzes !!!!!
OH MY GOD HE HAS DONE IT !!!!!!!! A MAX GAME AND THE HIGHEST SCORE IN THE NEW 15R FORMAT !!!!!!!!
Round 15: U N L E T O V E R
Tom buzzes on 3.25 seconds to say VOLUNTEER which is correct.
Final Score: 154–28 (max 154)
This game broke a few records:
Stevenson's score of 154 points was the highest ever achieved on Countdown, surpassing Elliott Mellor's previous record of 152, as well as the highest score spotting three 9-letter words in the process.
His performance was also a max game — the twelfth in the history of Countdown, the first in a heat game in the new 15-round format, and naturally, the highest-scoring max of all time, topping Luke Johnson-Davies' previous high of 136 points.
This is also the second time a max has ever been achieved in a preliminary game, the first being Kirk Bevins' one back in 2009.
A great contest all round you have feel sorry for Lauren who was clearly nervous and couldn't get going but enjoyed the experience......but a huge congratulations to Tom Stevenson on achieving an amazing score !!!
So in the meantime.........Ta ta for now !!!
