Wednesday 23nd December 2020 (Special S49)
Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 10:38 pm
And our final special sees two GOATs clash horns 
Countdown recap for Wednesday 23 December 2020.
C1: Series 54 Champion, Champion of Champions XII Semi-Finalist & 30th Birthday Championship Champion Conor Travers. (21 games, 20 wins, 2,348 points.) An Apteforumite from Luton, Bedfordshire.
C2: Series 66 Champion & 30th Birthday Championship Quarter-Finalist Jack Worsley. (14 games, 13 wins, 1,387 points.) An Apteforumite from Blackpool, Lancashire.
DC: Susie Dent and Rory Bremner.
RR: Rachel Riley.
CM: Guest Host Colin Murray.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: F H T E U I G S N
R02: O A R L D P E I C
R03: 75, 4, 5, 8, 6, 4. Target: 469.
TTT: MEANTSUP - "Look at the mess you're in, Gran, you weren't meant to sup the whole bottle!"
R04: U O M G F W E R S
R05: Y B T A O I V E P
R06: 50, 25, 100, 75, 2, 8. Target: 562.
R07: K L N O A U C R M
R08: I E T H L N O D A
R09: 25, 4, 6, 3, 1, 7. Target: 400.
TTT: HEATSPAN - "He heats the pan to brown this before popping it into the oven."
R10: J W T O I E M A R
R11: S T C I E A G L O
R12: B R N U I P E L D
R13: S M R O A I N E G
R14: 75, 25, 50, 100, 6, 10. Target: 216.
R15: U R I N A L A I M (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Enjoy the show.
Round 1: F H T E U I G S N
Conor: FUNGITES (8)
Jack: FUNGITES (8)
DC: FIGHTS (6) HEFTING (7)
Score: 8–8 (max 8)
Round 2: O A R L D P E I C
Conor: CAPRIOLE (8)
Jack: CAPRIOLE (8)
DC: CAROL (5) CALORIE (7)
Score: 16–16 (max 16)
Double darrenic max start, but did we seriously expect anything less from these goliaths....
Round 3: 75, 4, 5, 8, 6, 4. Target: 469.
Conor: 469. ((75 + 4) x 6) - 5 (10)
Jack: 469. ((75 + 4) x 6) - 5 (10)
Score: 26–26 (max 26)
Teatime teaser: MEANTSUP -> SPUMANTE
Round 4: U O M G F W E R S
Conor: EGOSURF (7)
Jack: EGOSURF (7)
DC: MOWER (5) GROUSE (6)
OT: MORGUES (7)
Score: 33–33 (max 33)
Round 5: Y B T A O I V E P
Conor: OBVIATE (7)
Jack: BIOTYPE (7)
DC: BOATIE (6) PIVOT (5)
Score: 40–40 (max 40)
The copycatting in terms of exact offerings may have ended, but as Colin says, we've hit deuce already.
Round 6: 50, 25, 100, 75, 2, 8. Target: 562.
Conor: 562. ((75 + 2) x 8) - 50 - (100 / 25) (10)
Jack: 562. ((75 + 2) x 8) - 50 - (100 / 25) (10)
Score: 50–50 (max 50)
Rory does his own version of "The King's Carol" with a plethora of his voices.
Round 7: K L N O A U C R M
Conor: COLUMNAR (8)
Jack: UNCLOAK (7)
Score: 58–50 (max 58)
The first break in play comes from Conor, with yet another darrenic word
Round 8: I E T H L N O D A
Conor: DELATION (8)
Jack: LIONHEAD (8)
Score: 66–58 (max 66)
Round 9: 25, 4, 6, 3, 1, 7. Target: 400.
Conor: 400. (7 - 3) x 4 x 25 (10)
Jack: 400. (7 + 6 + 3) x 25 (10)
Score: 76–68 (max 76)
WHAT A MATCH THIS IS ALREADY!!! AND WE COULD STILL END THE YEAR WITH A MAX GAME TOO
Teatime teaser: HEATSPAN -> PHEASANT
Round 10: J W T O I E M A R
Conor: MAJORITE (8)
Jack: MAJORITE (8)
DC: WARTIME (7)
Score: 84–76 (max 84)
Round 11: S T C I E A G L O
Conor: SOCIETAL (8)
Jack: SOCIETAL (8)
DC: GELCOATS (8) COALITES (8)
OT: ALIGOTES (8)
Score: 92–84 (max 92)
Eights are the new bitcoin for these guys clearly....
An ALIGOTE is a variety of grape grown in Burgundy.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of more Christmassy words.
Round 12: B R N U I P E L D
Conor: UNDERLIP (8)
Jack: UNDERLIP (8)
DC: UNBRIDLE (8)
OT: PURBLIND (8)
Score: 100–92 (max 100)
PURBLIND is an adjective meaning having impaired or defective vision; partially blind.
Round 13: S M R O A I N E G
Conor: ORGANISM (8)
Jack: ORGANISM (8)
DC: ORGANISE (8)
OT: AGONISER (8) MASERING (8) MEGARONS (8) MORAINES (8) MORINGAS (8) ORGANIES (8) ROGAINES (8) ROMAINES (8) ROMANISE (8) SMEARING (8)
Score: 108–100 (max 108)
We end with the super flattest round yet, but it's still 8's, 8's and more EIGHTS!!!!
MASERING is the emission of coherent microwave radiation in the manner of a maser.
A MEGARON is the central hall of a large Mycenaean house.
A MORINGA is a tropical or subtropical plant belonging to a diverse genus native to Africa and southern Asia. (Genus Moringa, family Moringaceae: several species including the drumstick tree Moringa oleifera)
An ORGANY (plural ORGANIES) is any plant of the genus Origanum, specifically (also "wild organum") oregano or wild marjoram, Origanum vulgare.
Both players have hit the ton, Conor is still on a MAX GAME, but Jack could still win...........
THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!
Round 14: 75, 25, 50, 100, 6, 10. Target: 216.
Conor: 216. 100 + 75 + 25 + 10 + 6 (10)
Jack: 216. 100 + 75 + 25 + 10 + 6 (10)
Score: 118–110 (max 118)
WHAT A CLIMAX!!!!
CRUCIAL CONUNDRUM: CHECK
POTENTIAL MAX GAME: CHECK
ME WANTING TO EXPLODE INTO UNCONTROLLABLE ECSTASY: CHECK
HERE WE GO...................
Round 15: U R I N A L A I M
No one buzzes. The answer was LUMINARIA.
Final Score: 118–110 (max 128)
WHO SAW THAT COMING..........??? (Not me.... )
But, while the Christmassy themed conundrum remained unsolved, let's not forget this masterpiece of a game of Countdown. 27 maxes between these two remarkable players, double century match, and a confirmation of the GOAT of Countdown, if it ever needed confirming.
Conor Travers has now been part of the Countdown furniture for the last FIFTEEN years, that's just over half his life, and he's still performing miracles on and off the set, to have a record of 21 wins out of 22 on screen is just mind-blowing in itself!!!
I still remember somehow beating Conor in my 2nd ever CO-event in Leicester back in 2010, which I thought was a miracle in itself, and if I did something similar now, I'd certainly be a happy man, as this guy is seriously the GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!!
So, that's 2020 done, and while it'll obviously be remembered for the wrong reasons, we do at least have some great reasons to remember it too, thanks to all you guys.
So, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone, and I'll be back on January 4th for the first preliminary of Series 83, when Daniel Jonathan will continue from his 4 wins at the end of Series 82. Will he be the next Conor Travers in a few years time....
Till I return in 2021, bye for now.
Statistics Corner
Conor:
Total score - 118
Raw score - 118
Total % of max - 92
Raw % of max - 92
Total average score per round - 7.9
Raw average score per round - 7.9
Number of maxes - 14 
Jack:
Total score - 110
Raw score - 117
Total % of max - 86
Raw % of max - 91
Total average score per round - 7.3
Raw average score per round - 7.8
Number of maxes - 13
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=-14
Countdown recap for Wednesday 23 December 2020.
C1: Series 54 Champion, Champion of Champions XII Semi-Finalist & 30th Birthday Championship Champion Conor Travers. (21 games, 20 wins, 2,348 points.) An Apteforumite from Luton, Bedfordshire.
C2: Series 66 Champion & 30th Birthday Championship Quarter-Finalist Jack Worsley. (14 games, 13 wins, 1,387 points.) An Apteforumite from Blackpool, Lancashire.
DC: Susie Dent and Rory Bremner.
RR: Rachel Riley.
CM: Guest Host Colin Murray.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: F H T E U I G S N
R02: O A R L D P E I C
R03: 75, 4, 5, 8, 6, 4. Target: 469.
TTT: MEANTSUP - "Look at the mess you're in, Gran, you weren't meant to sup the whole bottle!"
R04: U O M G F W E R S
R05: Y B T A O I V E P
R06: 50, 25, 100, 75, 2, 8. Target: 562.
R07: K L N O A U C R M
R08: I E T H L N O D A
R09: 25, 4, 6, 3, 1, 7. Target: 400.
TTT: HEATSPAN - "He heats the pan to brown this before popping it into the oven."
R10: J W T O I E M A R
R11: S T C I E A G L O
R12: B R N U I P E L D
R13: S M R O A I N E G
R14: 75, 25, 50, 100, 6, 10. Target: 216.
R15: U R I N A L A I M (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Enjoy the show.
Round 1: F H T E U I G S N
Conor: FUNGITES (8)
Jack: FUNGITES (8)
DC: FIGHTS (6) HEFTING (7)
Score: 8–8 (max 8)
Round 2: O A R L D P E I C
Conor: CAPRIOLE (8)
Jack: CAPRIOLE (8)
DC: CAROL (5) CALORIE (7)
Score: 16–16 (max 16)
Double darrenic max start, but did we seriously expect anything less from these goliaths....
Round 3: 75, 4, 5, 8, 6, 4. Target: 469.
Conor: 469. ((75 + 4) x 6) - 5 (10)
Jack: 469. ((75 + 4) x 6) - 5 (10)
Score: 26–26 (max 26)
Teatime teaser: MEANTSUP -> SPUMANTE
Round 4: U O M G F W E R S
Conor: EGOSURF (7)
Jack: EGOSURF (7)
DC: MOWER (5) GROUSE (6)
OT: MORGUES (7)
Score: 33–33 (max 33)
Round 5: Y B T A O I V E P
Conor: OBVIATE (7)
Jack: BIOTYPE (7)
DC: BOATIE (6) PIVOT (5)
Score: 40–40 (max 40)
The copycatting in terms of exact offerings may have ended, but as Colin says, we've hit deuce already.
Round 6: 50, 25, 100, 75, 2, 8. Target: 562.
Conor: 562. ((75 + 2) x 8) - 50 - (100 / 25) (10)
Jack: 562. ((75 + 2) x 8) - 50 - (100 / 25) (10)
Score: 50–50 (max 50)
Rory does his own version of "The King's Carol" with a plethora of his voices.
Round 7: K L N O A U C R M
Conor: COLUMNAR (8)
Jack: UNCLOAK (7)
Score: 58–50 (max 58)
The first break in play comes from Conor, with yet another darrenic word
Round 8: I E T H L N O D A
Conor: DELATION (8)
Jack: LIONHEAD (8)
Score: 66–58 (max 66)
Round 9: 25, 4, 6, 3, 1, 7. Target: 400.
Conor: 400. (7 - 3) x 4 x 25 (10)
Jack: 400. (7 + 6 + 3) x 25 (10)
Score: 76–68 (max 76)
WHAT A MATCH THIS IS ALREADY!!! AND WE COULD STILL END THE YEAR WITH A MAX GAME TOO
Teatime teaser: HEATSPAN -> PHEASANT
Round 10: J W T O I E M A R
Conor: MAJORITE (8)
Jack: MAJORITE (8)
DC: WARTIME (7)
Score: 84–76 (max 84)
Round 11: S T C I E A G L O
Conor: SOCIETAL (8)
Jack: SOCIETAL (8)
DC: GELCOATS (8) COALITES (8)
OT: ALIGOTES (8)
Score: 92–84 (max 92)
Eights are the new bitcoin for these guys clearly....
An ALIGOTE is a variety of grape grown in Burgundy.
Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of more Christmassy words.
Round 12: B R N U I P E L D
Conor: UNDERLIP (8)
Jack: UNDERLIP (8)
DC: UNBRIDLE (8)
OT: PURBLIND (8)
Score: 100–92 (max 100)
PURBLIND is an adjective meaning having impaired or defective vision; partially blind.
Round 13: S M R O A I N E G
Conor: ORGANISM (8)
Jack: ORGANISM (8)
DC: ORGANISE (8)
OT: AGONISER (8) MASERING (8) MEGARONS (8) MORAINES (8) MORINGAS (8) ORGANIES (8) ROGAINES (8) ROMAINES (8) ROMANISE (8) SMEARING (8)
Score: 108–100 (max 108)
We end with the super flattest round yet, but it's still 8's, 8's and more EIGHTS!!!!
MASERING is the emission of coherent microwave radiation in the manner of a maser.
A MEGARON is the central hall of a large Mycenaean house.
A MORINGA is a tropical or subtropical plant belonging to a diverse genus native to Africa and southern Asia. (Genus Moringa, family Moringaceae: several species including the drumstick tree Moringa oleifera)
An ORGANY (plural ORGANIES) is any plant of the genus Origanum, specifically (also "wild organum") oregano or wild marjoram, Origanum vulgare.
Both players have hit the ton, Conor is still on a MAX GAME, but Jack could still win...........
THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!
Round 14: 75, 25, 50, 100, 6, 10. Target: 216.
Conor: 216. 100 + 75 + 25 + 10 + 6 (10)
Jack: 216. 100 + 75 + 25 + 10 + 6 (10)
Score: 118–110 (max 118)
WHAT A CLIMAX!!!!
CRUCIAL CONUNDRUM: CHECK
POTENTIAL MAX GAME: CHECK
ME WANTING TO EXPLODE INTO UNCONTROLLABLE ECSTASY: CHECK
HERE WE GO...................
Round 15: U R I N A L A I M
No one buzzes. The answer was LUMINARIA.
Final Score: 118–110 (max 128)
WHO SAW THAT COMING..........??? (Not me....
)But, while the Christmassy themed conundrum remained unsolved, let's not forget this masterpiece of a game of Countdown. 27 maxes between these two remarkable players, double century match, and a confirmation of the GOAT of Countdown, if it ever needed confirming.
Conor Travers has now been part of the Countdown furniture for the last FIFTEEN years, that's just over half his life, and he's still performing miracles on and off the set, to have a record of 21 wins out of 22 on screen is just mind-blowing in itself!!!
I still remember somehow beating Conor in my 2nd ever CO-event in Leicester back in 2010, which I thought was a miracle in itself, and if I did something similar now, I'd certainly be a happy man, as this guy is seriously the GREATEST OF ALL TIME!!!
So, that's 2020 done, and while it'll obviously be remembered for the wrong reasons, we do at least have some great reasons to remember it too, thanks to all you guys.
So, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone, and I'll be back on January 4th for the first preliminary of Series 83, when Daniel Jonathan will continue from his 4 wins at the end of Series 82. Will he be the next Conor Travers in a few years time....
Till I return in 2021, bye for now.
Statistics Corner
Conor:
Total score - 118
Raw score - 118
Total % of max - 92
Raw % of max - 92
Total average score per round - 7.9
Raw average score per round - 7.9
Number of maxes - 14
Jack:
Total score - 110
Raw score - 117
Total % of max - 86
Raw % of max - 91
Total average score per round - 7.3
Raw average score per round - 7.8
Number of maxes - 13
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=-14