Thursday 23rd January 2025 ( Series 91 Preliminary 14 )
Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 6:11 pm
Hello and welcome to another Thursday recap
C1: Champion Alan Friel (1 win, 68 points.)
C2: Challenger Ben Brace.
DC: Susie Dent and Nicki Chapman .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: R N S L C I U A E
R02: W A R G E O P S I
R03: 25, 4, 9, 10, 2, 6. Target: 629.
TTT: BOILMIME - "Causing an obstruction on the street while staring at the phone."
R04: C G L O E O D G N
R05: R D S L A E I O P
R06: 100, 7, 8, 8, 1, 10. Target: 609.
R07: M R N C A I E O T
R08: Z N H E I E S N K
R09: 25, 7, 6, 5, 10, 2, . Target: 828.
TTT: SCENERUB - " They're not Gresty Road haricots, but they can be eaten."
R10: W R T U A I G T O
R11: S R N M U E I E T
R12: S O U A T B T E L
R13: S N D M A E O B A
R14: 25, 100, 1, 10, 5, 3. Target: 239.
R15: A P P I L A T T E (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: R N S L C I U A E
Alan: UNCLEAR (7)
Ben: SECULAR (7)
DC: AURICLES (8)
OT: CARLINES (8) CISLUNAR (8) LUNACIES (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
What a fantastic start from our champion and challenger with their sevens..........but over in DC they get to shine with their eight Auricles.........there are a few more eights to be had......again no extra points for spotting most of those..........but nothing worth arguing over !
Round 2: W A R G E O P S I
Alan: POSIER (6)
Ben: SWIPER (6)
DC: PORGIES (7)
OT: EARWIGS (7) GAWPERS (7) SOAPIER (7)
Score: 13–13 (max 15)
Sixes all round.........nothing worth having a catfight over.........but there were a few sevens to be had Porgies was the spot from DC
Round 3: 25, 4, 9, 10, 2, 6. Target: 629.
C1: 629. (10 + 9 + 6) × 25 + 4 (10)
C2: 629. (10 + 9 + 6) × 25 + 4 (10)
Score: 23–23 (max 25)
Nice and Straightforward and not too taxing our champion and challenger have no trouble solving this bad boy !
Teatime teaser: BOILMIME -> IMMOBILE
Round 4: C G L O E O D G N
Alan: CLOGGED (7)
Ben: COLOGNE (7)
DC: CONDOLE (7)
OT: DOGGONE (7) GOOGLED (7) LONGDOG (7)
Score: 30–30 (max 32)
Sevens all round.............nothing worth arguing over........play nicely now !
Round 5: R D S L A E I O P
Alan: SOLDIER (7)
Ben: SPOILED (7)
DC: POLARISED (18)
Score: 37–37 (max 50)
Sevens all round from Alan and Ben...........but there was 9 that was spotted by DC and our very own recap writer
Round 6: 100, 7, 8, 8, 1, 10. Target: 609.
C1: 609. (7 − 8 ÷ 8) × 100 + 10 − 1 (10)
C2: 609. (7 − 1) × 100 + 10 − 8 ÷ 8 (10)
Score: 47–47 (max 60)
A piece of piss this solve........counting sheep is my idea of fun
Round 7: M R N C A I E O T
Alan: ROMANTIC (8)
Ben: TRANCE (6)
DC: CREMATION (18)
OT: MANTICORE (18)
Score: 55–47 (max 78)
Game changer ! Our champion Alan takes a narrow lead with his 8 Romantic...........but our recap writer and DC get to shine with their rather unpleasant 9 Cremation........however there is a second 9 available with Manticore
Round 8: Z N H E I E S N K
Alan: KNEES (5)
Ben: SINK (4)
DC: SHINE (5) SHEIK (5)
OT: HIKES (5) KEENS (5) KNISH (5) NENES (5) NINES (5) SEINE (5) SEIZE (5) SHEEN (5) SKEIN (5) SKENE (5) ZINES (5)
Score: 60–47 (max 83)
Not the best selection of letters........five seems to be max in this round..........quite a few of those to be had........no extra points for spotting most of those
Round 9: 25, 7, 6, 5, 10, 2. Target: 828.
C1: -
C2: -
RR: 828. ((25 + 2) × 5 + 10 − 7) × 6 (10)
Score: 60–47 (max 93)
Both contestants draw a blank in this round............but it is left to Ms Riley to showcase her maths skills and a produce a perfect 10..............this numbers solution is divisible by 4 6 and 9.........my method was the divisible by 4
25-5=20
20*10=200
200+7=207
207*4=828
Teatime teaser: SCENERUB -> CRUBEENS
Round 10: W R T U A I G T O
Alan: GUITAR (6)
Ben: GROUT (5)
DC: WAIT (4) OUTWAIT (7)
Score: 66–47 (max 100)
Another nasty letter selection our champion gets a six out of it with Guitar...............but DC get to shine yet again with their 7 Outwait
Round 11: S R N M U E I E T
Alan: MINUTES (7)
Ben: MINUTES (7)
DC: MUTINEERS (18)
Score: 73–54 (max 118)
Sevens all round from our champion and challenger........when one 9 letter word comes along........so does two.........then three.......but not quite an ambulance.................but over in DC they spot the only available 9 Mutineers as does our recap writer
Round 12: S O U A T B T E L
Alan: bullets
Ben: BATTLES (7)
DC: BOTTLES (7) TABLETS (7)
OT: ABSOLUTE (8) SUBTOTAL (8)
Score: 73–61 (max 126)
Our champion Alan lucks out in this round as Susie disallows his word as there is only L in this selection of letters...........but Ben gets to score with his 7 and gets himself back in this rather tight contest..............but there was a couple of eights missed by all !
Round 13: S N D M A E O B A
Alan: BEMOANS (7)
Ben: ABODES (6)
DC: ABDOMENS (8)
OT: ADENOMAS (8) BEADSMAN (8)
Score: 80–61 (max 134)
Another good round from Alan with his 7 ............but there were a fair few eights to be had........the one DC and our recap writer spotted was Abdomens...........With 19 points being the difference between the two contestants.........is there still enough for Ben to make one final push ?
Round 14: 25, 100, 1, 10, 5, 3. Target: 239.
C1: 239. (5 − 3) × (100 + 25) − 10 − 1 (10)
C2: -
Score: 90–61 (max 144)
Sadly not Alan gets to stay in champions chair with his perfect number solve............but for our challenger Ben it is game over
Round 15: A P P I L A T T E
No one buzzes. The answer was PALPITATE.
Final Score: 90–61 (max 154)
Neither contestant buzzes but it is left to our recap writer to solve the elusive conundrum, firstly congratulations to Alan on his second win but take nothing away from Ben he gave as good as he got but couldn't match Alan, you can join me for the next recap to see if Alan can bag his third win........in the meantime it is bye for now
C1: Champion Alan Friel (1 win, 68 points.)
C2: Challenger Ben Brace.
DC: Susie Dent and Nicki Chapman .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: R N S L C I U A E
R02: W A R G E O P S I
R03: 25, 4, 9, 10, 2, 6. Target: 629.
TTT: BOILMIME - "Causing an obstruction on the street while staring at the phone."
R04: C G L O E O D G N
R05: R D S L A E I O P
R06: 100, 7, 8, 8, 1, 10. Target: 609.
R07: M R N C A I E O T
R08: Z N H E I E S N K
R09: 25, 7, 6, 5, 10, 2, . Target: 828.
TTT: SCENERUB - " They're not Gresty Road haricots, but they can be eaten."
R10: W R T U A I G T O
R11: S R N M U E I E T
R12: S O U A T B T E L
R13: S N D M A E O B A
R14: 25, 100, 1, 10, 5, 3. Target: 239.
R15: A P P I L A T T E (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: R N S L C I U A E
Alan: UNCLEAR (7)
Ben: SECULAR (7)
DC: AURICLES (8)
OT: CARLINES (8) CISLUNAR (8) LUNACIES (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
What a fantastic start from our champion and challenger with their sevens..........but over in DC they get to shine with their eight Auricles.........there are a few more eights to be had......again no extra points for spotting most of those..........but nothing worth arguing over !
Round 2: W A R G E O P S I
Alan: POSIER (6)
Ben: SWIPER (6)
DC: PORGIES (7)
OT: EARWIGS (7) GAWPERS (7) SOAPIER (7)
Score: 13–13 (max 15)
Sixes all round.........nothing worth having a catfight over.........but there were a few sevens to be had Porgies was the spot from DC
Round 3: 25, 4, 9, 10, 2, 6. Target: 629.
C1: 629. (10 + 9 + 6) × 25 + 4 (10)
C2: 629. (10 + 9 + 6) × 25 + 4 (10)
Score: 23–23 (max 25)
Nice and Straightforward and not too taxing our champion and challenger have no trouble solving this bad boy !
Teatime teaser: BOILMIME -> IMMOBILE
Round 4: C G L O E O D G N
Alan: CLOGGED (7)
Ben: COLOGNE (7)
DC: CONDOLE (7)
OT: DOGGONE (7) GOOGLED (7) LONGDOG (7)
Score: 30–30 (max 32)
Sevens all round.............nothing worth arguing over........play nicely now !
Round 5: R D S L A E I O P
Alan: SOLDIER (7)
Ben: SPOILED (7)
DC: POLARISED (18)
Score: 37–37 (max 50)
Sevens all round from Alan and Ben...........but there was 9 that was spotted by DC and our very own recap writer
Round 6: 100, 7, 8, 8, 1, 10. Target: 609.
C1: 609. (7 − 8 ÷ 8) × 100 + 10 − 1 (10)
C2: 609. (7 − 1) × 100 + 10 − 8 ÷ 8 (10)
Score: 47–47 (max 60)
A piece of piss this solve........counting sheep is my idea of fun
Round 7: M R N C A I E O T
Alan: ROMANTIC (8)
Ben: TRANCE (6)
DC: CREMATION (18)
OT: MANTICORE (18)
Score: 55–47 (max 78)
Game changer ! Our champion Alan takes a narrow lead with his 8 Romantic...........but our recap writer and DC get to shine with their rather unpleasant 9 Cremation........however there is a second 9 available with Manticore
Round 8: Z N H E I E S N K
Alan: KNEES (5)
Ben: SINK (4)
DC: SHINE (5) SHEIK (5)
OT: HIKES (5) KEENS (5) KNISH (5) NENES (5) NINES (5) SEINE (5) SEIZE (5) SHEEN (5) SKEIN (5) SKENE (5) ZINES (5)
Score: 60–47 (max 83)
Not the best selection of letters........five seems to be max in this round..........quite a few of those to be had........no extra points for spotting most of those
Round 9: 25, 7, 6, 5, 10, 2. Target: 828.
C1: -
C2: -
RR: 828. ((25 + 2) × 5 + 10 − 7) × 6 (10)
Score: 60–47 (max 93)
Both contestants draw a blank in this round............but it is left to Ms Riley to showcase her maths skills and a produce a perfect 10..............this numbers solution is divisible by 4 6 and 9.........my method was the divisible by 4
25-5=20
20*10=200
200+7=207
207*4=828
Teatime teaser: SCENERUB -> CRUBEENS
Round 10: W R T U A I G T O
Alan: GUITAR (6)
Ben: GROUT (5)
DC: WAIT (4) OUTWAIT (7)
Score: 66–47 (max 100)
Another nasty letter selection our champion gets a six out of it with Guitar...............but DC get to shine yet again with their 7 Outwait
Round 11: S R N M U E I E T
Alan: MINUTES (7)
Ben: MINUTES (7)
DC: MUTINEERS (18)
Score: 73–54 (max 118)
Sevens all round from our champion and challenger........when one 9 letter word comes along........so does two.........then three.......but not quite an ambulance.................but over in DC they spot the only available 9 Mutineers as does our recap writer
Round 12: S O U A T B T E L
Alan: bullets
Ben: BATTLES (7)
DC: BOTTLES (7) TABLETS (7)
OT: ABSOLUTE (8) SUBTOTAL (8)
Score: 73–61 (max 126)
Our champion Alan lucks out in this round as Susie disallows his word as there is only L in this selection of letters...........but Ben gets to score with his 7 and gets himself back in this rather tight contest..............but there was a couple of eights missed by all !
Round 13: S N D M A E O B A
Alan: BEMOANS (7)
Ben: ABODES (6)
DC: ABDOMENS (8)
OT: ADENOMAS (8) BEADSMAN (8)
Score: 80–61 (max 134)
Another good round from Alan with his 7 ............but there were a fair few eights to be had........the one DC and our recap writer spotted was Abdomens...........With 19 points being the difference between the two contestants.........is there still enough for Ben to make one final push ?
Round 14: 25, 100, 1, 10, 5, 3. Target: 239.
C1: 239. (5 − 3) × (100 + 25) − 10 − 1 (10)
C2: -
Score: 90–61 (max 144)
Sadly not Alan gets to stay in champions chair with his perfect number solve............but for our challenger Ben it is game over
Round 15: A P P I L A T T E
No one buzzes. The answer was PALPITATE.
Final Score: 90–61 (max 154)
Neither contestant buzzes but it is left to our recap writer to solve the elusive conundrum, firstly congratulations to Alan on his second win but take nothing away from Ben he gave as good as he got but couldn't match Alan, you can join me for the next recap to see if Alan can bag his third win........in the meantime it is bye for now