Thursday 18 December 2025 (Series 92 2nd Semi-Final )
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2025 12:58 pm
Stop the press....... and welcome to another recap, it is the second of our semi-finals which of one of our wonderful legends Brett Davids and Ben Hocking will be joining the top seed Jason Cullen in Friday's grand final........let's see how they both go on
C1: Champion Brett "The Winking Goliath " Davids (9 wins, 1032 points.)
C2: Champion Ben "Trick or Treat " Hocking (9 wins, 970 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Christopher Biggins .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: G P R S E A I W L
R02: F T S A O E T I N
R03: 50, 7, 9, 6, 8, 2. Target: 651.
TTT: WISEHOLLY - "It would be wise to change your holly if it was this"
R04: P R D E I U N A L
R05: P G N R E O I A T
R06: 9, 2, 7, 8, 5, 10. Target: 980.
R07: S H D N I A E O L
R08: S M T U O E B I V
R09: 50, 7, 9, 9, 7, 6. Target: 109.
TTT: IVYWASAGE - "The ivy was free due to the age of the bunches, but let's hope they're not dead"
R10: T C S O E A W O L
R11: N L M T I E O A E
R12: H S F A I U D O N
R13: R K G Y I E A T E
R14: 5, 8, 5, 6, 1, 1. Target: 122.
R15: S U M E N I G M A (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: G P R S E A I W L
Brett: EARWIGS (7)
Ben: EARWIGS (7)
DC: SLIPWARE (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
A great start from semi-finalists with their 7 Earwigs..........over DC they get shine with their 8 Slipware
Round 2: F T S A O E T I N
Brett: FATTIES (7)
Ben: FAINTEST (8)
DC: FAINTEST (8) TOASTIE (7)
Score: 7–15 (max 16)
What a fantastic start from our third seed Ben with his 8 faintest that gives him an early lead
Round 3: 50, 7, 9, 6, 8, 2. Target: 651.
C1: 651. (6 + 7) × 50 + 9 − 8 (10)
C2: 651. (6 + 7) × 50 + 9 − 8 (10)
Score: 17–25 (max 26)
Nice and straightforward from our semi-finalists........not too taxing
Teatime teaser: WISEHOLLY -> YELLOWISH
Round 4: P R D E I U N A L
Brett: UNPAIRED (8)
Ben: underlap
OT: DIPLURAN (8) EPIDURAL (8) PENDULAR (8) UNDERLIP (8)
Score: 25–25 (max 34)
Game changer ! with Ben's risky 8 Underlap being disallowed by Susie........and with Brett's Unpaired scores him a very valuable 8 points and levels up their semi-finals
Round 5: P G N R E O I A T
Brett: OPERATING (18)
Ben: OPERATING (18)
Score: 43–43 (max 52)
This gets better and better our semi-finalists spotting a 9..........by the way I did spot this myself
Round 6: 9, 2, 7, 8, 5, 10. Target: 980.
C1: 980. (9 × 10 + 8) × 2 × 5 (10)
C2: 980. ((7 + 5) × 8 + 2) × 10 (10)
Score: 53–53 (max 62)
Top marks from Brett and Ben with this bad boy............my method involved Colin's favourite number 7
9+5=14
14*10=140
140*7=980
Round 7: S H D N I A E O L
Brett: LIONHEADS (18)
Ben: ANODISE (7)
DC: ADHESION (8) LIONHEADS (18)
Score: 71–53 (max 80)
Is this the killer blow that Brett needed his 9 puts him 18 points ahead of our third seed Ben........the question is can Ben come back from this 18 points deficit ?.........it can be done.........just ask our recap writer about comebacks.......I'm sure most of you will know the answer !
Round 8: S M T U O E B I V
Brett: OUTVIES (7)
Ben: OUTVIES (7)
DC: VOMITUS (7) MOTIVES (7)
OT: TIMEOUS (7)
Score: 78–60 (max 87)
Sevens all round..........nothing worth arguing about........play nicely now children !
Round 9: 50, 7, 9, 9, 7, 6. Target: 109.
C1: 109. (9 − 7) × 50 + 9 (10)
C2: 109. (9 − 7) × 50 + 9 (10)
Score: 88–70 (max 97)
A piss easy numbers game from our semi-finalists.........counting sheep is my idea of fun !
Teatime teaser: IVYWASAGE -> GIVEAWAYS
Round 10: T C S O E A W O L
Brett: LOCATES (7)
Ben: LACTOSE (7)
DC: COOLEST (7) OCELOTS (7)
OT: ALECOST (7) TALCOSE (7)
Score: 95–77 (max 104)
Sevens all round.........nothing to see here.......let's move on
Round 11: N L M T I E O A E
Brett: LINEMATE (8)
Ben: MELANITE (8)
DC: MATINEE (7)
Score: 103–85 (max 112)
What a badass round this is...............and excellent wordplay from Brett and Ben with their eights Linemate and Melanite
Round 12: H S F A I U D O N
Brett: FASHION (7)
Ben: FASHION (7)
DC: HOUND (5) FASHION (7)
Score: 110–92 (max 119)
Not the best selection of letters..........our semi-finalists do well to spot the only available seven
Round 13: R K G Y I E A T E
Brett: GYRATE (6)
Ben: TRIAGE (6)
DC: RETAKE (6) EATERY (6)
OT: GAIETY (6) GAITER (6) KEYTAR (6)
Score: 116–98 (max 125)
Is there one final push from our 3rd seed Ben............with 18 points being the difference in this rather tight contest, can Ben pull off a Tracey Mills style comeback ? by getting maximum ponts in the next two rounds.........let's see if he can do it
Round 14: 5, 8, 5, 6, 1, 1. Target: 122.
C1: 121.
C2: 122. (5 × 5 + 1) × (6 − 1) − 8 (10)
Score: 116–108 (max 135)
THE COMEBACK IS ON !!!!!! AND IS THIS THE TURNING POINT THAT BEN NEEDS ????? It's gambling time for our third seed Ben as he deploys the 6S tactic. The gamble paid for Ben as this puts him within eight points of our second seed Brett, all Ben needs to do is the solve the conundrum and book himself in the showpiece grand final if not it will be our second Brett........so good luck to you both........may the best man win !
Round 15: S U M E N I G M A
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10
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12
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18
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20
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24
25
26
27
28..........Ben Buzzes but guesses incorrectly
C2 buzzes on 28 seconds to say MEGANIUMS which is incorrect.
C1 does not buzz.
The answer was MAGNESIUM.
Final Score: 116–108 (max 145)
What a fantastic contest this has been almost worthy of a grand final,firstly congratulations to Brett for making into the series 92 grand final where he will face the top seed Jason Cullen, secondly commiserations to Ben he matched Brett for most of the contest and gave as good as he got........... but can be proud of what he has achieved as a semi-finalist which is fantastic achievement in it's self...............you can join me for the next recap as series 92 comes to a close........in the meantime it is bye for now
C1: Champion Brett "The Winking Goliath " Davids (9 wins, 1032 points.)
C2: Champion Ben "Trick or Treat " Hocking (9 wins, 970 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Christopher Biggins .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: G P R S E A I W L
R02: F T S A O E T I N
R03: 50, 7, 9, 6, 8, 2. Target: 651.
TTT: WISEHOLLY - "It would be wise to change your holly if it was this"
R04: P R D E I U N A L
R05: P G N R E O I A T
R06: 9, 2, 7, 8, 5, 10. Target: 980.
R07: S H D N I A E O L
R08: S M T U O E B I V
R09: 50, 7, 9, 9, 7, 6. Target: 109.
TTT: IVYWASAGE - "The ivy was free due to the age of the bunches, but let's hope they're not dead"
R10: T C S O E A W O L
R11: N L M T I E O A E
R12: H S F A I U D O N
R13: R K G Y I E A T E
R14: 5, 8, 5, 6, 1, 1. Target: 122.
R15: S U M E N I G M A (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: G P R S E A I W L
Brett: EARWIGS (7)
Ben: EARWIGS (7)
DC: SLIPWARE (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
A great start from semi-finalists with their 7 Earwigs..........over DC they get shine with their 8 Slipware
Round 2: F T S A O E T I N
Brett: FATTIES (7)
Ben: FAINTEST (8)
DC: FAINTEST (8) TOASTIE (7)
Score: 7–15 (max 16)
What a fantastic start from our third seed Ben with his 8 faintest that gives him an early lead
Round 3: 50, 7, 9, 6, 8, 2. Target: 651.
C1: 651. (6 + 7) × 50 + 9 − 8 (10)
C2: 651. (6 + 7) × 50 + 9 − 8 (10)
Score: 17–25 (max 26)
Nice and straightforward from our semi-finalists........not too taxing
Teatime teaser: WISEHOLLY -> YELLOWISH
Round 4: P R D E I U N A L
Brett: UNPAIRED (8)
Ben: underlap
OT: DIPLURAN (8) EPIDURAL (8) PENDULAR (8) UNDERLIP (8)
Score: 25–25 (max 34)
Game changer ! with Ben's risky 8 Underlap being disallowed by Susie........and with Brett's Unpaired scores him a very valuable 8 points and levels up their semi-finals
Round 5: P G N R E O I A T
Brett: OPERATING (18)
Ben: OPERATING (18)
Score: 43–43 (max 52)
This gets better and better our semi-finalists spotting a 9..........by the way I did spot this myself
Round 6: 9, 2, 7, 8, 5, 10. Target: 980.
C1: 980. (9 × 10 + 8) × 2 × 5 (10)
C2: 980. ((7 + 5) × 8 + 2) × 10 (10)
Score: 53–53 (max 62)
Top marks from Brett and Ben with this bad boy............my method involved Colin's favourite number 7
9+5=14
14*10=140
140*7=980
Round 7: S H D N I A E O L
Brett: LIONHEADS (18)
Ben: ANODISE (7)
DC: ADHESION (8) LIONHEADS (18)
Score: 71–53 (max 80)
Is this the killer blow that Brett needed his 9 puts him 18 points ahead of our third seed Ben........the question is can Ben come back from this 18 points deficit ?.........it can be done.........just ask our recap writer about comebacks.......I'm sure most of you will know the answer !
Round 8: S M T U O E B I V
Brett: OUTVIES (7)
Ben: OUTVIES (7)
DC: VOMITUS (7) MOTIVES (7)
OT: TIMEOUS (7)
Score: 78–60 (max 87)
Sevens all round..........nothing worth arguing about........play nicely now children !
Round 9: 50, 7, 9, 9, 7, 6. Target: 109.
C1: 109. (9 − 7) × 50 + 9 (10)
C2: 109. (9 − 7) × 50 + 9 (10)
Score: 88–70 (max 97)
A piss easy numbers game from our semi-finalists.........counting sheep is my idea of fun !
Teatime teaser: IVYWASAGE -> GIVEAWAYS
Round 10: T C S O E A W O L
Brett: LOCATES (7)
Ben: LACTOSE (7)
DC: COOLEST (7) OCELOTS (7)
OT: ALECOST (7) TALCOSE (7)
Score: 95–77 (max 104)
Sevens all round.........nothing to see here.......let's move on
Round 11: N L M T I E O A E
Brett: LINEMATE (8)
Ben: MELANITE (8)
DC: MATINEE (7)
Score: 103–85 (max 112)
What a badass round this is...............and excellent wordplay from Brett and Ben with their eights Linemate and Melanite
Round 12: H S F A I U D O N
Brett: FASHION (7)
Ben: FASHION (7)
DC: HOUND (5) FASHION (7)
Score: 110–92 (max 119)
Not the best selection of letters..........our semi-finalists do well to spot the only available seven
Round 13: R K G Y I E A T E
Brett: GYRATE (6)
Ben: TRIAGE (6)
DC: RETAKE (6) EATERY (6)
OT: GAIETY (6) GAITER (6) KEYTAR (6)
Score: 116–98 (max 125)
Is there one final push from our 3rd seed Ben............with 18 points being the difference in this rather tight contest, can Ben pull off a Tracey Mills style comeback ? by getting maximum ponts in the next two rounds.........let's see if he can do it
Round 14: 5, 8, 5, 6, 1, 1. Target: 122.
C1: 121.
C2: 122. (5 × 5 + 1) × (6 − 1) − 8 (10)
Score: 116–108 (max 135)
THE COMEBACK IS ON !!!!!! AND IS THIS THE TURNING POINT THAT BEN NEEDS ????? It's gambling time for our third seed Ben as he deploys the 6S tactic. The gamble paid for Ben as this puts him within eight points of our second seed Brett, all Ben needs to do is the solve the conundrum and book himself in the showpiece grand final if not it will be our second Brett........so good luck to you both........may the best man win !
Round 15: S U M E N I G M A
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2
3
4
5
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10
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19
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24
25
26
27
28..........Ben Buzzes but guesses incorrectly
C2 buzzes on 28 seconds to say MEGANIUMS which is incorrect.
C1 does not buzz.
The answer was MAGNESIUM.
Final Score: 116–108 (max 145)
What a fantastic contest this has been almost worthy of a grand final,firstly congratulations to Brett for making into the series 92 grand final where he will face the top seed Jason Cullen, secondly commiserations to Ben he matched Brett for most of the contest and gave as good as he got........... but can be proud of what he has achieved as a semi-finalist which is fantastic achievement in it's self...............you can join me for the next recap as series 92 comes to a close........in the meantime it is bye for now