c4countdown

Hello and welcome to the first of our Semi-Finals........which one of these wonderful legends will earn their place in Friday's grand final................so let's enjoy a lovely brew and get this party started





C1: Champion Patrick" The Gazelle " Thompson (9 wins, 1095 points.)
C2: Champion Ian"The Newbridge Nutcracker " Kinsella (9 wins, 919 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Oti Mabuse.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: C R L T E A E A U
R02: P T G E I A S D O
R03: 75, 25, 100, 50, 7, 2. Target: 170.
TTT: DEMACRATE - "The team from Bournemouth were just so soft."
R04: H D T A O I M D N
R05: F S T S E A E N L
R06: 75, 7, 5, 7, 10, 9. Target: 537.
R07: R P L B A E U E T
R08: M Y R O E A C G I
R09: 100, 25, 75, 50, 10, 9. Target: 208.
TTT: BRIEHEART - "All these long flights of stairs have left him this way"
R10: L N T U E O R I S
R11: R N V C E A O T U
R12: N T N O I O L N R
R13: W F R S U I E G O
R14: 100, 1, 10, 4, 6, 4. Target: 467.
R15: I N O B S C U R E (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: C R L T E A E A U

Patrick: ULCERATE (8)
Ian: ULCERATE (8)
DC: LACERATE (8)
OT: ACULEATE (8) LAUREATE (8)
Score: 8–8 (max 8)

A great start for our semi-finalists eights all round



Round 2: P T G E I A S D O

Patrick: GODETIAS (8)
Ian: DIOPTASE (8)
DC: PODGIEST (8)
Score: 16–16 (max 16)

Seriously do you honestly think that these guys wouldn't spot these eights.......top marks all round



Round 3: 75, 25, 100, 50, 7, 2. Target: 170.

C1: 170. 100 + 75 − (7 − 2) (10)
C2: 170. 100 + 75 − (7 − 2) (10)
Score: 26–26 (max 26)

A piece of piss this solve......as Patrick and Ian have no trouble solving this bad boy that bags them both 10 points each






Teatime teaser: DEMACRATE -> MACERATED

Round 4: H D T A O I M D N

Patrick: DIATOM (6)
Ian: DIATOM (6)
DC: DIAMOND (7)
Score: 32–32 (max 33)

Sixes all round from our Semi-finalists.......this can only mean one thing that Patrick and Ian's double max game is now off.......but over in DC Susie gets to sparkle with her 7 Diamond



One of the most expensive diamond rings in the world that belonged to the late actress Elizabeth Taylor.........you would a serious wad of money to buy a ring just like this..........now is hubby generous enough to get his wallet out ? now where did I hide that lottery ticket ?

Round 5: F S T S E A E N L

Patrick: LATENESS (8)
Ian: LATENESS (8)
DC: FLATNESS (8)
Score: 40–40 (max 41)

Round 6: 75, 7, 5, 7, 10, 9. Target: 537.

C1: 537. 75 × 7 + 10 + 9 − 7 (10)
C2: 537. 75 × 7 + 7 + 5 (10)
Score: 50–50 (max 51)

Top marks from our semi-finalists as they have no trouble solving this bad boy...........the question is who is going to make the break ?








Round 7: R P L B A E U E T

Patrick: REPUTABLE (18)
Ian: PLEATER (7)
Score: 68–50 (max 69)

Game Changer !!!!!!!! And with that 9 Patrick makes the break and increases his lead by 18 points and with everything to play for in this rather tight semi-final





Round 8: M Y R O E A C G I

Patrick: GRIMACE (7)
Ian: GRIMACE (7)
DC: CAMOGIE (7) IMAGERY (7)
OT: OMIYAGE (7)
Score: 75–57 (max 76)

Sevens all round........nothing arguing over.........play nicely now children !






Round 9: 100, 25, 75, 50, 10, 9. Target: 208.

C1: 208. (100 + 9) × 50 ÷ 25 − 10 (10)
C2: 209.
Score: 85–57 (max 86)

Another excellent solve from out top seed Patrick......this allows him to extend his lead further



Teatime teaser: BRIEHEART -> BREATHIER

Round 10: L N T U E O R I S

Patrick: OUTLINERS (18)
Ian: OUTLINERS (18)
Score: 103–75 (max 104)

This just gets better and better............what else did you expect from Patrick and Ian bagging themselves a 9 no less........ahem you guessed it I spotted this one



Round 11: R N V C E A O T U

Patrick: COURANTE (8)
Ian: COURANTE (8)
Score: 111–83 (max 112)

It's Darren central in this round as our semi-finalists spot the only available eight



Round 12: N T N O I O L N R

Patrick: notorni
Ian: LOTION (6)
OT: INTRON (6) NOTION (6)
Score: 111–89 (max 118)

Ooh this is interesting with Patrick having his 7 disallowed by Susie.........even though he has a healthy lead the damage is minor.........even though our 5th seed Ian scores with his 6..........will he have enough to make one final push ? and get himself back into this semi-final.



Round 13: W F R S U I E G O

Patrick: EGOSURF (7)
Ian: GROUSE (6)
DC: FIGURES (7)
Score: 118–89 (max 125)

Sadly not and with Patrick scoring with his 7 Egosurf but for our 5th seed Ian Kinsella it is game over



Round 14: 100, 1, 10, 4, 6, 4. Target: 467.

C1: 467. (100 + 10 + 6) × 4 + 4 − 1 (10)
C2: 467. (100 + 10 + 6) × 4 + 4 − 1 (10)
Score: 128–99 (max 135)

Another fantastic solve from our semi-finalists this can only mean one thing that Patrick is in the grand final.............who will be joining him ?



Round 15: I N O B S C U R E

C1 buzzes on 1.25 seconds to say NEUROBICS which is correct.
Final Score: 138–99 (max 145)



Another speedy solve from our top seed Patrick and a 13 maxer he now advance to the grand final of series 93 where Charlie Harrison or Luke Selway will await him, secondly take nothing away from Ian who gave as good as he got but can be proud of what he has achieved as a semi-finalist you can join me for the next of our semi-finals where the second seed Charlie Harrison will face off against the third seed Luke Selway........in the meantime it is bye for now