c4countdown

Countdown recap for Wednesday 23 January 2002.

C1: Champion Chris Wills (7 wins, 783 points.)
C2: Challenger Agnes Budis, from Dunbar in East Lothian.
DC: Susie Dent and Tim Rice.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: S D R A E I F T N
R02: L K M G D E A U B
R03: P C T O E I R Y D
R04: S N M H E O I F E
R05: 75, 9, 2, 10, 2, 6. Target: 204.
TTT: SOFTGAG
R06: V L T R A O U A S
R07: G C D E I E P N L
R08: S T B F O A E U R
R09: D M G O E A W S T
R10: 25, 75, 3, 1, 9, 2. Target: 151.
TTT: CLUEDOP
R11: N L C I E O M X D
R12: P R N S A I O E T
R13: F L G A I A C R V
R14: 50, 100, 10, 5, 8, 3. Target: 433.
R15: R I C E T R E C K (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: S D R A E I F T N

C1: STRAINED (8)
C2: TIRADES (7)
DC: DETRAINS (8) RANDIEST (8)
Score: 8–0 (max 8)

Round 2: L K M G D E A U B

C1: GAMBLED (7)
C2: BAULKED (7)
Score: 15–7 (max 15)

Round 3: P C T O E I R Y D

C1: depictor
C2: DEPICT (6)
DC: CORDITE (7) PREDICT (7)
OT: DECRYPT (7) DIOPTRE (7) PERIDOT (7) PERCOID (7) PYRETIC (7)
Score: 15–13 (max 22)

An unlucky slip for Chris here, Agnes wisely chose not to risk it.

Round 4: S N M H E O I F E

C1: MONIES (6)
C2: homiens
DC: ENMESH (6)
OT: FOEHNS (6) HOMIES (6)
Score: 21–13 (max 28)

Round 5: 75, 9, 2, 10, 2, 6. Target: 204.

C1: 204. (75*2)+(9*6) (10)
C2: 205.
Score: 31–13 (max 38)

Teatime teaser: SOFTGAG -> FAGGOTS

Round 6: V L T R A O U A S

C1: AROUSAL (7)
C2: STOUR (5)
OT: VALUATORS (18)
Score: 38–13 (max 56)

Round 7: G C D E I E P N L

C1: PEELING (7)
C2: PENCILED (8)
Score: 38–21 (max 64)

Note: Agnes' offering is a US spelling, so it wouldn't be allowed nowadays but was fine at the time.

Round 8: S T B F O A E U R

C1: BOATERS (7)
C2: BOASTER (7)
DC: STOUR (5) SABOTEUR (8)
Score: 45–28 (max 72)

Round 9: D M G O E A W S T

C1: MEADOWS (7)
C2: STOWED (6)
DC: STOWAGE (7)
Score: 52–28 (max 79)

Round 10: 25, 75, 3, 1, 9, 2. Target: 151.

C1: 151. (75*2)+1 (10)
C2: 151. Mistake in working.
Score: 62–28 (max 89)


Teatime teaser: CLUEDOP -> COUPLED

Round 11: N L C I E O M X D

C1: DEMONIC (7)
C2: MONIED (6)
DC: LEXICON (7) MELODIC (7)
Score: 69–28 (max 96)

Round 12: P R N S A I O E T

C1: PANTRIES (8)
C2: PATRONISE (18)
OT: ISOPTERAN (18)
Score: 69–46 (max 114)

Round 13: F L G A I A C R V

C1: GARLIC (6)
C2: RACIAL (6)
DC: FACIAL (6) AGARIC (6)
OT: ARGALI (6) CAVIAR (6) GAVIAL (6)
Score: 75–52 (max 120)

Round 14: 50, 100, 10, 5, 8, 3. Target: 433.

C1: 432. (100*5)-50-10-8 (7)
C2: -
CV: 433. (50+5)*8-(10-3) (10)
Score: 82–52 (max 130)

Round 15: R I C E T R E C K

C1 buzzes on 3.5 seconds to say CRICKETER which is correct.
Score: 92–52 (max 140)

With this, Chris completes his highly impressive octochamp run. Assuming our version of the NODE is accurate, Chris has the highest available 8-game max of any octochamp currently on record, if anyone cares.


Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=47

Innis Carson wrote:With this, Chris completes his highly impressive octochamp run. Assuming our version of the NODE is accurate, Chris has the highest available 8-game max of any octochamp currently on record, if anyone cares.

I certainly care! That's pretty cool. Chris has the 8th highest octo-total with 875, but is at least 24th in terms of percentage of max with 80.6%. Presumably some of those many nines went against him.

I've often thought this is an interesting record and, as we close in on the last 200 games of the 15-round era, it looks increasingly likely that this is indeed the highest ever. We shall see...