Wednesday 24th November 2010 (Ser. 63, Prelim 98)
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:16 pm
Hello and welcome. This is Week 20, and as we close in on the finals:
[*]Are the nerves starting to show
[*]Are you sweating in anticipation
[*]Are your fingernails starting to look like they need a bit of TLC
If like me, the answer to all those questions is yes, then you've come to the right place.
So, enjoy a nice, calming Robinson Recap. Enjoy.
Countdown recap for Wednesday 24 November 2010.
C1: Champion Niall Young (6 wins, 541 points.) From Sleaford, Lincolnshire. He works as a county cricket development manager. He says the place he (and his wife) would most like to visit is New Zealand, leading Jeff to say it was probably mainly to see the cricket.
C2: Challenger Mark Bannister. From Northolt, Middlesex. He works as a software developer. His hobbies are reading, playing video games and listening to 80's music. His most memorable experience was sitting in a pub during the rain and then seeing a rainbow over St. Paul's Cathedral.
DC: Susie Dent and Gino D'Acampo, sporting a green watch today.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: C M D O I A P N E
R02: B O L A S E T D O
R03: S F P U A E D T R
R04: S O N R E T I Q A
R05: 50, 7, 10, 5, 6, 2. Target: 395.
TTT: MAKEDIRT - "Make dirty line round the side of the bath"
R06: M E T S I R E P N
R07: L S G E O E T W L
R08: R I P V N A U O R
R09: B Z D E I A G M E
R10: 1, 2, 7, 5, 8, 6. Target: 349.
TTT: DROWNNUT - "A refusal to have your hotel bedsheets prepared"
R11: V H S I E U F R C
R12: N D K W I A O E N
R13: L S Y A O I T U I
R14: 25, 8, 9, 3, 7, 7. Target: 226.
R15: P R I M E T R E E (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: C M D O I A P N E
C1: COMEDIAN (8)
C2: COMPENDIA (18)
DC: CAMPION (7) COMPANIED (18)
Score: 0–18 (max 18)
Woah, now Niall knows how it feels to be 18-0 down after 1 round. A brilliant start by the challenger, with probably the more impressive of the 2 available 9's.
Round 2: B O L A S E T D O
C1: BOOSTED (7)
C2: BLASTED (7)
DC: OBLATES (7)
OT: ALBEDOS (7) BALDEST (7) STABLED (7) BLOATED (7) BOASTED (7) SABOTED (7) BOATELS (7) BOLDEST (7) STOOLED (7) TABOOED (7)
Score: 7–25 (max 25)
Hmmm, Mark seems to wait 5 seconds..........., before declaring a not written down 7. I wonder what was on his mind
An ALBEDO is the ratio of the light reflected by a planet or satellite to that received by it, as well as being the white, inner rind of a citrus fruit.
SABOTED is an adjective relating to SABOT, a shoe made of a single block of wood hollowed out, worn especially by farmers and workers in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, etc.
A BOATEL is a waterside hotel with dock space for persons who travel by boat.
Round 3: S F P U A E D T R
C1: SPURTED (7)
C2: updaters
DC: UPDATES (7) PASTURED (8)
Score: 14–25 (max 33)
Oooh, a risky 8 doesn't pay off for Mark, and Niall is suddenly back in the game.
Round 4: S O N R E T I Q A
C1: TREASON (7)
C2: seration
DC: NOTARISE (8)
OT: NOTARIES (8) SENORITA (8)
Score: 21–25 (max 41)
Is Mark hovering over the self-destruct button He's one R short of a good word there, and all of a sudden, that 9-letter start seems to have been more or less worthless. 
Round 5: 50, 7, 10, 5, 6, 2. Target: 395.
C1: 395. (50 x 2 x (10 - 6)) - 5 (10)
C2: 395. ((6 + 2) x 50) - 5 (10)
Score: 31–35 (max 51)
Gino talks about the recipe for the pasta dish, penne all'amatriciana.
Teatime teaser: MAKEDIRT -> TIDEMARK
Round 6: M E T S I R E P N
C1: PRESENT (7)
C2: PRESENT (7)
DC: PERMITS (7)
OT: SPERMINE (8) SPREITEN (8)
Score: 38–42 (max 59)
There looked like there were more than those 2 8's there, but clearly not.
SPERMINE is a polyamine, H2 N(CH 2)3 NH(CH 2)4 NH(CH 2)3 NH2, formed from spermidine and occurring in all cells, especially prevalent in semen, sputum, pancreatic tissue, and certain yeasts.
Round 7: L S G E O E T W L
C1: STEEL (5)
C2: wellest
DC: TOWELS (6) OWLETS (6)
OT: LOWEST (6)
Score: 43–42 (max 65)
Even Mark seemed to think that his 7 didn't stand much chance of being in the dictionary, and all of a sudden, his lead has gone.
Round 8: R I P V N A U O R
C1: VAPOUR (6)
C2: VAPOUR (6)
DC: PAVIOUR (7)
Score: 49–48 (max 72)
Round 9: B Z D E I A G M E
C1: IMAGED (6)
C2: IMAGED (6)
DC: GAMED (5)
OT: BEAMED (6) MEDIAE (6)
Score: 55–54 (max 78)
2 matches in a row leaves this game still in the balance.
Susie's Origin Of Words tells of the origins of the words "desultory" and "salacious".
Round 10: 1, 2, 7, 5, 8, 6. Target: 349.
C1: 349. (7 x 5 x (8 + 2)) - 1 (10)
C2: 348.
Score: 65–54 (max 88)
Mark takes a gamble with 6 small, and it backfires spectacularly and now Niall has a double figure lead.
Teatime teaser: DROWNNUT -> TURNDOWN
Round 11: V H S I E U F R C
C1: CHIVES (6)
C2: CHIVES (6)
DC: FISH (4) CURSIVE (7)
OT: CUSHIER (7)
Score: 71–60 (max 95)
2 7's lurking there, but everyone is happy with some chives. Maybe Gino can cook something with some later.
Round 12: N D K W I A O E N
C1: WINKED (6)
C2: WINKED (6)
OT: AWOKEN (6) DAIKON (6) DINNAE (6) ENDIAN (6) OINKED (6) WANKED (6)
Score: 77–66 (max 101)
Susie says that they could see nothing else but WINKED. Why do I think that's not true 
ENDIAN is a suffix used in the terms "big-endian" and "little-endian", that describe the ordering of bytes in a multi-byte number.
Round 13: L S Y A O I T U I
C1: LOUTS (5)
C2: OUTLAYS (7)
DC: AIOLI (5) OUTSAIL (7)
OT: LAYOUTS (7)
Score: 77–73 (max 108)
This game now might have an interesting finish thanks to Mark's 7, but will he gamble in the numbers again
Round 14: 25, 8, 9, 3, 7, 7. Target: 226.
C1: 226. (9 x 25) + 8 - 7 (10)
C2: 226. (9 x 25) + (7 / 7) (10)
Score: 87–83 (max 118)
The answer is no, as he now seems to be gambling on the conundrum instead. An easy numbers arrives and for the first time in a week and a half, we have a crucial conundrum.
Round 15: P R I M E T R E E
C1 buzzes on 0.5 seconds to say PERIMETER which is correct.
Final Score: 97–83 (max 128)
Pfff, that was quick and Niall makes it a magnificent 7 thanks to a magnificent comeback against Mark, who after starting with the brilliant COMPENDIA, had too many risks, which proved to be his downfall in the end.
But now, Niall can seal his place in the finals tomorrow just by scoring 69 points, whether he wins or loses.
Join me tomorrow to see if he can make it another magnificent 7 of octochamps.
Till then, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
Niall:
Total score - 97
Raw score - 110
Total % of max - 76
Raw % of max - 86
Total average score per round - 6.5
Raw average score per round - 7.3
Number of maxes - 7
Mark:
Total score - 83
Raw score - 90
Total % of max - 65
Raw % of max - 70
Total average score per round - 5.5
Raw average score per round - 6.0
Number of maxes - 7
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=63
[*]Are the nerves starting to show
[*]Are you sweating in anticipation
[*]Are your fingernails starting to look like they need a bit of TLC
If like me, the answer to all those questions is yes, then you've come to the right place.
So, enjoy a nice, calming Robinson Recap. Enjoy.
Countdown recap for Wednesday 24 November 2010.
C1: Champion Niall Young (6 wins, 541 points.) From Sleaford, Lincolnshire. He works as a county cricket development manager. He says the place he (and his wife) would most like to visit is New Zealand, leading Jeff to say it was probably mainly to see the cricket.
C2: Challenger Mark Bannister. From Northolt, Middlesex. He works as a software developer. His hobbies are reading, playing video games and listening to 80's music. His most memorable experience was sitting in a pub during the rain and then seeing a rainbow over St. Paul's Cathedral.
DC: Susie Dent and Gino D'Acampo, sporting a green watch today.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: C M D O I A P N E
R02: B O L A S E T D O
R03: S F P U A E D T R
R04: S O N R E T I Q A
R05: 50, 7, 10, 5, 6, 2. Target: 395.
TTT: MAKEDIRT - "Make dirty line round the side of the bath"
R06: M E T S I R E P N
R07: L S G E O E T W L
R08: R I P V N A U O R
R09: B Z D E I A G M E
R10: 1, 2, 7, 5, 8, 6. Target: 349.
TTT: DROWNNUT - "A refusal to have your hotel bedsheets prepared"
R11: V H S I E U F R C
R12: N D K W I A O E N
R13: L S Y A O I T U I
R14: 25, 8, 9, 3, 7, 7. Target: 226.
R15: P R I M E T R E E (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
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SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
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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: C M D O I A P N E
C1: COMEDIAN (8)
C2: COMPENDIA (18)
DC: CAMPION (7) COMPANIED (18)
Score: 0–18 (max 18)
Woah, now Niall knows how it feels to be 18-0 down after 1 round. A brilliant start by the challenger, with probably the more impressive of the 2 available 9's.
Round 2: B O L A S E T D O
C1: BOOSTED (7)
C2: BLASTED (7)
DC: OBLATES (7)
OT: ALBEDOS (7) BALDEST (7) STABLED (7) BLOATED (7) BOASTED (7) SABOTED (7) BOATELS (7) BOLDEST (7) STOOLED (7) TABOOED (7)
Score: 7–25 (max 25)
Hmmm, Mark seems to wait 5 seconds..........., before declaring a not written down 7. I wonder what was on his mind
An ALBEDO is the ratio of the light reflected by a planet or satellite to that received by it, as well as being the white, inner rind of a citrus fruit.
SABOTED is an adjective relating to SABOT, a shoe made of a single block of wood hollowed out, worn especially by farmers and workers in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, etc.
A BOATEL is a waterside hotel with dock space for persons who travel by boat.
Round 3: S F P U A E D T R
C1: SPURTED (7)
C2: updaters
DC: UPDATES (7) PASTURED (8)
Score: 14–25 (max 33)
Oooh, a risky 8 doesn't pay off for Mark, and Niall is suddenly back in the game.
Round 4: S O N R E T I Q A
C1: TREASON (7)
C2: seration
DC: NOTARISE (8)
OT: NOTARIES (8) SENORITA (8)
Score: 21–25 (max 41)
Is Mark hovering over the self-destruct button
He's one R short of a good word there, and all of a sudden, that 9-letter start seems to have been more or less worthless. Round 5: 50, 7, 10, 5, 6, 2. Target: 395.
C1: 395. (50 x 2 x (10 - 6)) - 5 (10)
C2: 395. ((6 + 2) x 50) - 5 (10)
Score: 31–35 (max 51)
Gino talks about the recipe for the pasta dish, penne all'amatriciana.
Teatime teaser: MAKEDIRT -> TIDEMARK
Round 6: M E T S I R E P N
C1: PRESENT (7)
C2: PRESENT (7)
DC: PERMITS (7)
OT: SPERMINE (8) SPREITEN (8)
Score: 38–42 (max 59)
There looked like there were more than those 2 8's there, but clearly not.
SPERMINE is a polyamine, H2 N(CH 2)3 NH(CH 2)4 NH(CH 2)3 NH2, formed from spermidine and occurring in all cells, especially prevalent in semen, sputum, pancreatic tissue, and certain yeasts.
Round 7: L S G E O E T W L
C1: STEEL (5)
C2: wellest
DC: TOWELS (6) OWLETS (6)
OT: LOWEST (6)
Score: 43–42 (max 65)
Even Mark seemed to think that his 7 didn't stand much chance of being in the dictionary, and all of a sudden, his lead has gone.
Round 8: R I P V N A U O R
C1: VAPOUR (6)
C2: VAPOUR (6)
DC: PAVIOUR (7)
Score: 49–48 (max 72)
Round 9: B Z D E I A G M E
C1: IMAGED (6)
C2: IMAGED (6)
DC: GAMED (5)
OT: BEAMED (6) MEDIAE (6)
Score: 55–54 (max 78)
2 matches in a row leaves this game still in the balance.
Susie's Origin Of Words tells of the origins of the words "desultory" and "salacious".
Round 10: 1, 2, 7, 5, 8, 6. Target: 349.
C1: 349. (7 x 5 x (8 + 2)) - 1 (10)
C2: 348.
Score: 65–54 (max 88)
Mark takes a gamble with 6 small, and it backfires spectacularly and now Niall has a double figure lead.
Teatime teaser: DROWNNUT -> TURNDOWN
Round 11: V H S I E U F R C
C1: CHIVES (6)
C2: CHIVES (6)
DC: FISH (4) CURSIVE (7)
OT: CUSHIER (7)
Score: 71–60 (max 95)
2 7's lurking there, but everyone is happy with some chives. Maybe Gino can cook something with some later.
Round 12: N D K W I A O E N
C1: WINKED (6)
C2: WINKED (6)
OT: AWOKEN (6) DAIKON (6) DINNAE (6) ENDIAN (6) OINKED (6) WANKED (6)
Score: 77–66 (max 101)
Susie says that they could see nothing else but WINKED. Why do I think that's not true
ENDIAN is a suffix used in the terms "big-endian" and "little-endian", that describe the ordering of bytes in a multi-byte number.
Round 13: L S Y A O I T U I
C1: LOUTS (5)
C2: OUTLAYS (7)
DC: AIOLI (5) OUTSAIL (7)
OT: LAYOUTS (7)
Score: 77–73 (max 108)
This game now might have an interesting finish thanks to Mark's 7, but will he gamble in the numbers again
Round 14: 25, 8, 9, 3, 7, 7. Target: 226.
C1: 226. (9 x 25) + 8 - 7 (10)
C2: 226. (9 x 25) + (7 / 7) (10)
Score: 87–83 (max 118)
The answer is no, as he now seems to be gambling on the conundrum instead. An easy numbers arrives and for the first time in a week and a half, we have a crucial conundrum.
Round 15: P R I M E T R E E
C1 buzzes on 0.5 seconds to say PERIMETER which is correct.
Final Score: 97–83 (max 128)
Pfff, that was quick and Niall makes it a magnificent 7 thanks to a magnificent comeback against Mark, who after starting with the brilliant COMPENDIA, had too many risks, which proved to be his downfall in the end.
But now, Niall can seal his place in the finals tomorrow just by scoring 69 points, whether he wins or loses.
Join me tomorrow to see if he can make it another magnificent 7 of octochamps.
Till then, bye bye.
Statistics Corner
Niall:
Total score - 97
Raw score - 110
Total % of max - 76
Raw % of max - 86
Total average score per round - 6.5
Raw average score per round - 7.3
Number of maxes - 7
Mark:
Total score - 83
Raw score - 90
Total % of max - 65
Raw % of max - 70
Total average score per round - 5.5
Raw average score per round - 6.0
Number of maxes - 7
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=63