Spoilers for Thursday 22nd January (CofC XIII QF1)

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:26 pm

RELATIONS in R1 and ORDINATES in R2.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:29 pm

This is going to be an amazing game methinks.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:38 pm

Alternative for R5: (75+(100/50)+1)*8+9

Mark Kudlowski · Post by **Mark Kudlowski** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:42 pm

Letters Game 1;

It's not as good as IDOLATER, it's only 7 letters, but there was no mention of it in Dictionary Corner, and no guffaws from the audience. (Scroll down)

The first LEOTARD of the new series !

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:48 pm

ANGORAS as an equaller in round 6.

Mark Kudlowski · Post by **Mark Kudlowski** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:57 pm

2nd numbers alt:

50 - (100/(75-25)) = 48; 48 x 9 = 432

Chris Davies · Post by **Chris Davies** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:58 pm

CHANSON as a contestant and DC beater just before the second numbers game. But, I didn't get PESTICIDE.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:03 pm

Chris Davies wrote:I didn't get PESTICIDE

As far as I'm aware, he was the only person to get it in the whole building.

Chris Davies · Post by **Chris Davies** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:05 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Chris Davies wrote:I didn't get PESTICIDE
As far as I'm aware, he was the only person to get it in the whole building.

Wow. Excellent spot - I won't kick myself then.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:13 pm

One of the best game's we've ever had! Almost perfection from both players. I don't think Dictionary Corner beat Steve in any round, although it was possible! DILEMMA and CHANSON (this one came up a few days ago, although they didn't know that at the time).

Steve was my tip to win the tournament (if anyone can find that message, feel free) and he's looking a lot like Paul Gallen did in the last tournament, i.e. he wasn't unbeaten but he's progressed so much since he was last on, he looks almost unbeatable. He's already beaten the tournament favourite (apart from Corby, I mean).

Oh for the second numbers, it's just 48 * 9 but you can't get the 48 I think. However you can do:

75 / 25 = 3
50 - 3 = 47
47 * 9 = 423
423 + 9 = 432

Edit, ok you can get the 48, but my solution still works

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:14 pm

What an extraordinary game - tied IIRC on every round except one, which meant that David's conundrum spot would have given him the game. Amazingly, though both contestants beat me in more than half of the letters rounds, I spotted PESTICIDE almost immediately.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:20 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:What an extraordinary game - tied IIRC on every round except one, which meant that David's conundrum spot would have given him the game. Amazingly, though both contestants beat me in more than half of the letters rounds, I spotted PESTICIDE almost immediately.

FWIW I'd have held David to a crucial conundrum, then lost. And Steve would have beaten me (long) before the conundrum.

Rufus Frog · Post by **Rufus Frog** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:24 pm

Fabulous game! I couldn't believe Steve had only been a QFist previously - what a great choice by the producers.

I bet David was gutted to be defeated by bug spray.

I think in the DARIOLES round there was also CARIOLES (possibly my only 8).

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:42 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:RELATIONS in R1 and ORDINATES in R2.

How?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:47 pm

Classic game, just amazing to watch. To score in 14 rounds and still lose is tremendously unlucky. Both players were awesome.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:53 pm

Looking on the CDB site too, 228 seems to be the highest combined total.

Well done to both players for a truly amazing game.

jeff wharton · Post by **jeff wharton** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:59 pm

What a fantastic game.Both players were on top form.I can,t remember seeing anyone lose with a score of 110 before.
Would oarsman have been ok for round six?
Well done to both contestants.

Michael Simmonds · Post by **Michael Simmonds** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:04 pm

I'd just like to say how magnanimous I felt David was in defeat. He always congratulated his opponent, especially after his 9 letter spot, and was still cracking jokes on the last numbers game, even though he knew he was beaten by then.

Allan Harmer · Post by **Allan Harmer** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:04 pm

I have to echo the plaudits and congratulate both players on a magnificent game.

I have watched CD from the very beginning and can't remember many better.

Really looking forward to the remaining games as they all look too close to call.

Al.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:06 pm

jeff wharton wrote:What a fantastic game.Both players were on top form.I can,t remember seeing anyone lose with a score of 110 before.
Would oarsman have been ok for round six?
Well done to both contestants.

You are right Jeff. According to the CDB the highest losing score was 107 by Terry Rattle in series 48, not sure thought about series 59 or the other CoC's.

OARSMAN for round 6 is okay

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:17 pm

Joseph Bolas wrote:Looking on the CDB site too, 228 seems to be the highest combined total.

Well done to both players for a truly amazing game.

Matt Shore lost to Mark Tournoff 124-117 didn't he in the last CoC?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:17 pm

Joseph Bolas wrote:
jeff wharton wrote:What a fantastic game.Both players were on top form.I can,t remember seeing anyone lose with a score of 110 before.
Would oarsman have been ok for round six?
Well done to both contestants.
You are right Jeff. According to the CDB the highest losing score was 107 by Terry Rattle in series 48, not sure thought about series 59 or the other CoC's.

Here's where you should be looking. 110 is the third highest losing score ever, but by the far the highest without a 9.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:23 pm

Brilliant game and played in a great spirit, PESTICIDE was an excellent spot.

I was trying to look at the games from the previous CofC on cdb but the recaps won't display. Thought it might be a general error but the borkage appears restricted to these games.

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:34 pm

Congratulations to Steven for an awesome performance; he really knocked the wind out of my sails with that PESTICIDE spot. I think I literally had to shake it off which thankfully never made it to our screens. I had DILEMMA then I forgot I had it but didn't feel too bad since it wouldn't have been enough to force a crucial. Didn't see CHANSON but when I was chatting to Tony Warren he mentioned CANONES^? and that reminded me of ANCONES. Not a terrible miss you might think but it had come up about 5 times on Countgen during my practice so that left me a little gutted.

Steven was a great opponent and actually apologised for the nine spot telling me it had come up in some conundrum practice so he said it was just luck. I did the old golfer quote (Gary Player?): 'seems like the more I practice the luckier I get.' Actually, it has come up in one of my online games as a conundrum: I didn't get it then either!

It was a real pleasure to be involved in that game though a crucial conundrum would have been a more dramatic ending (says the loser!) Incidentally, Steven was just behind me on the conundrum: I heard his button make a click noise as I pressed. I think in a crucial situation where Steven would not be so relaxed (like knowing the game was in the bag) that he might have edged me to it.

Ah well, probably not much point reflecting on 'might-have-beens' - it was a great victory from a very polite and humble young man.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:36 pm

Jon Corby wrote:
Joseph Bolas wrote:Looking on the CDB site too, 228 seems to be the highest combined total.

Well done to both players for a truly amazing game.
Matt Shore lost to Mark Tournoff 124-117 didn't he in the last CoC?

That's right that yeah. I was looking in the wrong place

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:38 pm

To quote Amanda Holden on BGT "unbelievably brilliant".

I had a few equallers that I forgot to mention, TAILORED, IDOCRASE, CORDIALS and OPIATES.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:38 pm

What an amazing game. I can only echo everyone else's sentiments but I think that was the best game I ever recall seeing, even though I'd already picked up on the result.
Enjoyed it immensely and I've been so impressed by Steve, I really have. This is a great CoC.

1st numbers alternate (quite a simple version):
75 x 9 = 675, - 50 + 8 = 633

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:51 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:What an amazing game. I can only echo everyone else's sentiments but I think that was the best game I ever recall seeing, even though I'd already picked up on the result.
Enjoyed it immensely and I've been so impressed by Steve, I really have. This is a great CoC.

1st numbers alternate (quite a simple version):
75 x 9 = 675, - 50 + 8 = 633

That was my first method but Junaid kept telling me I had to go for 'flair' methods.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:00 pm

Trust me to be out of the country when the best game of all time is shown.

Richard Priest · Post by **Richard Priest** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:04 pm

What can I say, amazing game.I pretty much matched them on the letters (had PESTICIDE and CHANSON but missed EQUATE

) but was sadly wanting on the first 2 numbers and nowhere near the conundrum.

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:23 pm

As I said in the hotel bar afterwards: Best game of Countdown I have seen ever! Congrats both players for making it so exciting. Its a shame these red hot favourites had to run into one another so early in the competition. Would have made a great final. Well done Steven. Commiserations David. I'm sure you'll still get a record deal though...

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:54 pm

What a fantastic game, one of the best I've ever seen, I played pretty well watching at home and still lost narrowly to both players, well done to both men involved.

And Steven Briers = Sid from Skins.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:55 pm

Ben Pugh wrote:Steven Briers = Sid from Skins.

Fuck yeah! That's been killing me since I first saw him, thanks for putting my mind at ease!

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:31 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:
Chris Davies wrote:I didn't get PESTICIDE
As far as I'm aware, he was the only person to get it in the whole building.

Nuh-uh, I got it

Still would've got battered by both players though. Amazaing game. DoD was always gonna be tough to beat and it took something really special from Steve. Talk about setting the tournament alight.

Steven Briers · Post by **Steven Briers** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:20 pm

It was truly a remarkable game. I still consider myself to be one lucky guy, especially with PESTICIDE (which as David said I had recently got as a conundrum in a practice game, which explains why it came to me). Had it not been for that round, me and David would've equalled each other right the way through to the conundrum (which I think would've been too nerve-racking to bear) and he would've just pipped me to it.

I can vouch for David as he told me he had DILEMMA in round 7, which I was nowhere near spotting and it unluckily slipped his mind.

David was a great bloke on and off camera, and not taking into account the result, it was a pleasure being part of what was an incredibly exciting and entertaining game. Had it been any other day, I've no doubt David would've shown me the door.

Heather Culpin · Post by **Heather Culpin** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:43 pm

Yes, as everyone has said, it was an amazing game. Well done both of you - wow! And played in a friendly way too which made it all the more enjoyable to watch. As others have said, I think it was the best game I have ever seen. The only alternative I have to offer on any round is CALORIES (on the DARIOLES round), and I'm trying to give them up ......

Matthew Green · Post by **Matthew Green** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:08 pm

Junaid Mubeen wrote:
Kai Laddiman wrote:
Chris Davies wrote:I didn't get PESTICIDE
As far as I'm aware, he was the only person to get it in the whole building.
Nuh-uh, I got it Still would've got battered by both players though. Amazaing game. DoD was always gonna be tough to beat and it took something really special from Steve. Talk about setting the tournament alight.

I can testify that Junaid did spot PESTICIDE. In fact, he 'whispered' it so loudly I'm surprised DoD didnt hear him!

Amazing game though, proof that Damien/Damian (still dont know Charlie

) should have seeded it properly as this should have been a semi-final at the very least. Imagine Federer and Nadal meeting in a QF?

Stewart Holden · Post by **Stewart Holden** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:22 pm

Fantastic game, one of the best I can remember. Well done to both players.

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:52 pm

Matthew Green wrote:Amazing game though, proof that Damien/Damian (still dont know Charlie ) should have seeded it properly

I don't think you can criticise Damian for his seedings in relation to this encounter, remember that Steven was knocked out in the quarter finals of his series - this match was the highest-scoring octochamp and champion in the competition versus the only contestant left in who did not at least make it to the semis of their series.

Martin Bishop · Post by **Martin Bishop** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:09 pm

My stupidly overcomplicated numbers solution of the day came in the third numbers.

100+(50/25)=102
102*4=408
408-7=401

I've been playing some of my best countdown at home recently, but I couldn't match the standard today. Well done to both players on a near-perfect game.

Dan Vanniasingham · Post by **Dan Vanniasingham** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:12 pm

I don't think Ben's comment above is entirely accurate, but I share the sentiment - nothing wrong with the seedings at all.

Just caught up with the game thanks to 4OD, and I don't have much to add to the above. That's what countdown is about for me - not what shoes Rachel is wearing, or why the set is now blue. Two top-class contestants scoring almost perfectly under huge pressure. Thanks for that guys, it was great to watch.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:42 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote:As I said in the hotel bar afterwards: Best game of Countdown I have seen ever! Congrats both players for making it so exciting. Its a shame these red hot favourites had to run into one another so early in the competition. Would have made a great final. Well done Steven. Commiserations David. I'm sure you'll still get a record deal though...

I was in the audience for Chris Wills 113 - 111 David Williams, fair to say that wasn't too shabby either.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:49 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:
Dinos Sfyris wrote:As I said in the hotel bar afterwards: Best game of Countdown I have seen ever! Congrats both players for making it so exciting. Its a shame these red hot favourites had to run into one another so early in the competition. Would have made a great final. Well done Steven. Commiserations David. I'm sure you'll still get a record deal though...
I was in the audience for Chris Wills 113 - 111 David Williams, fair to say that wasn't too shabby either.

I think the formula CoC=awesome games has long since been proven.

(Fell-Nash ftw)

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:03 am

That was quite simply the best game of Countdown. Ever. I was pleased with IDOCRASE, KATIPOS, MARGOSA (as an obscure equaller to the awesome SAMANGO and SAGUARO), DILEMMA, PESTICIDE and ANCONES/CHANSON in round 9. In fact I was absolutely loving the contest and I was sat on 14/14 maximums. My first ever max game on TV Countdown - and in a CofC? I was so excited - so much so, I could hardly concentrate when David's bell rang on half a second to say PANTYHOSE. Absolutely phemonenal (even if it did stop me getting the max game). Thanks guys.

Kathleen Batlle · Post by **Kathleen Batlle** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:17 am

I had to record the show and have only just watched it. Wow, what a fantastic contest and congratulations to Steve, although David was absolutely brilliant too. That has got to be one of the best games to date, but who knows what's in store for tomorrow.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:09 am

kathleen batlle wrote:That has got to be one of the best games to date, but who knows what's in store for tomorrow.

A good proportion of this forum, the lucky buggers.

Howard Somerset · Post by **Howard Somerset** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:48 am

Brilliant game. Certainly equals those great games we had in COC12. Congrats to both players. And commiserations to David for going out when playing so well.

I felt that the only anticlimax of the whole game was the easy R14, which meant that the conundrum wasn't crucial.

I also had different solutions from the contestants for the other two numbers rounds, as Kai for R5, and as as Mark for R10.

jonathan.coles · Post by **jonathan.coles** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:11 pm

This is my first post on the forum so apologies if it contravenes any conventions. I felt I had to post following this game. I was lucky enough to be in the Green Room watching this as it unfolded and it was tremendous. However, watching it yesterday I hadn't appreciated just how brilliantly both Steve & David had performed. I think I'd given up trying to compete after the samango round and just sat back and enjoyed. Truly a shame that one of them had to lose. I know from my own experience that you have to pull out something special to beat DoD so well done to Steve again and many commiserations to DoD. They really set an amazing standard.

Scott Bagnall · Post by **Scott Bagnall** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:00 pm

It was an amazing game, but i have to admit i had a feeling David was going to loose. I can't put my finger on why i just had a feeling.

Clare Sudbery · Post by **Clare Sudbery** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:43 pm

I wonder if Rachel has been practising Carol's trick of super-fast reproduction of contestants' declarations on the letters board? I'm missing that, it's nice to see the words spelt out, not least because sometimes contestants mumble or my attention is distracted by small children at the crucial moment. I hope Rachel learns to do it too!

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:59 pm

I think they've stopped doing that as often now. Mostly because its a bit silly editing it in if its a simple word like EDITORS or LAZIEST because its not worth it. But they still do it if its a really good or unusual word eg ETHMOIDS or a niner like PESTICIDE ie when credit is due. Also with words like DYSPNOEA people might be curious of the spelling so its useful then too.

Clare Sudbery · Post by **Clare Sudbery** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:08 pm

I bet I'm not that unusual (although I might be amongst people who frequent this 'ere forum) in having it on in the background whilst doing other things though... in which case it is useful cos it means you don't have to rely on hearing what people are saying (particularly useful if sound is down, too).

Ray Folwell · Post by **Ray Folwell** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:16 pm

Clare Sudbery wrote:I wonder if Rachel has been practising Carol's trick of super-fast reproduction of contestants' declarations on the letters board?

From what I remember from when I went to a recording some time ago, these were shot at the end of the show and edited in afterwards.
There does seem to be less editing in this series, quite a few of Rachel's slips could have been edited out, but have been left in.

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:53 pm

9 points for 9-letter words anyone?

Gavin Chipper · Post by **Gavin Chipper** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:57 pm

When Susie got ZEROTH, presumably that would be pronounced like ZERO with a TH on the end, like an ordinal number?

Edit - Just noticed Martin Gardner's commented on this in another thread.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:20 pm

Gavin Chipper wrote:When Susie got ZEROTH, presumably that would be pronounced like ZERO with a TH on the end, like an ordinal number?

Edit - Just noticed Martin Gardner's commented on this in another thread.

Yeah, I also asked if you could pluralise it, and nobody's yet answered.

Howard Somerset · Post by **Howard Somerset** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:37 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:Yeah, I also asked if you could pluralise it, and nobody's yet answered.

Since ZEROTH is listed only as an adjective, I don't see that pluralising it is an option.

Nicholas Randall · Post by **Nicholas Randall** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:33 pm

Unlucky David but if Steven plays like he did last Thursday he should win it.