Spoilers for Friday 23rd January (CofC XIII QF2)

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:29 pm

Junaid vs Charlie

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:32 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:Junaid vs Charlie

I know that game's already started, but I tipped Junaid to win this.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:33 pm

MOSSES? Seems unlikely...

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:33 pm

Round 3: I had MOSSES (as in types of moss) - any good? (DC and contestant beater if it is)

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:34 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:MOSSES? Seems unlikely...

great minds Martin... I'll be chuffed if it's in as I equalled in first 2 rounds with CALORIES and CRAZIES... would be my best CoC-from-home start ever!

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:35 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:MOSSES? Seems unlikely...

Out of time, but you can have MOSEYS (mosey on down to the pub, etc).

Mark Kudlowski · Post by **Mark Kudlowski** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:38 pm

1st numbers alt

5 x (7 + 3) x (6 + 2)

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:38 pm

This is already an extraordinary match before it's begun - Charlie's not wearing a green shirt...

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:40 pm

I'm surprised no-one has mention the slightly obvious MESSES yet.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:43 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:I'm surprised no-one has mention the slightly obvious MESSES yet.

Susie didn't mention it when Junaid and Charlie risked MESSERS so didn't know it was in (that's my excuse

).

I liked the bit at the beginning where they showed how the letters/numbers board actually rotates.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:49 pm

KNTHOEUIG - TOKING to equal Charlie... feel like there's a 7 in there...

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:51 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:KNTHOEUIG - TOKING to equal Charlie... feel like there's a 7 in there...

TOUGHIE/TOUGHEN.

It's weird. I remembered the first few games of the tournament quite well, but I hardly remember these ones. Maybe cos I had a few beers Sunday night because I had the day off

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:53 pm

2nd Numbers Alt:

((75 + 5) x (8 / (5 - 3)) + 1

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:53 pm

numbers alternate for 75 8 5 5 3 1 (target 321)

75 - 5 - 1 = 69, x 5 = 345
8 x 3 = 24
345 - 24 = 321

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:54 pm

(5-1)x8 +75 x3

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:54 pm

Alternative numbers solution in round 10:

(75 + 5x5 + 8 - 1) x 3

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:54 pm

Jon Corby wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:KNTHOEUIG - TOKING to equal Charlie... feel like there's a 7 in there...
TOUGHIE/TOUGHEN.

Cheers Jon! Quick side note - did you get my F365-forum-related PMs? Not sure as I kept replying to my own message, not sure if you saw them. I did finally get registered, username 'lenoz'.

Ray Folwell · Post by **Ray Folwell** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:56 pm

2nd numbers alternative
(8+5) x 75/3 -(5-1)

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:58 pm

FLAVONOID!!!!

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:59 pm

VINDALOO+F...

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:00 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:
Jon Corby wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:KNTHOEUIG - TOKING to equal Charlie... feel like there's a 7 in there...
TOUGHIE/TOUGHEN.
Cheers Jon! Quick side note - did you get my F365-forum-related PMs? Not sure as I kept replying to my own message, not sure if you saw them. I did finally get registered, username 'lenoz'.

Ah, yes. I did. I see you haven't posted yet though !

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:01 pm

Did Rachel put up anything for the second numbers game? If she did I blinked and missed it...

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:04 pm

ADENOID to equal in round 13.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:07 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:ADENOID to equal in round 13.

BONG!

Plural only.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:08 pm

Jon Corby wrote:Ah, yes. I did. I see you haven't posted yet though !

Yeah I've not even had a look yet! Will have to find the Countdown stuff on there that people were mentioning before... your username is?

Lesley Jeavons wrote:Did Rachel put up anything for the second numbers game? If she did I blinked and missed it...

that talk yesterday (in some other thread) about not getting to see many of the words spelled out...
annoyed me today in the round where Charlie and Junaid both gave that geological term for 6 points.
Not a word I'd heard before (and not an 'obvious' word to most of the audience I'd presume) so seemed odd it wasn't spelt out.

Anyway, great game... well done Charlie!
Loved the way you quote words I've never heard of with utter confidence on one hand, and then on the other sheepishly admit to (what I'd call) obvious words like BUNGEE and CANDIED as if you expect them to be wrong! Crazy vocab you have. Quality game.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:11 pm

Another close match there, well played both. Well done to Charlie and commiserations to Junaid.

You gotta love those crucial conundrums

I thought it was GRAILLESS at first, before spotting SALESGIRL.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:11 pm

Jon Corby wrote:
Phil Reynolds wrote:ADENOID to equal in round 13.
BONG! Plural only.

As James May would say, oh cock.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:13 pm

Terrific game, well done both. Alastair Stewart is not normally among my favourite DC guests but I loved the way he got into the game today - and his tribute to you both at the end brought a small lump to my throat.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:13 pm

Lesley Jeavons wrote:(5-1)x8 +75 x3

I did that, although it's ((5-1)*8+75)*3 otherwise technically it's 257.

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:17 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:
Lesley Jeavons wrote:(5-1)x8 +75 x3
I did that, although it's ((5-1)*8+75)*3 otherwise technically it's 257.

I never knew what '*' meant, thank you. I noticed after posting I'd left out my second brackets, but didn't want to go back and edit in case it made me look stupid.

Ray Folwell · Post by **Ray Folwell** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:18 pm

Well done Charlie - revenge is sweet

3rd numbers alt (without using 50) : (4x5-1) x (8+3)

John Bosley · Post by **John Bosley** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:28 pm

I think Junaid and Charlie were brilliant today and showed the spirit of Countdown at its best. But they missed a 9 - Deleted sorry - I'll look for a spoiler or whatever it's in our dictionary anyway. (Actually my wife got it!

)

I copied this from another thread and find that Kai beat me anyway - it was FLAVONOID - which I see is not in all dictionaries anyway.

I shall now give up this silly game.

Rory MacDonald · Post by **Rory MacDonald** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:31 pm

In todays champion of champions with Charlie Reams and Junaid Mubeen, neither of them got 321, and perhaps rachel riley didn't either (Jeff went straight to the tea time teaser to save her the embarassment?). I, and I'm sure many others as well, found it easy and got 321, and had to use all six numbers.

(8 / (5-3) )*( 75+5 ) + 1 = 321

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:35 pm

Rory MacDonald wrote:In todays champion of champions with Charlie Reams and Junaid Mubeen, neither of them got 321, and perhaps rachel riley didn't either (Jeff went straight to the tea time teaser to save her the embarassment?). I, and I'm sure many others as well, found it easy and got 321, and had to use all six numbers.
(8 / (5-3) )*( 75+5 ) + 1 = 321

Thanks for your post Rory but make sure you read the rest of the thread first!
Firstly, Junaid DID get 321 right, so there was nothing to go to Rachel for. Secondly, scroll up and you'll see that tons have people have already posted 321 solutions in this thread.

Simon Myers · Post by **Simon Myers** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:40 pm

Good game today, and well done to Charlie for avenging his earlier defeat. I actually had already guessed Charlie was going to be the victor of this one, because I took this game on apterous:

http://apterous.org/viewgame.php?game=14795

to be a likely deciding game between the two of them (it's the only 15-rd game they've ever played and it was within the week following CoC).

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:41 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:I'm surprised no-one has mention the slightly obvious MESSES yet.

That's what I was going to post

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:46 pm

John Bosley wrote:I think Junaid and Charlie were brilliant today and showed the spirit of Countdown at its best. But they missed a 9 - Deleted sorry - I'll look for a spoiler or whatever it's in our dictionary anyway. (Actually my wife got it! )

I copied this from another thread and find that Kai beat me anyway - it was FLAVONOID - which I see is not in all dictionaries anyway.

I shall now give up this silly game.

Lol, you deleted the nine here, but not in the non-spoiler thread.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:48 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:Loved the way you quote words I've never heard of with utter confidence on one hand, and then on the other sheepishly admit to (what I'd call) obvious words like BUNGEE and CANDIED as if you expect them to be wrong! Crazy vocab you have. Quality game.

Obviously I knew BUNGEE as in BUNGEE JUMP, but I was worried that it might be there only in that combination, not individually, and hence wouldn't be allowed. But I figured there was probably a verb to bungee, so I went for it. In the CANDIED round, I spotted DUODENA right at the end of the round and hence said I had a dodgy 7, but before Jeff came to me I remembered that I had CANDIED as well so I said that one. DUODENA is good anyway, as it happens.

Anyway, the main thing I wanted to say was that watching today's game really got me back into the mindset that I think we all had at the time; that this was an amazing opportunity to do Countdown for one last time, and that win or lose we were going to enjoy every minute of it. On another day either of us might have got the conundrum. Junaid's sportsmanship, before and after the result was determined, was just incredible and it wasn't until I saw the programme today (without the nerves of the moment) that I realised the full extent of it. Junaid is an awesome guy and anyone who finds his on-air persona arrogant has misunderstood him and his sense of humour. He even leant over after the CRAZIES round to congratulate me on the good word, although unfortunately that bit got snipped. Absolute legend, and our campaign for a special show to break the 1-1 tie starts here!

PS Regarding the "spoilerific" Apterous game, I'm pretty sure we would've played it whatever the result, because we'd never played on there before (Jack Brown notwithstanding) and felt like we probably should. The score probably explains why I've declined any future games! Anyway, you chaps read way too much into things. There are only two outcomes, you might as well toss a coin and call that a spoiler.

jeff wharton · Post by **jeff wharton** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:51 pm

Another good close game.The standard is so high I will be glad when we get back to the normal games so that I don,t feel so inferior.

I did manage to get crazies,and candied though.
Here is my solution to the second numbers game to go with the rest of them.
75-8x5=335-3x5-1=321

Howard Somerset · Post by **Howard Somerset** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:56 pm

Another great game. Did you buzz on 29 secs just to scare Charlie, Junaid? I bet it worked.

Well done, Charlie, and commiserations, Junaid.

I was also surprised when Susie said there was nothing better than 5 in the MESSERS round; I also had MESSES as an obvious six.

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:11 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:Firstly, Junaid DID get 321 right, so there was nothing to go to Rachel for. Secondly, scroll up and you'll see that tons have people have already posted 321 solutions in this thread.

Oh, I hadn't realised Junaid got it, I thought he fluffed. (That's what I get for doing several things at once.) That's why I thought that it was odd Rachel wasn't asked for a solution.

And Charlie, your words about Junaid are lovely. Very sporting of you back!

I've obvs missed any ref here to him ever appearing arrogant - I'd never have thought that of him.

Jimmy Gough · Post by **Jimmy Gough** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:22 pm

I so enjoy watching these CoC games. The standard is superb but the sportmanship and the general friendly atmosphere makes it so great. Also, the fact that most of the contestants are members of the forum make it extraly good

. It will be a shame when it finishes but for the time being I'm loving it. I dunno about previous CoCs but there seems to be lots of personality from the contestants and all of them come across as extremely likeable, which perhaps isn't the usual image of a countdown champ.

Thanks for a great game Charlie and Junaid (and David and Steve yesterday). So great, just can't wait to go on the show myself!

Ralph Gillions · Post by **Ralph Gillions** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:28 pm

Another splendid game.
Many congratulations Charlie and commiserations Junaid.
It was a pleasure to see such skill and spirit in a single game.
Well done.

Clare Sudbery · Post by **Clare Sudbery** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:32 pm

Ooh, I was screaming SALEGIRLS at the telly after about 10 seconds, so it's a good thing I wasn't playing or I'd given it to my opponent!

Chris Corby · Post by **Chris Corby** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:39 pm

The atmosphere at this CofC is really starting to come across now after this match. Having witnessed it at close hand, I can state that all the contestants really respected one another and loved being in each other's company. I took some photos of them away from the studio and we will post a link to them after the challenge has finished though I don't think there are any spoliers there as the winner did not get to hold a trophy! All the lads wanted to be photographed draped over Rachel as you might expect!

I also felt that nobody was too worried about who won it in the end, they were just glad to be hanging out with their buddies for three glorious days during filming.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:41 pm

Chris Corby wrote:I don't think there are any spoliers there as the winner did not get to hold a trophy!

SPOILER! hehe.. dammit... I was looking forward to seeing the trophy.

David Roe · Post by **David Roe** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:49 pm

Charlie - you're education's lacking (Cambridge Uni or no!

). Did you never read Jennings? Bungee is another word for rubber (as in eraser).

David O'Donnell · Post by **David O'Donnell** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:51 pm

David Roe wrote:Charlie - you're education's lacking

LMAO!

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:54 pm

Would 'marmites' have been allowed in the Marmoset round? I was under the impression that the container pictured on the front of a jar of that foodstuff is actually called a marmite, though I could be wrong.

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:01 pm

Neil Zussman wrote:Would 'marmites' have been allowed in the Marmoset round? I was under the impression that the container pictured on the front of a jar of that foodstuff is actually called a marmite, though I could be wrong.

I don't know if it's allowed, but yes a marmite is a big stock / cooking pot. I think it's a French word (as it's a French pot), so that could be an issue.

Richard Priest · Post by **Richard Priest** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:05 pm

Well done Charlie, commiserations Junaid. Really enjoyed watching, not only a high standard but played in a great spirit as well.

Scott Bagnall · Post by **Scott Bagnall** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:08 pm

Good game today between Junaid and Charlie. It clearly wasn't up to the standards of the previous quarter final, but obviously that would of been very difficult, but to be fair you can only work with what you are given and i don't think the letters were very kind today, but i'm sure Charlie doesn't care about that.

Ray Folwell · Post by **Ray Folwell** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:20 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:But I figured there was probably a verb to bungee, so I went for it.

I think a BUNGEE is an elasticated rope.

Clare Sudbery · Post by **Clare Sudbery** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:22 pm

I wondered about MARMITES, too. I just checked the Apterous Stemmer and yes, it's there.

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:25 pm

Clare Sudbery wrote:I wondered about MARMITES, too. I just checked the Apterous Stemmer and yes, it's there.

Awesome

It's not often I get to point out a word that nobody else on the forum has! (OK, by 'not often' I mean 'never until now'

)

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:28 pm

Neil Zussman wrote:
Clare Sudbery wrote:I wondered about MARMITES, too. I just checked the Apterous Stemmer and yes, it's there.
Awesome It's not often I get to point out a word that nobody else on the forum has! (OK, by 'not often' I mean 'never until now' )

Never until now? It was only your 13th post, you should be bloody proud of yourself!
I'm not sure I've contributed anything that valuable in twenty times as many posts!

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:26 pm

Yeah a really good game, I didn't get the conundrum although it came up in a MSN game with Travers vs. Corby and Conor got it (in about 28 seconds) but I'd forgotten that and didn't get it. Also going back to yesterday, Susie made a bit of a mess of zeroth - it's actually zero + th that is 0th. I don't really see when you can use it - the thing that comes before the first thing in a sequence? Hmm on reflecting with sequences, this is possible isn't it. You can have the 0th term, or even the -1st term, can't you? Also, can you pluralise it?

Harry Whitehouse · Post by **Harry Whitehouse** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:57 pm

David O'Donnell wrote:
David Roe wrote:Charlie - you're education's lacking
LMAO!

Scotty wrote: but obviously that would of been very difficult,

So why couldn't Scotty have set himself up just as perfectly when I happen along? Is there no fairness in this life?

Steven Briers · Post by **Steven Briers** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:34 pm

A very tight game from two players of equally good standard. Well done guys; it was a pleasure to watch.

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:53 pm

I've only seen the start of the game, in rather strange circumstances involving myself, one of my students and an Oxford professor. Don't ask 'cos it's not an interesting story.

Anyway, there's so much I'd like to say but will keep this (relatively) short. Thanks everyone for the kind comments, I'm glad the comraderie conveyed itself on screen. I can honestly say I enjoyed that game more than any other I've been involved in. I was totally owned on the letters and felt extremely lucky to get a crucial conundrum, which was superbly set and not one I was kicking myself for not getting. Many congratulations to Charlie. He's a king amongst Countdowners. Incredibly sporting after the series 59 final and even though there was a score to settle this time, it was just pure fun from start to finish. Really glad we got the chance to battle again.

It was a fantastic way to sign off this chapter of my Countdown journey. Charlie, to mimick Frodo's words to Sam at the end of LOTR, 'I'm glad you were with me, there at the end of all things'. A tremendously worthy winner and for the first time I can now back you for the title. COME ON CHARLIE!!!! We'll do hugsies tomorrow in Lincoln

1-1 indeed...bring on round 3 !