Spoilers for Thursday 24th January (Davids 1st game)

[Dinos Sfyris]

Ooh so thats what he looks like!

[Dinos Sfyris]

LAAGERED

How often does this come up?

[Conor]

I assume you saw TITRATE.

[Dinos Sfyris]

Aye I did Hooray for chemists everywhere! Also a non-chemistry word EPILATES in round 1.

[Joseph Bolas]

Aye I did Hooray for chemists everywhere! Also a non-chemistry word EPILATES in round 1.

After seeing Marjorie's T-Shirt, I could only see the word ECLIPSE in Round 1 .

[David O'Donnell]

I saw TITRATE but Des kept asking me to repeat words so I thought I would keep it to something obvious.

It was horrible watching myself on TV though, I sweated like a paedophile in a Barney outfit.

[Joseph Bolas]

I sweated like a paedophile in a Barney outfit.

Is that why you were bouncing up and down?

[Conor]

I thought you were wanking.

[David O'Donnell]

While Dundas may have had a neurological condition I was definitely jacking off.

[Ben Pugh]

I'm surprised CORONATE(S) isn't a word.

Well done David, ORISONS was particularly impressive.

[Jon O'Neill]

Nice one, you freak.

[JimBentley]

Great debut, David, ARMIGER and ORISONS were especially impressive. 8 maximums from 11 on the letters, max possible on the numbers and conundrum; with that in your debut game, I imagine there'll be even better to come.

Also, I think you look a bit like Vic Reeves.

[Conor]

Yeah, I thought ARMIGER was very good, I'd never even heard of it. The last numbers was also very good, I was nowhere near it. The first round is the only real blip, but otherwise very solid.

[Ben Wilson]

While Dundas may have had a neurological condition I was definitely jacking off.

Please say that on msn so I can put it on the quotes page.

Nicely done, btw!

[Jon Corby]

110 is an awesome debut score, well done David.

[Jon Corby]

Also, I think you look a bit like Vic Reeves.

Me too!




You do mean when he's in character as Councillor Cox (or Evans, can't remember which was which) don't you?

[Jon Corby]

I read your explanation of what really happened with the numbers yesterday, but Carol made you sound like a right c**t there going into the first ad break. Fantastic stuff!

[Julian Fell]

Just seen the game... David, David, I think you've been hiding your light under a bushel, Mr "I'm not a first-rate player"... that was one of the most impressive debut performances I've ever seen, and I can tell you that you would've beaten me if I'd been playing you. ARMIGER, INDORSE, ORISONS and a wicked last numbers game (I was quite proud of myself for getting to 714!)... pretty special. I look forward, with great interest, to seeing more...

I have to say also that I didn't notice any nervousness or tics of any sort... in coming on here I was going to say that you came across as extremely relaxed and personable, and an early rival to Michael MacDonald-Cooper for 'nicest octochamp of the series' - so I'm perplexed as to where everybody's getting this "nervousness" business from. If they thought you looked nervous today, what on earth did they think about me in my series quarter-final I wonder...?

Footnote 1: David I noticed that you were slightly disapproving of the dissing of Marjorie, which I took part in... may I just say now that I thought she improved tremendously after her first game - pulling a really great spot of RUPTURE, and a tricky numbers game under pressure, out of the bag to save the game against her second opponent, and she was then very strong against her third opponent and played probably her best game of the lot against you. Kudos to her, she's a decent player and I shouldn't have been so quick to judge.

Footnote 2: I agree with you David, re your comments about Dave Reed (see forum for Wednesday's game), that it's better not to be first up on a recording day, and to have a game or two before your own which you can use as warm-up, getting used to the studio conditions, easing nerves etc. The recent consensus here (Conor, Joseph) seems to be that it's best to be first up, but I disagree and it's good to have someone else of the same opinion!

[Julian Fell]

Incidentally David (and everyone else), how do you feel about people on here posting how they did "against" you in your games(given that they weren't actually playing against you)? I know a few people don't like that kind of thing - I remember Stewart Holden fiercely rounded on anyone who dared do that with him when he was on - so I thought I'd ask. Julian

[Kirk Bevins]

Personally I don't mind - everyone probably beat me as I was a retard but I don't care! David may have other opinions though. Oh, and David beat me today quite convincingly, even with me getting the conundrum (quality ORISONS and 721!)

[Conor]

Footnote 2: I agree with you David, re your comments about Dave Reed (see forum for Wednesday's game), that it's better not to be first up on a recording day, and to have a game or two before your own which you can use as warm-up, getting used to the studio conditions, easing nerves etc. The recent consensus here (Conor, Joseph) seems to be that it's best to be first up, but I disagree and it's good to have someone else of the same opinion!

To be honest, the main reason why I wouldn't have liked to have been up first is that I'd have had to sit in the hotseat. Of course, now that that's gone I don't think I'd have any particular preference.

[Conor]

As far as the scoring goes, I didn't score against you. I'd have got you with SPECIATE, STEADIED and LAAGERED, but I'd have used a C in the round when you had ARMIGER (I'm not sure why I've been seeing phantom letters recently, it must be the senility) and you'd have got me with ORISONS and the last numbers. So pretty even overall, and considering you were in the studio...

I'll say I can see plenty more centuries coming on, although picking 4 large will make it slightly harder to hit the very high scores.

[Joseph Bolas]

Footnote 2: I agree with you David, re your comments about Dave Reed (see forum for Wednesday's game), that it's better not to be first up on a recording day, and to have a game or two before your own which you can use as warm-up, getting used to the studio conditions, easing nerves etc. The recent consensus here (Conor, Joseph) seems to be that it's best to be first up, but I disagree and it's good to have someone else of the same opinion!

To be honest, the main reason why I wouldn't have liked to have been up first is that I'd have had to sit in the hotseat. Of course, now that that's gone I don't think I'd have any particular preference.

I would've like to have been the first recording of the day so I didn't get a preview of how good Jack was. Being in the audience really knocked my confidence and once it was my turn to face Jack, I was not looking forward to my game.

[Julian Fell]

Footnote 2: I agree with you David, re your comments about Dave Reed (see forum for Wednesday's game), that it's better not to be first up on a recording day, and to have a game or two before your own which you can use as warm-up, getting used to the studio conditions, easing nerves etc. The recent consensus here (Conor, Joseph) seems to be that it's best to be first up, but I disagree and it's good to have someone else of the same opinion!

To be honest, the main reason why I wouldn't have liked to have been up first is that I'd have had to sit in the hotseat. Of course, now that that's gone I don't think I'd have any particular preference.

I would've like to have been the first recording of the day so I didn't get a preview of how good Jack was. Being in the audience really knocked my confidence and once it was my turn to face Jack, I was not looking forward to my game.

Hmmm... yes I sympathize with that, but then again, if you'd gone into your match with Jack 'cold', with no idea of his ability, is it not equally possible that you'd have been 50-0 down before you knew what had hit you? And, assuming you had been first up, would you not have spoken to Jack (or others) in the green room beforehand and found out how well he'd done in his games the previous day, what scores he'd got etc. - and would that not have scared you equally? Still seems to me that the advantages of going second or third - and knowing the strength of your opponent - outweigh the negatives, but I suppose everyone's different so everyone sees it differently.

Anyway Joseph I remember you and your game because it is the one and only game that I've recapped for Charlie's site! (not counting the historical ones I'm in the middle of at the moment) You didn't exactly do badly, you were v unlucky to get Jack who is a great player - he would've wiped the floor with me in the last game of his octochamp run as I remember...

[Julian Fell]

Nice one, you freak.

Btw Jono, you being a 4-from-the-top specialist - did you get the 721? I think we should be told!

Julian

[Craig Beevers]

I'd be very surprised if a 4 from the top specialist didn't get 721 there, it's the obvious route to go when you know you can get 725 just by using the 4 large via 25*25 + 100.

[Jon O'Neill]

Yeah, that method is basically the first thing that gets tried in this case. Next is 180*4 and I probably spent the next 10 seconds looking at that, and the rest just looking for ridiculous things like going up and dividing by 25 because the selection is pretty horrible.

That's the best thing about four from the top. Even though the only calculation you're doing is 725 minus 4, you look great.

[Jon Corby]

Even I got 721, and I'm rubbish.

Surely Carol is wrong about nobody ever using the Motown term ever before in the 100-year history of the show as well? I'm sure I've heard it several times even though I've only been watching (avidly) for a couple of years...

[David O'Donnell]

Phil Watson invented the 'Motown selection' in series 55 I think. He obviously made a big impression on her! Also, you are dead right about Carol trying to make a bit of a git out of me but I can honestly type that I didn't approach her and it was another contestant. In fact it was the two contestants who were sitting beside me in the studio audience, one of whom I play today. To compound matters Carol told me I had used a number twice and my polite demure nature gave way to my ego when I informed her she was in fact wrong: for some reason when I am irked my accent turns into Belfast hard man.

You are quite right Julian I was getting at comments you and others had made but I do wonder if this was motivated by selfish, self-serving reasons rather than a genuine desire to stand up for Marjorie. So I will dismount from my moral high horse. The 721 solution was a very basic and easy method that any player who has looked at 4xlarge should know. What else was there? I am a little uncomfortable with scores being posted if you beat me or especially if you c**t me; however, feel free to post your sparse humiliating defeats.

Cheers for the comments, I think you could have been somewhat harsher so for the moment I have got off lightly. As for the Vic Reeves (as one of his characters) I have definitely never had that before. I did get "John Higgins" from the other contestants though ... until ... they saw my pool playing.

[Joseph Bolas]

Hmmm... yes I sympathize with that, but then again, if you'd gone into your match with Jack 'cold', with no idea of his ability, is it not equally possible that you'd have been 50-0 down before you knew what had hit you? And, assuming you had been first up, would you not have spoken to Jack (or others) in the green room beforehand and found out how well he'd done in his games the previous day, what scores he'd got etc. - and would that not have scared you equally? Still seems to me that the advantages of going second or third - and knowing the strength of your opponent - outweigh the negatives, but I suppose everyone's different so everyone sees it differently.

Anyway Joseph I remember you and your game because it is the one and only game that I've recapped for Charlie's site! (not counting the historical ones I'm in the middle of at the moment) You didn't exactly do badly, you were v unlucky to get Jack who is a great player - he would've wiped the floor with me in the last game of his octochamp run as I remember...

I could've very well been 50-0 down if I played Jack cold (it probably would've been the case, I'm not as good as I thought I was ), but I would've been okay with that, because I would prefered to have took on Jack without knowing how good he was.

The only thing I can remember about Jack previous games was his last conundrum of the day before. I don't think I knew that by end of the previous day, Jack had amassed 3 wins, all being centuries (110, 105 and 102). I do believe it was when I was in the audience for the Jack Welsby v Carol King game, I found out how good he was and it was then I started worrying.

[Joseph Bolas]

The 721 solution was a very basic and easy method that any player who has looked at 4 large should know.

I have been recently practicing with 4 large, because thats what I was going to pick for my games in COLIN tomorrow, but I might have to change that as I didn't get 721 .

[Julian Fell]

Yeah, that method is basically the first thing that gets tried in this case. Next is 180*4 and I probably spent the next 10 seconds looking at that, and the rest just looking for ridiculous things like going up and dividing by 25 because the selection is pretty horrible.

That's the best thing about four from the top. Even though the only calculation you're doing is 725 minus 4, you look great.

Hmmm oh well, that's me told! As I say, I was quite pleased with myself for getting to 714... maybe I should start saying things like "DAIMYOS is a dead easy word to spot, it's basically the first thing you'd see from that selection"... only I think the rest of the forum would jump down my throat if I did that! lol

Re your post Craig - so you're a numbers demon as well are you?! I thought that since you used to pick 1 large, you weren't so confident with them... obviously not, gulp... good though the likes of Jon C. and David are, can't really see beyond you for CofC champion...

Julian

[Julian Fell]

I could've very well been 50-0 down if I played Jack cold (it probably would've been the case, I'm not as good as I thought I was ), but I would've been okay with that, because I would prefered to have took on Jack without knowing how good he was.

Ok so you're saying you'd've preferred to play him first regardless of whether you won or not - in which case, yes being first up is definitely best. I thought you were saying that you would've had a better chance of beating him if you'd played him 'cold', which is a different kettle of fish...

[Joseph Bolas]

Ok so you're saying you'd've preferred to play him first regardless of whether you won or not - in which case, yes being first up is definitely best. I thought you were saying that you would've had a better chance of beating him if you'd played him 'cold', which is a different kettle of fish...

Yes, I would've preferred to play Jack first, regardless of who won that game. I also do believe that because I would've then been playing Jack 'cold' (not getting a preview of how good Jack actually was) I would've had a better chance of beating Jack, because I would've then been more focused and I wouldn't have lost my nerves, like I did, when I eventually played Jack.

[Jon O'Neill]

Yeah, that method is basically the first thing that gets tried in this case. Next is 180*4 and I probably spent the next 10 seconds looking at that, and the rest just looking for ridiculous things like going up and dividing by 25 because the selection is pretty horrible.

That's the best thing about four from the top. Even though the only calculation you're doing is 725 minus 4, you look great.

Hmmm oh well, that's me told! As I say, I was quite pleased with myself for getting to 714... maybe I should start saying things like "DAIMYOS is a dead easy word to spot, it's basically the first thing you'd see from that selection"... only I think the rest of the forum would jump down my throat if I did that! lol

Julian

Hahaha, I didn't mean to sound like that. I was actually trying to inject a bit of modesty into the whole affair, but apparently I'm not very good at all that business.

I think the whole forum would be at your feet as opposed to down your throat if you were to say things like that. Well, I would - I'm still awestruck to be typing on the same forum as you, such is the cult of personality that surrounds you in my head.

Is that weird?

[Charlie Reams]

Pretty much, yeah.

[Julian Fell]

Indeed it is Jono, given that you would probably beat me more times than not if we were to play each other (certainly, in the COLIN game of yours that you've posted the details of, I would've been 10 points behind you going into the conundrum...). As I've said before, the standard of the top players has gone through the roof since the time around when I was on the show, and it's a real struggle for me to keep up now. Loads of players in loads of games in the last CofC would've thrashed me if I'd been playing them, so there's certainly no cause for adulation...

[Charlie Reams]

I think it's more that you were the first player to take word knowledge to ridiculous new heights, and that you knew what most of them meant. That set the pace for the current batch of experts.