Resident Apto numbers whizz Matthew Tassier - not to be confused with Matt Le Tissier - had a century on his debut yesterday, but today has an unusually cheerful Scotsman named Tam O'Hare to deal with. Both contestants seem very likeable, which isn't something that can always be said.
Other than that, not much to report except that I'm enjoying the later timeslot.
C1: Champion Matthew Tassier (1 win, 102 points.)
C2: Challenger Tam O'Hare.
DC: Susie Dent and Michelle Collins.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: H A P G I R E A M
R02: T T O B A I N V A
R03: 3, 9, 7, 9, 8, 8, . Target: 211.
TTT: OURBANDS - "We can listen to out favourite bands blasting out through this"
R04: L S U A G R E S N
R05: R O S D E L I A E
R06: 25, 2, 10, 8, 3, 7. Target: 381.
R07: T A R T U V E A O
R08: A T N G O E D R I
R09: 75, 4, 3, 4, 3, 10. Target: 418.
TTT: MAKEDIRT - "The dirt in the water can make this kind of impression"
R10: L F U E P J W O R
R11: N A L Z E M O D I
R12: T X T E A K M E G
R13: S O R W I D E Q S
R14: 100, 7, 2, 1, 4, 3. Target: 322.
R15: D H A N T W I S T (conundrum)
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Round 1: H A P G I R E A M
Matthew: EPIGRAM (7)
Tam: migrate
OT: RAMPAGE (7) PRIMAGE (7)
Score: 7–0 (max 7)
An early moment of blindness from Tam gives Matthew a first-round lead.
Round 2: T T O B A I N V A
Matthew: OBTAIN (6)
Tam: ATTAIN (6)
OT: ANATTO (6)
Score: 13–6 (max 13)
6, 6, 6. The declarations of the beasts.
Round 3: 3, 9, 7, 9, 8, 8. Target: 211.
Matthew: 210. 8*8*3 + 9 + 9 (7)
Tam: 216.
RR: 211. (3 + 9) x (9 + 8) + 7 (10)
Score: 20–6 (max 23)
Matthew likes six small. We all know how I feel about this.
The six small doesn't like him so much, and throws up a round that looks deceptively easy. Rachel takes a while to solve it.
Teatime teaser: OURBANDS -> SOUNDBAR
Round 4: L S U A G R E S N
Matthew: LAGERS (6)
Tam: GRANULES (8)
OT: RUNGLESS (8)
Score: 20–14 (max 31)
Tam hits back with a good max spot.
Round 5: R O S D E L I A E
Matthew: DARIOLES (8)
Tam: DEALERS (7)
DC: RESOLED (7)
OT: REALISED (8) SIDEREAL (8)
Score: 28–14 (max 39)
DC can't believe they've missed Countdown classic DARIOLES. I can never remember what it means, but fittingly for the day that the new series of Masterchef Professionals starts, it's "a small, flowerpot-shaped mould in which an individual sweet or savoury dish is cooked and served" in French cooking.
Round 6: 25, 2, 10, 8, 3, 7. Target: 381.
Matthew: 381. (7 + 8) x 25 + (3 x 2) (10)
Tam: 382.
Score: 38–14 (max 49)
A less unpleasant numbers round foxes Tam.
Round 7: T A R T U V E A O
Matthew: TOTARA (6)
Tam: OUTER (5)
OT: ROTAVATE (8)
Score: 44–14 (max 57)
Matthew's unusual 6 is "A large New Zealand coniferous tree which yields useful timber". As ever: if in doubt, it's a plant. However, lurking in the shadows is our first Darren of the day!
Round 8: A T N G O E D R I
Matthew: TREADING (8)
Tam: GRAINED (7)
DC: DERATION (8) ORGANDIE (8)
OT: DERATING (8) DRAGONET (8) GRADIENT (8) ORDINATE (8) RATIONED (8)
Score: 52–14 (max 65)
**flatter than a spirit-level with its bubble in the middle**
Round 9: 75, 4, 3, 4, 3, 10. Target: 418.
Matthew: 416. (75 - 4) x (3 + 3) - 10 (7)
Tam: -
OT: 418. (75 - (10 - 4)) x (3 + 3) + 4 (10)
Score: 59–14 (max 75)
Yet another thoroughly disgusting numbers round.
(I got 419.)
Teatime teaser: MAKEDIRT -> TIDEMARK
Round 10: L F U E P J W O R
Matthew: POWERFUL (8)
Tam: FLOWER (6)
Score: 67–14 (max 83)
A POWERFUL spot like this deserves a powerful picture of Darren. Unfortunately having used most of the good pictures of him, I had to settle for one with him powerfully spreading his legs instead.
Round 11: N A L Z E M O D I
Matthew: MELANOID (8)
Tam: MODEL (5)
DC: MODALIZE (8) NOMADIZE (8) NODALIZE (8)
Score: 75–14 (max 91)
A raft of OED 8s here, but Matthew spots the one old 8.
Round 12: T X T E A K M E G
Matthew: GAMETE (6)
Tam: - (0)
OT: METAGE (6) METATE (6)
Score: 81–14 (max 97)
Tam is being utterly bollocked here.
Round 13: S O R W I D E Q S
Matthew: DOSSIER (7)
Tam: swordies
DC: WEIRDOS (7)
OT: DOWRIES (7) DOWSERS (7) DROWSES (7) ROWDIES (7) WORDIES (7)
Score: 88–14 (max 104)
...and even more so now as he tries a not-valid, not-even-a-7-like-he-declared word. Matthew makes it 5 letters round maxes in a row.
Round 14: 100, 7, 2, 1, 4, 3. Target: 322.
Matthew: 322. (100 + 7)*3 + 1 (10)
Tam: 322. (100 + 7)*3 + 1 (10)
Score: 98–24 (max 114)
Finally both contestants get a numbers spot on, and efficiently too.
Round 15: D H A N T W I S T
No one buzzes. The answer was WITHSTAND.
Final Score: 98–24 (max 124)
Matthew's just shy of a century, but a man in the audience solves the conundrum. Magically, everyone in camera-view as he answers is wearing a poppy, which is a bit forced from the production team (the episodes would have been filmed about a month ago and let's face it, even as good little patriots race each other to see who can wear their poppy earlier and apparently therefore show more respect to the dead, no-one starts wearing their poppy that early), but given how the media are hounding anyone with the perceived temerity not to wear one, you can sort of understand it. #tangent
Tass is in strong form early on - can he make it 8 wins? If I know, I can't tell you. So with you on that massive cliffhanger, I'm going to get some food for dinner.
(SPOILER ALERT for my family: there will be no potato.)
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=73