Monday 21st December 2015 (series 73, semi-final 1)

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Andy McGurn
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Monday 21st December 2015 (series 73, semi-final 1)

Post by Andy McGurn »

Countdown recap for Monday 21 December 2015.

C1: Champion Tom Carey (9 wins.) Sixth form student from Bingley and the series number one seed. Beat Matty Artell last week to reachthis semi-final

C2: Champion Matthew Tassier (9 wins.) Statistical consultant from Ealing who as fifth seed ousted the fourth seed John Hardie due to his ability to avoid a crucial conundrum.

DC: Susie Dent and Tim Rice.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: R I F O D U L A S
R02: T E G R I W E A E
R03: 2, 9, 1, 3, 6, 25. Target: 998.
TTT: FLEDRUIN - "its not cricket but the ashes are held in this ground"
R04: S O T C A N E I D
R05: P E V O T A R I L
R06: 6, 3, 9, 7, 5, 2. Target: 652.
R07: Y A N E B I S P T
R08: M U D N A R E A I
R09: 6, 3, 7, 4, 1, 25. Target: 265.
TTT: OVABELLS - "its definitely possible to get the answer to this"
R10: Q E T D A T O U E
R11: M A F I R E M L A
R12: S E G C O N I O E
R13: T U V O R E B A S
R14: 10, 4, 9, 2, 5, 6. Target: 461.
R15: A L A T E P L A N (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: R I F O D U L A S

Tom: FOULARDS (8)
Matthew: FLOURS (6)
DC: DORSAL (6)
Score: 8–0 (max 8)

One would be foolhardy to bet against Tom in this game. He proves it straight away with his darrenic opener.


Round 2: T E G R I W E A E

Tom: ETAGERE (7)
Matthew: EARWIG (6)
DC: GAITER (6)
Score: 15–0 (max 15)

Two out of two on obscure darrenic max words from Thomas, while Matthew again misses out. It seems like Matthews only chance is to beat Tom on tough numbers games, Matthew’s biggest strength.


Round 3: 2, 9, 1, 3, 6, 25. Target: 998.

Tom: 999. Mistake in working.
Matthew: 997. (((9+1)*(6-2))*25)-3 (7)
RR: 998. ((6*2)+25)*(9*3)-1 (10)
Score: 15–7 (max 25)

Thomas surprsingly blobs on his one away enabling Matthew to reduce the deficit to single figures, but even he doesn’t have it spot on so Rachael is needed to mop this one up.


Teatime teaser: FLEDRUIN -> URNFIELD


Round 4: S O T C A N E I D

Tom: SONICATED (18)
Matthew: CATENOIDS (18)
Score: 33–25 (max 43)

This round must seem really impressive to casual countdown watchers. Obviously those of us who are members of this forum know that this is actually pretty standard.


Round 5: P E V O T A R I L

Tom: EPILATOR (8)
Matthew: PETIOLAR (8)
DC: VIOLATER (8)
OT: LIVETRAP (8)
Score: 41–33 (max 51)

We discover that both contestants considered trying OVERPLAIT which is invalid.


Round 6: 6, 3, 9, 7, 5, 2. Target: 652.

Tom: 651. Mistake in working.
Matthew: 651. ((9*5*2)+3)*7 (7)
RR: 651. (7)
Score: 41–40 (max 58)

Surprisingy Tom botches his one away for the second numbers game in a row, whilst Matthew spots a one away solution, which in the case of this round is a max. So despite the pulverising first two rounds from Thomas, Matthew now trails by a single point due to his superior numbers skills.


DC Guest – Tim talks about his passion for cricket and his recent experiences of cricket in some far flung corners of the world not traditionally associated with cricket


Round 7: Y A N E B I S P T

Tom: BAPTISE (7)
Matthew: SAPIENT (7)
DC: BASINET (7)
OT: PANTIES (7)
Score: 48–47 (max 65)

The contestants and DC spot three of the four max words between them, leaving the simplest one of all for the OT to get.


Round 8: M U D N A R E A I

Tom: MARINADE (8)
Matthew: MARINADE (8)
DC: MARINADE (8)
Score: 56–55 (max 73)

MARINADE for them both, so its still a single point that separates them.


Round 9: 6, 3, 7, 4, 1, 25. Target: 265.

Tom: 265. ((4+7)*25)-6-3-1 (10)
Matthew: 265. ((4+7)*25)-6-3-1 (10)
Score: 66–65 (max 83)

Finally Thomas scores on a numbers game without messing it up meaning his slender lead is maintained into the final advert break.


Teatime teaser: OVABELLS -> SOLVABLE

Round 10: Q E T D A T O U E

Tom: OUTDATE (7)
Matthew: EQUATED (7)
OT: QUATTED (7) QUOTTED (7)
Score: 73–72 (max 90)

The contestants seem to be matching each other consistently on the letters now. Matthew seems to have managed well despite how rounds one and two went.


Round 11: M A F I R E M L A

Tom: FLAMIER (7)
Matthew: FLAMIER (7)
Score: 80–79 (max 97)

FLAMIER is pretty simple to spot so there is not surprise that the contestants match each other once again.


OoW – Susie continues her alphabetic tour, starting with J for JERBIL and reaching o.


Round 12: S E G C O N I O E

Tom: SOIGNEE (7)
Matthew: oogenics
DC: COOEEING (8)
Score: 87–79 (max 105)

Probably worth the risk by Matthew as despite his word being invalid, he remains within 10 and still has his final numbers pick to come. From a picking/ risking point of view, Matthew is one of the best no doubt.


Round 13: T U V O R E B A S

Tom: SABOTEUR (8)
Matthew: OUTBRAVES (18)
Score: 87–97 (max 123)

OMG!!! Thomas has the impressive SABOTEUR but its not enough as Matthew spots OUTBRAVES to take a ten point lead. He is surely the favourite now with the numbers game to come.


Round 14: 10, 4, 9, 2, 5, 6. Target: 461.

Tom: 460. (10*9*5)+6+4 (7)
Matthew: 460. (10*9*5)+6+4 (7)
RR: 461. (((6*4*10)-5)*2)-9 (10)
Score: 94–104 (max 133)

Matthew goes for his expected six small but both are one away meaning its a crucial, though Thomas will need two conundrums is he is to win.

Round 15: A L A T E P L A N

Tom buzzes on 7 seconds to say PANELLATE which is incorrect.
Matthew does not buzz.
The answer was PANATELLA.
Final Score: 94–104 (max 143)

Thomas risks an unlikely one, which isn’t right, which means that Matthew has the win.

So its Matthew who advances to the final, it must be some time since a series number five seed has reached the final, so well done to Matthew on that one. Its proof that tactical picking and calculated risks are just as important as word and numbers skills.

Matthew may have a shot in the final, but who will he play, see Jennifer’s recap to find out...
Peter Mabey
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Re: Monday 21st December 2015 (series 73, semi-final 1)

Post by Peter Mabey »

In R12, it was Rachel who got COOEEING while Susie was saying that 7 seemed to be the max - I don't think this the first time she's beaten DC. :) (i must ask Graeme about that)
Tim Down
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Re: Monday 21st December 2015 (series 73, semi-final 1)

Post by Tim Down »

Tiny error, ages after the fact: Rachel's solution in round 3 must have been ((6*2)+25)*(9*3)-1 rather than ((6*3)+25)*(9*3)-1.
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