Monday 22nd February 2016 (Series 74, Prelim 21)

[Sean Fletcher]

Countdown recap for Monday 22 February 2016.

C1: Champion Paul Erdunast (2 wins, 249 points.) An Apterite and law graduate.
C2: Challenger Ben Dali. A stage hypnotist/mind reader with his own show, 'Strictly come Trancing' that he performs in social clubs. Will be appearing at Edinburgh festival.
DC: Susie Dent and Julia Bradbury.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: R M E O C D I S A
R02: L R N O I S E T A
R03: 1, 3, 9, 5, 6, 50. Target: 910.
TTT: ABLESIDE - "He was able to come down the side of the building."
R04: M N O G U T F O A
R05: R N E A D Y I F B
R06: 5, 10, 7, 6, 25, 75. Target: 303.
R07: G R E A P D I H P
R08: S T N A O Z U S A
R09: 8, 3, 5, 3, 1, 100. Target: 723.
TTT: CAFECOLA - "He went for a drink after working here all day."
R10: R O L H D I E P Q
R11: V M O U T R E A B
R12: K I S L O E T N I
R13: L S O A T S I E L
R14: 4, 1, 3, 5, 50, 25. Target: 494.
R15: M A R S M O T E L (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: R M E O C D I S A

Paul: MERCADOS (8)
Ben: ADMIRES (7)
DC: COMRADES (8) CARDIES (7) MISREAD (7)
OT: IDOCRASE (8)
Score: 8–0 (max 8)

A good max spot gives the champion an early lead.

Round 2: L R N O I S E T A

Paul: RELATIONS (18)
Ben: RELATIONS (18)
DC: TENSORIAL (18) ORIENTALS (18)
OT: ROTALINES (18)
Score: 26–18 (max 26)

Both players spot the same 9. Three others were available though.

ROTALINE - Of, relating to, or characteristic of the foraminiferan genus Rotalia or a larger group to which it belongs.

Round 3: 1, 3, 9, 5, 6, 50. Target: 910.

Paul: 910. (50*9+5)*(3-1) (10)
Ben: 910. 50*6*3+9+1 (10)
Score: 36–28 (max 36)

Two different methods scores ten points each.

Teatime teaser: ABLESIDE -> ABSEILED

Round 4: M N O G U T F O A

Paul: FOOTMAN (7)
Ben: AMOUNT (6)
DC: FOOTMAN (7) OUTMAN (6) MANGO (5)
Score: 43–28 (max 43)

A darrenic max from Paul extends his lead to double figures.
Round 5: R N E A D Y I F B

Paul: BANDIER (7)
Ben: BRAINED (7)
DC: BRAINED (7) BEADY (5)
OT: BINDERY (7) BREYANI (7)
Score: 50–35 (max 50)

An anagrammatic max round increases each score by 7.

BREYANI - South African spelling of Biryani.

Round 6: 5, 10, 7, 6, 25, 75. Target: 303.

Paul: 303. (75-25)*6+10-7 (10)
Ben: 302.
Score: 60–35 (max 60)

Ben is 1 away allowing Paul to extend his lead to a comfortable 25 points.

Julia Bradbury discusses baby talk/expressions including her own child's use of spangled eggs.

Round 7: G R E A P D I H P

Paul: HAPPIER (7)
Ben: HAPPIER (7)
DC: GRAPHED (7) RIPPED (6)
OT: EPIGRAPH (8)
Score: 67–42 (max 68)

Seven points a piece but the contestants may have been HAPPIER to spot EPIGRAPH for 8.

Round 8: S T N A O Z U S A

Paul: SONATAS (7)
Ben: SONATAS (7)
DC: STANZAS (7)
Score: 74–49 (max 75)

A good 7 spot by both contestants. A nice spot, that uses the Z, by DC.

Round 9: 8, 3, 5, 3, 1, 100. Target: 723.

Paul: 723. (100+3)*(8-1)+5-3 (10)
Ben: 723. (100-(3*3)*8)-5 (10)
Score: 84–59 (max 85)

Both contestants solve for 10 points each.

Teatime teaser: CAFECOLA -> COALFACE

Round 10: R O L H D I E P Q

Paul: HOLDER (6)
Ben: HOLDER (6)
DC: HIRPLED (7)
OT: LEPROID (7)
Score: 90–65 (max 92)

Sixes from the contestants but two difficult 7's were available.

LEPROID - Resembling leprosy or its symptoms.
HIRPLED - To walk with a limp, or hobble

Round 11: V M O U T R E A B

Paul: OUTBRAVE (8)
Ben: outbear
DC: TAMBOUR (7)
Score: 98–65 (max 100)

Ben has outbear disallowed. Paul OUTBRAVEd him to extend his lead by 8.

OOW - Susie talks about the numerous egg idioms that exist in the English language.

Round 12: K I S L O E T N I

Paul: LIONISE (7)
Ben: linkiest
DC: LIONISE (7)
OT: ELISION (7) ENTISOL (7) INKIEST (7) ISOLINE (7) KILTIES (7) LENTISK (7) LINIEST (7) LINTIES (7) OILIEST (7) OILSKIN (7) ONLIEST (7) SKINLET (7) SKINTLE (7) TINKLES (7)
Score: 105–65 (max 107)

Ben has his risky word disallowed sealing the win and another century for Paul.

LINTIES - Scottish term for linnet.
LENTISK - The Mastic tree.
SKINTLE - A brick set diagonally against another; a brick designed to be used in this way.

Round 13: L S O A T S I E L

Paul: ISOLATES (8)
Ben: TAILLESS (8)
DC: SALTIES (7)
OT: AEOLISTS (8) LOESSIAL (8) SITELLAS (8) TOILLESS (8)
Score: 113–73 (max 115)

Ben risks another word, this time it's allowed. Paul matches him with a safer 8.

LOESSIAL - A loosely compacted yellowish-grey deposit of windblown sediment of which extensive deposits occur, e.g., in eastern China and the American Midwest.


Round 14: 4, 1, 3, 5, 50, 25. Target: 494.

Paul: 496. (3-1)*5*50-4 (7)
Ben: 497.
RR: 494. (50*3-25)*4-5-1 (10)
Score: 120–73 (max 125)

A difficult 2 large extends Paul's lead by 7 and gives him a shot at a new high score. Rachel has the exact solution.

Round 15: M A R S M O T E L

Paul buzzes on 4 seconds to say MAELSTROM which is correct.
Final Score: 130–73 (max 135)

A quick solve by the champion takes him to 3 wins and gives him his highest score yet.
Unlucky for Ben to come up against such a strong opponent as he would give a lot of contestants a tough game.

Nick coaxes Ben into a story about Tangelo the tie which was given to him by Richard Whiteley 12 years ago.

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=74