Thursday 9th March 2017 (Series 76, Prelim 43)

[James Robinson]

Countdown recap for Thursday 9 March 2017.

C1: Champion Neel Popat (1 win, 89 points.) A physics student originally from London, but studying in Leicester.
C2: Challenger Mike Horrod. He's from Rowsley, Derbyshire, and is retired. He's chairman of the Bakewell Scout Movement.
DC: Susie Dent and Pasha Kovalev.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: N S L A E U R T I
R02: G E C S A N U Z P
R03: 25, 6, 5, 10, 4, 8. Target: 963.
TTT: BIGPRONKS - "You might see this pronking in South Africa."
R04: D O H L A Y I R E
R05: H S A C T E I R O
R06: 100, 75, 8, 8, 5, 6. Target: 432.
R07: N R P I E N W A I
R08: D Q U E O R D K I
R09: 50, 8, 7, 1, 5, 9. Target: 315.
TTT: ERICRATES - "Eric rates his job as the most important thing in his life."
R10: G N A E B P O I M
R11: D G S U E I L M E
R12: V A U T S B O E S
R13: D S D F U E I P E
R14: 100, 50, 25, 5, 8, 6. Target: 975.
R15: P I N G E D E N D (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: N S L A E U R T I

Neel: RETAILS (7)
Mike: NATURES (7)
DC: URINALS (7) SAUNTER (7) LATRINES (8)
OT: RETINULAS (18) UNREALIST (18)
Score: 7–7 (max 18)

Round 2: G E C S A N U Z P

Neel: PAGES (5)
Mike: PAUSE (5)
DC: PECANS (6) UNCAGES (7)
Score: 12–12 (max 25)

Round 3: 25, 6, 5, 10, 4, 8. Target: 963.

Neel: 962. (4 x 10 x 25) - ((5 x 6) + 8) (7)
Mike: 970.
RR: 963. (((25 x 10) - 8) x 4) - 5 (10)
Score: 19–12 (max 35)

Teatime teaser: BIGPRONKS -> SPRINGBOK

Round 4: D O H L A Y I R E

Neel: HAILED (6)
Mike: holidayer
DC: HOLIDAY (7)
OT: DARIOLE (7) HARDILY (7) HAYRIDE (7) HEADILY (7) HOARILY (7) HYALOID (7) HYDRIAE (7) RADIOLE (7) READILY (7)
Score: 25–12 (max 42)

Round 5: H S A C T E I R O

Neel: CHEATS (6)
Mike: COASTER (7)
DC: OSTRICH (7) CHARIOTS (8)
OT: ACHROITES (18) RHOTACISE (18)
Score: 25–19 (max 60)

Round 6: 100, 75, 8, 8, 5, 6. Target: 432.

Neel: 432. (100 x 5) - 75 + 6 + (8 / 8) (10)
Mike: 436.
Score: 35–19 (max 70)

Pasha talks about a weird back-alley restaurant in Japan, whilst looking for sushi.

Round 7: N R P I E N W A I

Neel: PANNIER (7)
Mike: WINNER (6)
Score: 42–19 (max 77)

Round 8: D Q U E O R D K I

Neel: KIDDER (6)
Mike: torqued
DC: QUIRKED (7)
OT: QUERIDO (7) QUORKED (7)
Score: 48–19 (max 84)

Round 9: 50, 8, 7, 1, 5, 9. Target: 315.

Neel: 315. (50 - 5) x 7 (10)
Mike: 315. ((5 + 1) x 50) + 7 + 8 (10)
Score: 58–29 (max 94)

Teatime teaser: ERICRATES -> CAREERIST

Round 10: G N A E B P O I M

Neel: BEAMING (7)
Mike: BEAMING (7)
OT: BEGONIA (7) PEMBINA (7)
Score: 65–36 (max 101)

Round 11: D G S U E I L M E

Neel: GUIDES (6)
Mike: MIDGES (6)
DC: MISLED (6) LEGUMES (7)
OT: DELUGES (7) DUELISM (7) MULESED (7)
Score: 71–42 (max 108)

Susie's Origins Of Words talks about the origins of some Russian words, including "vodka".

Round 12: V A U T S B O E S

Neel: BOASTS (6)
Mike: outsaves
DC: SABOTS (6) BEAUTS (6)
OT: SUBOVATE (8)
Score: 77–42 (max 116)

Round 13: D S D F U E I P E

Neel: puddies
Mike: DEFUSED (7)
Score: 77–49 (max 123)

Round 14: 100, 50, 25, 5, 8, 6. Target: 975.

Neel: 975. ((6 - 5 + 8) x 100) + 50 + 25 (10)
Mike: 975. ((6 - 5 + 8) x 100) + 50 + 25 (10)
Score: 87–59 (max 133)

Round 15: P I N G E D E N D

Neel buzzes on 4.5 seconds to say DEPENDING which is correct.
Final Score: 97–59 (max 143)

Statistics Corner

Neel:
Total score - 97
Raw score - 103
Total % of max - 68
Raw % of max - 72
Total average score per round - 6.5
Raw average score per round - 6.9
Number of maxes - 6

Mike:
Total score - 59
Raw score - 77
Total % of max - 41
Raw % of max - 54
Total average score per round - 3.9
Raw average score per round - 5.1
Number of maxes - 4

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=76