Friday 22nd December 2017 (Series 77 Grand Final)

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Friday 22nd December 2017 (Series 77 Grand Final)

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IT'S HERE!!! THE COUNTDOWN SERIES 77 GRAND FINAL!!! ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-) :geek: :ugeek:

Countdown recap for Friday 22 December 2017.

C1: No.1 Seed Tom "The Horsehay Howitzer" Chafer-Cook (10 wins, 1,135 points.) An Apteforumite and software developer from Horsehay, Shropshire. He defeated the No.4 seed Noel McIlvenny 134-83 in his semi-final on Wednesday.
C2: No.2 Seed Bradley "The Bolton Blitzer" Horrocks (10 wins, 1,045 points.) An Apteforumite and student from Bolton, Greater Manchester. He defeated the No.3 seed John Cowen 95-83 in his semi-final yesterday.
DC: Susie Dent and Rufus Hound.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: D R X E E O G E S
R02: A U A E S M T L U
R03: 50, 9, 7, 1, 5, 8. Target: 120.
TTT: IVYLEAVES - "Ivy leaves them with more questions than answers, having behaved this way."
R04: O I E O P S L S S
R05: B T G I A E B A Q
R06: 3, 9, 5, 1, 10, 9. Target: 464.
R07: M T R U A E M I U
R08: A I O A T F N D E
R09: 25, 4, 3, 6, 5, 7. Target: 945.
TTT: LOTSFLESH - "Seafood lovers know there's lots of flesh to be had on this crab."
R10: A I U O R Z W D T
R11: N L V I E E F A N
R12: O A E U C R N P L
R13: N V R E A I G O K
R14: 6, 10, 10, 6, 8, 9. Target: 263.
R15: R I L E Y I S M S (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

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Enjoy the show.

Round 1: D R X E E O G E S

Tom: resexed
Bradley: GREED (5)
DC: DESEX (5) EDGERS (6) DEGREES (7)
OT: REGEXES (7)
Score: 0–5 (max 7)

First blood to Bradley in the final....

A REGEX is a computing term for a regular expression.

Round 2: A U A E S M T L U

Tom: AMULETS (7)
Bradley: AMULETS (7)
DC: UMLAUTS (7)
OT: MALATES (7) MALTASE (7) METULAS (7) MULATAS (7) MULETAS (7) MUTUALS (7) MUTUELS (7) MUTULES (7) TAMALES (7)
Score: 7–12 (max 14)

In certain fungi, a METULA is any of the cells forming branches of the conidiophores and bearing verticils of conidiogenous cells.
A MULATA is a woman having one white and one black parent.
A MULETA is a red cloth fixed to a stick, brandished by a matador during a bullfight.

Round 3: 50, 9, 7, 1, 5, 8. Target: 120.

Tom: 120. (50 + 9 + 1) x (7 - 5) (10)
Bradley: 120. (9 + 8 + 7) x 5 (10)
Score: 17–22 (max 24)

No sweat for these brainboxes. :geek:

Teatime teaser: IVYLEAVES -> EVASIVELY

Round 4: O I E O P S L S S

Tom: POOLIES (7)
Bradley: spoolies
OT: LOOSIES (7) OOPSIES (7) POLOSES (7) POSOLES (7) POSSIES (7)
Score: 24–22 (max 31)

Tom takes the lead as Bradley's gamble backfires.

In the US, a LOOSIE is a cigarette sold individually.
A POLOS is a cylindrical headdress seen in some representations of Greek goddesses.
In Mexican and Central American cooking, POSOLE is a maize prepared by boiling and steeping in an alkaline solution and grinding, for use in food or drink.
In Australia and New Zealand, a POSSIE is place or position/job.

Round 5: B T G I A E B A Q

Tom: ABATE (5)
Bradley: AGATE (5)
DC: TEABAG (6)
OT: ABBATE (6) GIBBET (6)
Score: 29–27 (max 37)

They might both own Countdown teapots, but neither Tom or Bradley like the TEABAG much... :P :P

In Italy, an ABBATE is an abbot.
A GIBBET is a gallows, where an upright post with an arm on which the bodies of executed criminals were left hanging as a warning or deterrent to others.

Round 6: 3, 9, 5, 1, 10, 9. Target: 464.

Tom: 464. (((10 x 9) + 1) x 5) + 9 (10)
Bradley: 464. (((10 x 9) + 3) x 5) - 1 (10)
Score: 39–37 (max 47)

6 small doesn't detract from the scent of either of these two great mathematicians. 8-) 8-)

Rufus does a poem about Christmas for those who have forgotten that it is indeed Christmas time. :P :lol: 8-) :mrgreen:

Round 7: M T R U A E M I U

Tom: IMMATURE (8)
Bradley: IMMATURE (8)
DC: MURIATE (7)
Score: 47–45 (max 55)

Round 8: A I O A T F N D E

Tom: FAINTED (7)
Bradley: FAINTED (7)
DC: DEFIANT (7)
OT: ADONITE (7) FODIENT (7)
Score: 54–52 (max 62)

Both players are now IMMATURE and have FAINTED. They surely weren't drinking before the final, were they :!: :!: :?: :?: :P :P :lol: :lol:

ADONITE is another name for RIBITOL, a colourless crystalline compound which is formed by reduction of ribose and occurs in certain plants (chemical formula: HOCH₂(CHOH)₃CH₂OH).

Round 9: 25, 4, 3, 6, 5, 7. Target: 945.

Tom: 945. (((6 x 7) - 4) x 25) - 5 (10)
Bradley: 945. (((6 x 7) - 4) x 25) - 5 (10)
Score: 64–62 (max 72)

Lots of variants to this one, but this final is still finely poised going into the second break.

Teatime teaser: LOTSFLESH -> SOFTSHELL

Round 10: A I U O R Z W D T

Tom: AUDITOR (7)
Bradley: AUDITOR (7)
DC: TOWARD (6) WIZARD (6) oz
OT: OUTDRAW (7) OUTWARD (7)
Score: 71–69 (max 79)

Round 11: N L V I E E F A N

Tom: ENLIVEN (7)
Bradley: FELINE (6)
DC: FLAVINE (7)
OT: FLANNIE (7)
Score: 78–69 (max 86)

After matching declarations for the fourth round in a row with AUDITOR, Tom tries to ENLIVEN the atmosphere with a 7, but his lead is still in single figures....

In Australia, a FLANNIE is a flannelette shirt.

Susie's Origins Of Words is cancelled for this finale...

Round 12: O A E U C R N P L

Tom: PONCEAU (7)
Bradley: APOLUNE (7)
DC: OPERCULA (8)
Score: 85–76 (max 94)

DC beat the players with a fantastic darrenic 8 (which I must admit I was happy to get just before the 30 seconds ran out), as time is starting to run out....

Round 13: N V R E A I G O K

Tom: REVOKING (8)
Bradley: REVOKING (8)
DC: OVERKING (8)
Score: 93–84 (max 102)

Both players are REVOKING, and I think we know what Bradley will be upto next.... :roll: ;) :)

Round 14: 6, 10, 10, 6, 8, 9. Target: 263.

Tom: 264. ((6 / (10 - 8)) x 9 x 10) - 6 (7)
Bradley: 264. ((8 + 9 + 10) x 10) - 6 (7)
RR: 263. ((((10 - 6) x 10) - 6) x 8) - 9 (10)
Score: 100–91 (max 112)

The big small numbers make a tricky prospect, as both our finalists can only make it to 1 away....

And so, for the first time since the Series 73 final between Jonathan Wynn and Matthew Tassier 2 years ago, we have ourselves a CRUCIAL CONUNDRUM IN THE GRAND FINAL :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :D :D :D 8-) 8-) 8-)

Round 15: R I L E Y I S M S

Tom buzzes on 14.75 seconds to say "I think I've got it wrong, sorry", which is incorrect.

WOW!!! Who saw that coming :?: :?: :shock: :shock: :o :o

Can Bradley take advantage.......... :? :?

:arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow:

20 seconds....

:arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow:

25 seconds.......

:arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow: :arrow:

30 SECONDS!!!!!

Bradley does not buzz.

NO :!: :!: :!: HE CAN'T :!: :!: :!: :shock: :shock: :shock: :o :o :o

The answer was MISSILERY, the study of the use and characteristics of missiles.
Final Score: 100–91 (max 122)

And so, Series 77 comes to an end, and we have ourselves a new champion, THE WINNER OF COUNTDOWN SERIES 77 IS.... TOM CHAFER-COOK!!! ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-) :geek: :ugeek: ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-) :geek: :ugeek: ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-) :geek: :ugeek: ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-) :geek: :ugeek: ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-) :geek: :ugeek:

A fantastic final, played in a brilliant atmosphere by 2 awesome individuals, and my commiserations go to Bradley who performed admirably throughout the series and deserves credit for making it a brilliant final to watch. :D :D :D

So, we're finished with 2017, and the show is back on our screens in 11 days time on January 2, 2018, when Roger Springthorpe returns to the champions' chair. ;) :) :D

So, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone :!: :!: :!: ;) :) :D :mrgreen: 8-) :geek: :ugeek:

Statistics Corner

Tom:
Total score - 100
Raw score - 100
Total % of max - 82
Raw % of max - 82
Total average score per round - 6.7
Raw average score per round - 6.7
Number of maxes - 10 8-)

Bradley:
Total score - 91
Raw score - 97
Total % of max - 75
Raw % of max - 80
Total average score per round - 6.1
Raw average score per round - 6.5
Number of maxes - 8

Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=77
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