Recap for 23 January 2003 - C of C XI semi-final

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Julian Fell
Series 48 Champion
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Recap for 23 January 2003 - C of C XI semi-final

Post by Julian Fell »

Countdown recap for Thursday 23rd January 2003

Championship of Champions XI
Semi-final #2

C1: Challenger Tom Hargreaves.
C2: Challenger Graham Nash.
DC: Susie Dent and Eric Knowles.
CV: Carol Vorderman.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: G N R D I E A M U
R02: L T P E I A S Z R
R03: S G X O A E N T P
R04: D F S U O A R T E
R05: 50, 7, 6, 1, 9, 4. Target: 560.
TTT:
R06: H N S I U E V M J
R07: G R C L E A I N S
R08: R B D O I A S T A
R09: D R L K O I A G I
R10: 25, 4, 7, 2, 10, 5. Target: 197.
TTT:
R11: Y L F T E O U I L
R12: W T H E O E D R R
R13: N T P M I O E Q A
R14: 75, 9, 3, 4, 7, 5. Target: 557.
R15: A V I A N L O U T (conundrum)

The fact that two 6'6" contestants were facing off against each other in this semi-final was mentioned a lot both before and during the game! A place in the CofC Grand Final against Chris Wills was the prize for the winner... game on:

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Round 1: G N R D I E A M U
C1: DREAMING (8)
C2: DREAMING (8)
OT: GERANIUM (8) is a nice one
Score: 8–8 (max 8)

Round 2: L T P E I A S Z R
C1: PLASTER (7)
C2: LAZIEST (7)
DC: PILASTER (8)
Score: 15–15 (max 16)

Round 3: S G X O A E N T P
C1: POSTAGE (7)
C2: septagon
Score: 22–15 (max 23)

Round 4: D F S U O A R T E
C1: ROASTED (7)
C2: FROSTED (7)
DC: DETOURS (7) FEDORAS (7)
Score: 29–22 (max 30)

Round 5: 50, 7, 6, 1, 9, 4. Target: 560.
C1: 560. (50+6)x(9+1) (10)
C2: 560. ((7+4)x50)+9+1 (10)
Score: 39–32 (max 40)

Teatime teaser: ->

Round 6: H N S I U E V M J
C1: SHINE (5)
C2: MINES (5)
DC: INHUMES (7)
OT: JUVIES (6) and MUNSHI (6) for six
Score: 44–37 (max 47)

Round 7: G R C L E A I N S
C1: rescaling
C2: CLEARINGS (18)
DC: CLANGERS (8) GLACIERS (8)
OT: D'oh! Tom had CLEARINGS (18) as well but decided "rescaling" was more likely :(
Score: 44–55 (max 65)

Round 8: R B D O I A S T A
C1: ASTROID (7)
C2: BASTARD (7)
DC: AIRBOATS (8) (which had come up in my game the previous week - the previous day, in recording terms)
Score: 51–62 (max 73)

Round 9: D R L K O I A G I
C1: RADIO (5)
C2: RIGID (5)
DC: RADIO (5)
OT: AIKIDO (6)
Score: 56–67 (max 79)

Round 10: 25, 4, 7, 2, 10, 5. Target: 197.
C1: 197. ((10-2)x25)-(7-4) (10)
C2: 197. (4x2x25)-(10-7) (10)
Score: 66–77 (max 89)

Teatime teaser: ->

Round 11: Y L F T E O U I L
C1: outfill
C2: outlife
DC: FUTILELY (8)
OT: LOFTILY (7) for seven
Score: 66–77 (max 97)

Round 12: W T H E O E D R R
C1: terred
C2: TOWERED (7)
DC: THROWER (7)
OT: REWROTE (7) WHERETO (7)
Score: 66–84 (max 104)

Round 13: N T P M I O E Q A
C1: AMNIOTE (7)
C2: TAMPON (6)
DC: PIMENTO (7) but PTOMAINE (8)
OT: Also TAMPION (7) and MAINTOP (7) for seven
Score: 73–84 (max 112)

Round 14: 75, 9, 3, 4, 7, 5. Target: 557.
C1: 557. ((75+5)x7)-3 (10)
C2: 557. (75x7)+((5+3)x4) (10)
Score: 83–94 (max 122)

Round 15: A V I A N L O U T
C2 buzzes on 1.5 seconds to say VALUATION which is correct.
Score: 83–104 (max 132)

Poor Tom - the entire game turned on his decision in round 7 to go for RESCALING^ instead of CLEARINGS (shades of John Davies vs. Paul Gallen three and a half years later...). I was lucky enough to be in the production gallery to watch this game; producers Damian and Michael and everyone else there all sort of went "Oh" and did a double-take when Tom said "rescaling". Obviously he didn't think of CLEARINGS in terms of clearings in a forest, hence his doubt as to whether it would be valid... it's easily done under pressure. (to add insult to injury, RESCALING is valid now, but wasn't in the NODE in use at the time of this game)

Although I have a certain vested interest in saying this(!), I think it's fair to say that Graham didn't play as well here as he had done in beating me in the quarter-finals... nevertheless he was clearly on a roll, wearing his 'lucky shirt' and in good spirits throughout, enjoying himself by offering BASTARD and TAMPON. But Chris Wills in the Final would be a different prospect... surely he couldn't win that as well?

Further summaries are at:
http://www.thecountdowncorral.com/cd/se ... ?series=-2
A Soo Reams website. If you are me, you can go to the admin section. Site last updated 1/28/2008 12:47:12 PM.
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