C1: Champion Rob Gibney (3 wins, 292 points) - an Apterite and business consultant from St Albans, Herts. We learn today that he once spoke to the President of Argentina, and he's looked impressive in his three games so far, topping 90 points each time.
C2: Challenger Spencer Taylor - an A-level student from High Wycombe. He's studying Maths and Economics. So if recent form's anything to go by, cue absolutely no points on the numbers games.
DC: Susie Dent and Jenny Eclair. She's annoying.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: T E A U D N R C E
R02: P X A N R O B E P
R03: C I P R E A Y S I
R04: L E S W G A R U E
R05: 100, 3, 2, 1, 1, 3. Target: 391.
TTT: IFFORCES - "If you think about the forces, you'll get the answer"
R06: D U L M O S I V M
R07: R H T A O I N C A
R08: N E T H F O S E T
R09: A O I P R L Z S E
R10: 50, 75, 9, 8, 10, 5. Target: 256.
TTT: AMYSPENT - "Amy spent all her money making these"
R11: T N D A O E R L D
R12: T J D A I S O G U
R13: T S R I O E N E G
R14: 75, 50, 1, 1, 6, 2. Target: 132.
R15: R A R E C A T C H (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: T E A U D N R C E
C1: CANTERED (8)
C2: UNCREATED (18)
DC: UNDERACT (8) RECANTED (8)
Score: 0–18 (max 18)
Spencer's CANTERED off into the lead with a super 9!Round 2: P X A N R O B E P
C1: NAPPER (6)
C2: PROBE (5)
DC: PROPANE (7)
Score: 6–18 (max 25)
He's ground to a halt here, though, as Rob finds NAPPER (slang for head
)DC find the darrenic 7.
Round 3: C I P R E A Y S I
C1: SPICIER (7)
C2: PACER (5)
DC: SPACIER (7)
OT: PIRACIES (8)
Score: 13–18 (max 33)
Rob continues to bridge the gap as Spencer languishes on 5.
PIRACIES is listed as being a mass noun in the dictionary, but we'll go with it.
Round 4: L E S W G A R U E
C1: WAGERS (6)
C2: reglares
DC: LAGERS (6) LEAGUERS (8)
Score: 19–18 (max 41)
Only one R and it's not in anyway, so Rob goes into the lead.
More darrenic stuff from Susie
Round 5: 100, 3, 2, 1, 1, 3. Target: 391.
C1: 391. (3+1)*100-(2+1)*3 (10)
C2: 391. (3+1)*100-(2+1)*3 (10)
Score: 29–28 (max 51)
Small small numbers but simple stuff!
Teatime teaser: IFFORCES -> OFFICERS
Round 6: D U L M O S I V M
C1: MOULDS (6)
C2: SLUM (4)
OT: MOULVIS (7)
Score: 35–28 (max 58)
Oh dear, after initially looking promising on the letters, Spencer's now down to 4.
MOULVIS, which I've seen in Apterous circles before, are Muslim doctors of the law esp. in South East Asia.
Round 7: R H T A O I N C A
C1: RATION (6)
C2: RATION (6)
DC: CHARIOT (7) HARICOT (7) RAINCOAT (8)
OT: CANTHARI (8)
Score: 41–34 (max 66)
Jenny appears amazed when Susie tells her on the spot that HARICOT has an Aztec origin
CANTHARI are large two-handled drinking cups in Ancient Greece and Rome.
Round 8: N E T H F O S E T
C1: SHEET (5)
C2: NOTES (5)
DC: HONEST (6) SOFTEN (6)
OT: OFTENEST (8)
Score: 46–39 (max 74)
The contestants miss two fairly easy-to-see sixes.
OFTENEST doesn't sound very plausible to me but it's there for eight.
Round 9: A O I P R L Z S E
C1: SPOILER (7)
C2: RAILS (5)
DC: SOAPIER (7) POLARIZES (18)
Score: 53–39 (max 92)
Rob's clearly been on the forum recently!
Susie's on form today as she's found another nine.
OoW - 'In the doldrums' is the phrase discussed today.
Round 10: 50, 75, 9, 8, 10, 5. Target: 256.
C1: 257. 50*5+8-(10-9) (7)
C2: 258.
RR: 256. (75-50)+(9-10/5)*8 (10)
Score: 60–39 (max 102)
Much trickier than first glance, but Rachel's on hand to sort us out!
Teatime teaser: AMYSPENT -> PAYMENTS
Round 11: T N D A O E R L D
C1: TODDLER (7)
C2: TONED (5)
DC: LADDER (6) DONATED (7)
OT: ADORNED (7) DELATOR (7) LEOTARD (7) TALONED (7) TRODDEN (7)
Score: 67–39 (max 109)
TODDLER pops up for the second day in succession as Rob edges closer to victory.
Round 12: T J D A I S O G U
C1: AUDITS (6)
C2: JOUST (5)
DC: JUDOIST (7)
OT: ADJIGOS (7) AGOUTIS (7)
Score: 73–39 (max 116)
Aside from his 9 in Round 1, Spencer has only topped five letters once in nine letters rounds now
Rob can seal it on the next round now.Jenny's found JUDOIST which she doesn't think should be a word, prompting her and Nick to discuss what they think about American-isms. Shut your ears, Jason!
Round 13: T S R I O E N E G
C1: STEERING (8)
C2: STRING (6)
DC: GREETS (6) GENITORS (8)
OT: EGESTION (8) INTEGERS (8) SEROTINE (8) TRIGONES (8)
Score: 81–39 (max 124)
Rob confirms win no. 4 with one of several 8's on offer. Can he make 100?
A SEROTINE is a medium-sized insectivorous bat found in Eurasia and Africa
Round 14: 75, 50, 1, 1, 6, 2. Target: 132.
C1: 132. 75+5-+6+1 (10)
C2: 132. 75+50+6+1 (10)
Score: 91–49 (max 134)
Round 15: R A R E C A T C H
C1 buzzes on 13 seconds to say CHARACTER which is correct.
Final Score: 101–49 (max 144)
Century no.2 for Rob on the conundrum!
Raw score: 109-91
Maxes: 5-3
After a promising start, Spencer's effort kind of fizzled out there, and so Rob will be back tomorrow to attempt a fifth victory.
Join a buoyant James for the recap
I'll be back next Tuesday for the 66th show of the 66th series.
Don't be careless enough to miss it!
Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=66