Countdown World Championships
- Matthew Green
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Countdown World Championships
Instead of these various COLOSTOMY tournaments as Damien called them, why not have an annual 'World Championships' of Countdown? If Scrabble has one then why not CD- its just as skillful, if not more so IMO. It could be run like the World Cup with groups and knockouts, even qualifiers if there are lots of entries. And you could have an actual trophy.
I cant be bothered trekking around the country to finish last in COLIN/LEI/NOT etc but to say Im off to the World Championships is a litlle bit more glamorous. Plus, it would be very open with Travers, Bevins, JON, Reams, Howe, O'Donnell, Corby etc all at a similar level if apterous is anything to go by. Not sure what the copyright issues would be though.
I cant be bothered trekking around the country to finish last in COLIN/LEI/NOT etc but to say Im off to the World Championships is a litlle bit more glamorous. Plus, it would be very open with Travers, Bevins, JON, Reams, Howe, O'Donnell, Corby etc all at a similar level if apterous is anything to go by. Not sure what the copyright issues would be though.
If I suddenly have a squirming baby on my lap it probably means that I should start paying it some attention and stop wasting my time messing around on a Countdown forum
Re: Countdown World Championships
Maybe this is what Damian had in mind when he said there would be no more CoC
Edit:
Shit, what a fucking waste of my 1,000th post. I was going to have a special party in its own thread. I'll have to wait for 10,000 now
Edit:
Shit, what a fucking waste of my 1,000th post. I was going to have a special party in its own thread. I'll have to wait for 10,000 now
- Ben Wilson
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Re: Countdown World Championships
For a while now I've considered turning COLIN into a more formal-sounding championship but tbh Countdown tourneys aren't as competitive as Scrabble can be- more often than not it's an excuse for everyone to get together, play a few games and have a piss-up afterwards. As such, I feel that formalising it would cause it to lose the same atmosphere it had in the early days. Hell, it took me 3 years to offer cash prizes and 4 to finally buy a trophy for it!
- Charlie Reams
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Re: Countdown World Championships
I'd personally feel like an absolute tard telling people that I was off to the "Countdown World Championship." Explaining that I'm off to COLON is much more easily justifiable.
Re: Countdown World Championships
It's certainly fun telling people that I've entered CoLin.
I agree with Ben that it's great that Countdown tournaments aren't ultra-competitive; it's nice to play well but having fun is the main thing.
I agree with Ben that it's great that Countdown tournaments aren't ultra-competitive; it's nice to play well but having fun is the main thing.
- Joseph Bolas
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Re: Countdown World Championships
It can get quite costly (travelling to Bristol and Lincoln etc) depending on where you live, but it's a nice day out when you can afford it.Matthew Green wrote:I cant be bothered trekking around the country to finish last in COLIN/LEI/NOT etc but to say Im off to the World Championships is a litlle bit more glamorous.
- Martin Gardner
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Re: Countdown World Championships
I think a "World Championship" with about 20 players, all of them British, makes a mockery of the term "World Championship".Charlie Reams wrote:I'd personally feel like an absolute tard telling people that I was off to the "Countdown World Championship." Explaining that I'm off to COLON is much more easily justifiable.
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Since there isn't really a world market for this game, such an event might for starters need to follow in the footsteps of the original Going for Gold - splitting the UK into four different countries.
I went to the annual Chiffres/Lettres tournament in Paris last weekend and finished up a decisive 40th out of 40 (qualified 33rd) - 30-round duplicate then into groups of eight to play seven 12-round matches in championship format; two points for a win, one for a draw. I finished with three points from seven games and so finished bottom in my group. My worst defeat was 7-12 whilst the score in my win was 11-8.
So yes, I could say that I paid hundreds of pounds for return flights, three nights in a hotel, plus spending money and used up a day's holiday allowance to suffer that. Yes ok the result nags me a bit but I had a great time meeting up with friends, doing some shopping and immersing myself again in Parisian culture across a long weekend.
I have also learned that I need to change the way in which I practice for these events, and I intend to go back for the one at Fontenay-sous-bois on 7 February 2009 - my target is to improve on 55th/74 from 2008.
All that said, 40th is my best ever finish on the C/L tournoi circuit - a testament to its popularity!
Jeff
I went to the annual Chiffres/Lettres tournament in Paris last weekend and finished up a decisive 40th out of 40 (qualified 33rd) - 30-round duplicate then into groups of eight to play seven 12-round matches in championship format; two points for a win, one for a draw. I finished with three points from seven games and so finished bottom in my group. My worst defeat was 7-12 whilst the score in my win was 11-8.
So yes, I could say that I paid hundreds of pounds for return flights, three nights in a hotel, plus spending money and used up a day's holiday allowance to suffer that. Yes ok the result nags me a bit but I had a great time meeting up with friends, doing some shopping and immersing myself again in Parisian culture across a long weekend.
I have also learned that I need to change the way in which I practice for these events, and I intend to go back for the one at Fontenay-sous-bois on 7 February 2009 - my target is to improve on 55th/74 from 2008.
All that said, 40th is my best ever finish on the C/L tournoi circuit - a testament to its popularity!
Jeff
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Re: Countdown World Championships
At least in would give the Brits a chance to win something, I suppose.
- Matthew Green
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Its never stopped snooker...Martin Gardner wrote:I think a "World Championship" with about 20 players, all of them British, makes a mockery of the term "World Championship".Charlie Reams wrote:I'd personally feel like an absolute tard telling people that I was off to the "Countdown World Championship." Explaining that I'm off to COLON is much more easily justifiable.
If I suddenly have a squirming baby on my lap it probably means that I should start paying it some attention and stop wasting my time messing around on a Countdown forum
- Charlie Reams
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Indeed, with competitors from such well-known parts of Britain as China, Canada, Australia and South Africa, it's really not much of a world championship at all.Matthew Green wrote:Its never stopped snooker...
- Kai Laddiman
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Exactly his point.Charlie Reams wrote:Indeed, with competitors from such well-known parts of Britain as China, Canada, Australia and South Africa, it's really not much of a world championship at all.Matthew Green wrote:Its never stopped snooker...
16/10/2007 - Episode 4460
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
- Charlie Reams
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Whose point?Kai Laddiman wrote:Exactly his point.
- Kai Laddiman
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Matt's?NODE3r wrote:Whose point?Kai Laddiman wrote:Exactly his point.
16/10/2007 - Episode 4460
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
- Matthew Green
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Yeah yeah, but not so long ago it was 31 brits and James Wattana and it was still the 'world championships'.
If I suddenly have a squirming baby on my lap it probably means that I should start paying it some attention and stop wasting my time messing around on a Countdown forum
- Frank Rodolf
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Of course, way before Watana ever came onto the scene, there had already been South African and Canadian world champions...Matthew Green wrote:Yeah yeah, but not so long ago it was 31 brits and James Wattana and it was still the 'world championships'.
A better example of a "world championship" that does not deserve the name might be Major League Baseball's World Series with teams only from the US and (now just two) Canada.
Frank
- Michael Wallace
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Re: Countdown World Championships
itym Run's point, actuallyKai Laddiman wrote:Matt's?NODE3r wrote:Whose point?Kai Laddiman wrote:Exactly his point.
- Ian Volante
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Well Perrie Mans never won it, but you make a fair point. At some point in the early eighties, three of the world's top five were Canadian.Frank Rodolf wrote:Of course, way before Watana ever came onto the scene, there had already been South African and Canadian world champions...Matthew Green wrote:Yeah yeah, but not so long ago it was 31 brits and James Wattana and it was still the 'world championships'.
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- Matthew Green
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Well invite Jason Larsen, he lives close to Canada.
If I suddenly have a squirming baby on my lap it probably means that I should start paying it some attention and stop wasting my time messing around on a Countdown forum
- Martin Gardner
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Just one isn't it from Canada? The Montreal Expos moved to Washington, so it's just the Toronto Blue Jays left now.Frank Rodolf wrote:Of course, way before Watana ever came onto the scene, there had already been South African and Canadian world champions...Matthew Green wrote:Yeah yeah, but not so long ago it was 31 brits and James Wattana and it was still the 'world championships'.
A better example of a "world championship" that does not deserve the name might be Major League Baseball's World Series with teams only from the US and (now just two) Canada.
If you cut a gandiseeg in half, do you get two gandiseegs or two halves of a gandiseeg?
- Martin Gardner
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Ken Doherty from Ireland, people sometimes forget that it's a separate country.Ian Volante wrote:Well Perrie Mans never won it, but you make a fair point. At some point in the early eighties, three of the world's top five were Canadian.Frank Rodolf wrote:Of course, way before Watana ever came onto the scene, there had already been South African and Canadian world champions...Matthew Green wrote:Yeah yeah, but not so long ago it was 31 brits and James Wattana and it was still the 'world championships'.
If you cut a gandiseeg in half, do you get two gandiseegs or two halves of a gandiseeg?
- Ian Volante
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Not overseas though, which is the usual criterion.Martin Gardner wrote: Ken Doherty from Ireland, people sometimes forget that it's a separate country.
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- Frank Rodolf
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Duh! Indeed... And to think (ML) baseball is actually my favourite sport...Martin Gardner wrote:Just one isn't it from Canada? The Montreal Expos moved to Washington, so it's just the Toronto Blue Jays left now.Frank Rodolf wrote:A better example of a "world championship" that does not deserve the name might be Major League Baseball's World Series with teams only from the US and (now just two) Canada.
Frank
Re: Countdown World Championships
Jon Corby wrote:Maybe this is what Damian had in mind when he said there would be no more CoC
Edit:
Shit, what a fucking waste of my 1,000th post. I was going to have a special party in its own thread. I'll have to wait for 10,000 now
There will be more C of C. It's just too good to shelve. I think the hassle and grief of who's taking part and who isn't is worth suffering for such an excellent tourney. The last one was the best block of shows i've ever been associated with, and the people who took part were all there in the right spirit. I was very proud of all of you who played, almost moved. Almost.
- Ian Fitzpatrick
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Re: Countdown World Championships
That's good news. I agree the last CofC was an excellent tournament from the watcher's point of view, and with the level of octochamps coming through these days we can only expect similar quality and spirit.D Eadie wrote:Jon Corby wrote:Maybe this is what Damian had in mind when he said there would be no more CoC
There will be more C of C. It's just too good to shelve. I think the hassle and grief of who's taking part and who isn't is worth suffering for such an excellent tourney. The last one was the best block of shows i've ever been associated with, and the people who took part were all there in the right spirit. I was very proud of all of you who played, almost moved. Almost.
I thought I was good at Countdown until I joined this forum
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Re: Countdown World Championships
ExcellentD Eadie wrote:There will be more C of C. It's just too good to shelve.
And how about another one of them Supreme Championships for good measure? Please?
Re: Countdown World Championships
Yeah. Which somehow contrives to include people who lost in two semi-finalsJunaid Mubeen wrote:ExcellentD Eadie wrote:There will be more C of C. It's just too good to shelve.
And how about another one of them Supreme Championships for good measure? Please?
- Kai Laddiman
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Re: Countdown World Championships
And people who lost by a letterJon Corby wrote:Yeah. Which somehow contrives to include people who lost in two semi-finalsJunaid Mubeen wrote:ExcellentD Eadie wrote:There will be more C of C. It's just too good to shelve.
And how about another one of them Supreme Championships for good measure? Please?
16/10/2007 - Episode 4460
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
- Charlie Reams
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Best news ever!D Eadie wrote:There will be more C of C. It's just too good to shelve. I think the hassle and grief of who's taking part and who isn't is worth suffering for such an excellent tourney. The last one was the best block of shows i've ever been associated with, and the people who took part were all there in the right spirit. I was very proud of all of you who played, almost moved. Almost.
- Ben Wilson
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Re: Countdown World Championships
So you get to lose to Paul Howe in the semi- or the grand-final?Jon Corby wrote:Yeah. Which somehow contrives to include people who lost in two semi-finalsJunaid Mubeen wrote:ExcellentD Eadie wrote:There will be more C of C. It's just too good to shelve.
And how about another one of them Supreme Championships for good measure? Please?
Seriously though, the announcement of more c of c is seriously awesome news.
- Kai Laddiman
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Gah, you had to put 'c of c' to spoil the joke.Ben Wilson wrote:Seriously though, the announcement of more c of c is seriously awesome news.
16/10/2007 - Episode 4460
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
Dinos Sfyris 76 - 78 Dorian Lidell
Proof that even idiots can get well and truly mainwheeled.
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Yes, I often enjoy the walk to Ireland.Ian Volante wrote:Not overseas though, which is the usual criterion.Martin Gardner wrote: Ken Doherty from Ireland, people sometimes forget that it's a separate country.
- Ian Volante
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Aye, I hear there's some excellent countryside south of Enniskillen, have you ever travelled that way?Gavin Chipper wrote:Yes, I often enjoy the walk to Ireland.Ian Volante wrote:Not overseas though, which is the usual criterion.Martin Gardner wrote: Ken Doherty from Ireland, people sometimes forget that it's a separate country.
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Re: Countdown World Championships
It's overseas for me (the objective arbiter of such matters of course) but I see your point.Ian Volante wrote:Aye, I hear there's some excellent countryside south of Enniskillen, have you ever travelled that way?
- Ian Volante
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Re: Countdown World Championships
Pedantry winGavin Chipper wrote:It's overseas for me (the objective arbiter of such matters of course) but I see your point.Ian Volante wrote:Aye, I hear there's some excellent countryside south of Enniskillen, have you ever travelled that way?
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