Spoilers for Monday 1st December 2025

[Philip A]

Third numbers:

The first way I saw:
(100/2-10-7)*8=264

The second way:
100*2+10*7-6=264

By the way, prior to today Ricky nothced up enough wins to push John Pakenham down to 9th! A shame, as John’s average of 99 is the highest among new contestants this series. His 5 wins weren’t enough in the end, and he lost to the current No. 1 seed.

Mark Allen, the only newcomer in the current top 8, is currently 6th and will be 7th if Ricky octos tomorrow.

We’ve had a record 23 returning contestabts this series and a record 37 for 2025! This brings the all-time total to 327 returning contestants. Series 78 had 8 returnees.

1st Quarter-final starts 11th December. Not long now.

[John Garcia]

I did:
(100 + 8x(10-6)) x 2 = 264.

p.s. I don't know if it's just me, but Ricky doesn't look anything like Anthony Hopkins. He is however a dead ringer for the late Menzies Campbell!

[Simon Haigh]

Third numbers:

The first way I saw:
(100/2-10-7)*8=264

The second way:
100*2+10*7-6=264

...

I saw your (very simple) second way in a couple of seconds and I'm no maths whizz - Rachel must have spotted it

Does she deliberately miss easy solutions for some reason?

[Philip A]

Third numbers:

The first way I saw:
(100/2-10-7)*8=264

The second way:
100*2+10*7-6=264

...

I saw your (very simple) second way in a couple of seconds and I'm no maths whizz - Rachel must have spotted it

Does she deliberately miss easy solutions for some reason?

I doubt she deliberately misses easy methods, she just goes for the first method her brain sees. I think when you have high ability and cognitive function you tend to just work it out on instinct rather than trying to find the easiest way.