C1: Champion Ben "Trick or Treat " Hocking (8 wins, 862 points.)
C2: Champion Ricky "The Silencer " Cohen (8 wins, 801 points.)
DC: Susie Dent and Christopher Biggins .
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: M C D E O I L A G
R02: R W U O M P E Q T
R03: 75, 50, 3, 2, 7, 1. Target: 222.
TTT: PANTOBILL - "When Biggins is on the panto bill, he signs many autographs with this."
R04: S N A E L F A C S
R05: R Y P O A E L I N
R06: 7, 2, 8, 3, 1, 9. Target: 320.
R07: X D S O E A M E S
R08: T P I A L T U G A
R09: 25, 100, 4, 7, 3, 10, . Target: 935.
TTT: AYULESHOP - " The stage is set for Santa to deliver this from his workshop"
R10: S R I E H D O E B
R11: T K N U A O S I E
R12: V R U E T S I W A
R13: D T N E O U R I U
R14: 1, 4, 3, 9, 6, 4. Target: 165.
R15: P L U M B S E A S (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show.
Round 1: M C D E O I L A G
Ben: MELODICA (8)
Ricky: CLAIMED (7)
DC: MAGIC (5) MEDICAL (7)
Score: 8–0 (max 8)
A great start from our 3rd seed Ben with his 8 Melodica...........you guessed it.........I spotted this one
Round 2: R W U O M P E Q T
Ben: TORQUE (6)
Ricky: TORQUE (6)
DC: TROUPE (6)
OT: EMPTOR (6) POUTER (6) ROQUET (6) RUMPOT (6)
Score: 14–6 (max 14)
Sixes all round..........let's not fight about this........play nicely now
Round 3: 75, 50, 3, 2, 7, 1. Target: 222.
C1: 222. (75 − 1) × 3 (10)
C2: 222. 3 × 75 − 2 − 1 (10)
Score: 24–16 (max 24)
A piece of piss this solve........this bags our quarter finalists 10 points each.........counting sheep is more fun
Teatime teaser: PANTOBILL -> BALLPOINT
Round 4: S N A E L F A C S
Ben: CLEANS (6)
Ricky: fanless
DC: CALEANS (7)
Score: 30–16 (max 31)
Our 3rd seed Ben is making a clean getaway with his 6 cleans............sadly for Ricky he has his 7 disallowed by Susie that puts him behind by 14 points with everything left to play for .............over in DC they are polishing up their act with their 7 Caleans
Round 5: R Y P O A E L I N
Ben: AILERON (7)
Ricky: PRALINE (7)
DC: PRALINE (7) PLENARY (7)
OT: ALIENOR (7) INLAYER (7) NAILERY (7) OPALINE (7) PLAINER (7) PROLINE (7)
Score: 37–23 (max 38)
Lots of sevens here..........nothing worth having a catfight over.........now let's play nicely !
Round 6: 7, 2, 8, 3, 1, 9. Target: 320.
C1: 320. (9 × 3 + 7 × 2 − 1) × 8 (10)
C2: 320. ((9 − 1) ÷ 2) × (3 + 7) × 8 (10)
Score: 47–33 (max 48)
Nice and straightforward not too taxing........as this bags our quarter finalists 10 points each
Round 7: X D S O E A M E S
Ben: MESSED (6)
Ricky: MASSED (6)
DC: OEDEMA (6)
OT: EXOMES (6) MOSSED (6) SEAMED (6) SESAME (6)
Score: 53–39 (max 54)
Lots of sixes...........so let's move on and jump to the next tround
Round 8: T P I A L T U G A
Ben: PLAIT (5)
Ricky: -
DC: TAGATI (6)
OT: PALAGI (6)
Score: 58–39 (max 60)
Sadly for our 6th seed Ricky he draws a blank in this round but Ben gets to score with his and extends his lead further with everything still to play for............there were a couple of sixes to be had...........over in DC they get to shine with their six Tagati
Round 9: 25, 100, 4, 7, 3, 10. Target: 935.
C1: 935. (100 − 4) × 10 − 25 (10)
C2: -
Score: 68–39 (max 70)
Another fantastic solve from our 3rd seed Ben who now extends his lead even further.........Ricky would need to pull off a Tracey Mills style comeback to get himself back in this contest........the question is can he do it ?
Teatime teaser: AYULESHOP -> PLAYHOUSE
Round 10: S R I E H D O E B
Ben: HEROISED (8)
Ricky: DEBRIS (6)
DC: HEROISED (8) DISROBE (7)
Score: 76–39 (max 78)
More Brilliance from Mr Hocking with his eight Heroised....... as he books his place in Tomorrow's semi-final..........you guessed it this was my spot as well !
Round 11: T K N U A O S I E
Ben: SOUTANE (7)
Ricky: AUNTIES (7)
DC: AUNTIES (7)
OT: ATONIES (7) INTAKES (7) KENTIAS (7) OAKIEST (7) SINUATE (7)
Score: 83–46 (max 85)
Sevens all round............nothing to see here...........let's move on shall we
Round 12: V R U E T S I W A
Ben: WAVIEST (7)
Ricky: VIRTUES (7)
DC: WAITERS (7) WARIEST (7)
OT: WAIVERS (7)
Score: 90–53 (max 92)
More of the same and top marks for our quarter finalists.........nothing worth fighting over
Round 13: D T N E O U R I U
Ben: ROUTINED (8)
Ricky: ROUTINED (8)
DC: ROUTINED (8)
Score: 98–61 (max 100)
It is Darren central in this round as our finalists and DC spot the only available eight Routined
Round 14: 1, 4, 3, 9, 6, 4. Target: 165.
C1: 165. (9 × 6 + 1) × 3 (10)
C2: -
Score: 108–61 (max 110)
Another fine solve from our no 3 seed Mr Hocking as he now seals his place in Thursday's semi final where the second seed Brett Davids aka the winking Goliath awaits him........but for our 6th seed Ricky Cohen it is game over
Round 15: P L U M B S E A S
No one buzzes. The answer was SUBSAMPLE.
Final Score: 108–61 (max 120)
Neither quarter finalist solves this stinky conundrum, firstly congratulations to Ben who now advances to Thursday's semi final where Brett Davids will now await him, secondly take nothing away from Ricky who matched Ben for most of the contest but slowly faded as Ben got the better of him. Being a Countdown quarter finalist is something to be proud of and a huge achievement in it's self..........you can join me for the next recap.....as it is the last of the quarter finals tomorrow that awaits us.........where 4th seeded Ciaran McCarthy will take on the 5th seeded John Payne for a place in Wednesday's semi-final in the meantime it is bye for now
