Spoilers & Comments, Wednesday 25/02/2009

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:21 pm

Today Neil Zussman will work extra hard to fulfil my prophecy from a few days ago.

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:35 pm

bollocks. I missed the rounds before the RETIRED round - any chance anyone wrote them down and can post them quickly? xx

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:36 pm

Not to mention POLISHER and REPOLISH...

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:38 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:bollocks. I missed the rounds before the RETIRED round - any chance anyone wrote them down and can post them quickly? xx

AEIOCDLNR but not in that order - Sheila got 7, Neil got 8 (you beat me, Neil).

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:42 pm

Martin Gardner wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:bollocks. I missed the rounds before the RETIRED round - any chance anyone wrote them down and can post them quickly? xx
AEIOCDLNR but not in that order - Sheila got 7, Neil got 8 (you beat me, Neil).

Thanks Martin. Wish you'd never told me. Useless.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:45 pm

Did I just hear Jeff coin a new term there? Announcing the first Teatime Teaser, he said: "The tease is SNOBMADE, and the clue is..." So now we know. The scrambled letters in the Teatime Teasers are "teases". I like that.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:46 pm

1st numbers (slightly out of time): 9x7x4x(2+1)+8

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:53 pm

I've never noticed quite how much movement you can see on the blue background to the set.
I'm presuming these are the shadows of cameras, booms, spotlights etc.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:01 pm

Matt Morrison wrote:I've never noticed quite how much movement you can see on the blue background to the set.
I'm presuming these are the shadows of cameras, booms, spotlights etc.

Er, no. It's a deliberate effect, created by lights with rotating gobos. Very trendy these day; the University Challenge set uses it too.

Lesley Jeavons · Post by **Lesley Jeavons** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:08 pm

*~*~* Neil, Congratulations!!! *~*~*

Matt Morrison · Post by **Matt Morrison** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:08 pm

Phil Reynolds wrote:
Matt Morrison wrote:I've never noticed quite how much movement you can see on the blue background to the set.
I'm presuming these are the shadows of cameras, booms, spotlights etc.
Er, no. It's a deliberate effect, created by lights with rotating gobos. Very trendy these day; the University Challenge set uses it too.

Yeah noticed it on tons of other shows, I just didn't think it was Countdown-style, shouldn't have double-guessed my first instinct! Cheers for that tho.

Allan Harmer · Post by **Allan Harmer** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:18 pm

Congratulations on becoming an Octochamp Neil.

Well played mate and it was well deserved.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:21 pm

To mark Neil's terrific achievement today, I feel sure you will all want to put aside whatever you are doing for the next 30 seconds and sing the following little song (to the tune of the theme from the TV show Spiderman):

Octochamp!
Octochamp!
He likes numbers
(And he's not camp!)
Curly haired
Essex lad
Could Fred Harris
Be his dad?
Look out!
Here comes the Octochamp!

I thank you. You may now resume what you were doing.

Jojo Apollo · Post by **Jojo Apollo** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 4:31 pm

Nice one Neil, a more relaxing game for a change.

Ralph Gillions · Post by **Ralph Gillions** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:00 pm

Congratulations Neil.
Good performance and well-deserved.
(You`re a bit of a charmer too)

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 5:32 pm

Nice work Neil, I'll be watching you this summer. On TV, I mean.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:30 pm

Congratulations on the title of Jeff + Rachel's first octochamp.

I was stuck on 14 maximums after I was one away on your bloody 6 small again. As much as I love the numbers, 6 small really does make it hard to get perfect games or a high score.

JimBentley · Post by **JimBentley** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:30 pm

Excellent stuff, Neil, really well done, and ten out of eleven maxes on the letters today is a great way to sign off! Also, people are right - you do look exactly like Fred Harris, it's uncanny.

Junaid Mubeen · Post by **Junaid Mubeen** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:31 pm

Woohoo, I finally got a perfect game

Well played Neil, a thoroughly entertaining octochamp run. Look forward to seeing you in the finals.

Richard Priest · Post by **Richard Priest** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:19 pm

Well done Neil, great octochamp run. I'll be watching you live in the finals, good luck.

David Gunn · Post by **David Gunn** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:25 pm

Round 13: TRAGIC is a DC-beater, but only equals Neil's AORTIC.
Well done Neil, bet you're sorry you didn't see Jeff live this week after Saturday's result!

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:39 pm

Well done Neil, obviously I knew ages ago but managed to keep it quiet (I hope.)

I wonder what the next big item on the Countdown calendar might be...

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 7:45 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:Well done Neil, obviously I knew ages ago but managed to keep it quiet (I hope.)

I wonder what the next big item on the Countdown calendar might be...

Horse racing?

On the Zussmeister front, we met 'yesterday's' victim in the hotel the night before I recorded. He had said he lost to a 6-time winner (soon to be octochamp) but pushed him close. It was good to see him on screen as well as seeing Zussman.

Two new contestants tomorrow...looking forward to it already.

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:09 pm

Thanks everyone

As Jojo said, it was nice to finish with a slightly more comfortable game (though still not an easy one).
All the contestants were really nice people, as was everyone behind the scenes (and on-screen). I'd recommend it to anyone! (Although I still maintain that it's a nerve-wracking experience, today's was probably the only game where I felt semi-relaxed).

Kirk Bevins wrote:Congratulations on the title of Jeff + Rachel's first octochamp.

I didn't think of that. It's a nice claim to fame.

It's a nice feeling to be the number one seed, even if it's just for a couple of weeks til Kirk becomes the first person to total above 1000 points in the 8 prelim games. (Spoiler

)

David Gunn wrote:Well done Neil, bet you're sorry you didn't see Jeff live this week after Saturday's result!

Too right, we've done the double over them this season! But if we get relegated, it won't matter.

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:11 pm

Incidentally, I'm sure someone else has got it but an alternative method for the 2nd numbers is: [(10+10)*9+1]*3. Told you I was better at 6 small, the big number put me off!

Jojo Apollo · Post by **Jojo Apollo** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:19 pm

Hopefully we will see a Neil vs Kirk final.

Go on Neil, get him on the six smalls (good possible twenty points there)

Only joking Kirk.

I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series, hopefully we will see an epic set of quarter finalists.

Kathleen Batlle · Post by **Kathleen Batlle** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:21 pm

Congratulations Neil, great game today. Shame you were feeling so relaxed that you missed the last numbers game ........ and, whoopee I got it! Oh well, it was quite easy really, I don't usually do that well, you may have been distracted or blinded by the 'lovely' Rachel! I think you look a lot like Lee Mead, the 'Joseph' musical star - he's an Essex lad too. Anyway, looking forward to seeing you again in the finals. Good luck with your studies too.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:29 pm

Jojo Apollo wrote: Go on Neil, get him on the six smalls (good possible twenty points there)

FWIW Kirk is actually damn good at six small.

Jojo Apollo · Post by **Jojo Apollo** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:41 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Jojo Apollo wrote: Go on Neil, get him on the six smalls (good possible twenty points there)
FWIW Kirk is actually damn good at six small.

Yeah I don't doubt it, like Craig Beevers and other greats there seems to be no real weakness in his game (from what I've seen of Kirk's apterous games). Looking forward to seeing how he does on the tv show.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:55 pm

Well done Neil on becoming an Octochamp

I did think I thought you might've done a 4-large for your last numbers selection.

Martin Gardner · Post by **Martin Gardner** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:31 pm

In fairness the six small tactic wasn't bad, but was great either. I think the 783 game, you have to at least get 7 points on that, I mean if you want to be a 'six small' expert. Maybe if you read Jerry and Jono's tips on four large numbers, you might think of doing that instead of the six small option.

Hmm Jerry and Jono, sounds like an ice cream company, doesn't it?

Dan Vanniasingham · Post by **Dan Vanniasingham** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:16 am

I can only echo the sentiments of others in saying well played to Neil - a quality Countdowner and a top bloke to boot. Thoroughly enjoyable shows to watch, with each of the vanquished opponents playing their part too. The transition from CoC to standard series hasn't been the comedown I was anticipating, and that's a real bonus. To think there's Kirk in store, and maybe some other new stars afterwards, the future is looking bloomin' brilliant!

Dinos Sfyris · Post by **Dinos Sfyris** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:53 am

Congrats Neil on pertaining octochampdomshippery! I thoroughly enjoyed all your games. Especially the LEMONADE one. That was a close call!

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:11 pm

Dinos Sfyris wrote:Congrats Neil on pertaining octochampdomshippery! I thoroughly enjoyed all your games. Especially the LEMONADE one. That was a close call!

Before Phil arrives on the scene, I'll say that Dinos meant attaining, not pertaining, and I'm sure he knows the difference.

And since I'm posting in this thread I'll say well done again Neil.

Howard Somerset · Post by **Howard Somerset** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:30 pm

Not caught all your games yet, but well done, Neil. Look forward to seeing your first few, and then to seeing you in the finals (barring 8 near back-to-back high scoring octochamps).

Julie T · Post by **Julie T** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:37 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:Congratulations on the title of Jeff + Rachel's first octochamp.

Brilliant stuff, Neil!

And some of your opponents were quite tough to beat, too. Certainly not an easy run.

I feel honoured to have been in the audience for 3 of your games, and met you over a cup of tea.

Good luck in the finals!

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:39 pm

Congratulations Neil, lots of great spots, and I think you had a harder than average set of opponents to contend with.

Phil Reynolds · Post by **Phil Reynolds** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:18 pm

Paul Howe wrote:Congratulations Neil, lots of great spots

You'll be able to say that to Kai in a year or two.
(apart from the word "Neil", obviously. Pedants.)

Jimmy Gough · Post by **Jimmy Gough** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:21 pm

I offer my congrats too. Well done Zussy!

Neil Zussman · Post by **Neil Zussman** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:45 pm

Paul Howe wrote:Congratulations Neil, lots of great spots, and I think you had a harder than average set of opponents to contend with.

My suspicion is that I made them look good by not being amazingly good myself, but thanks anyway

Hopefully the seeds will work out so that I can't meet Kirk til the final!

Tracey Lilly · Post by **Tracey Lilly** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:55 pm

My only personal hi light in todays game was equalling Jeff's UNSTABLE + a couple of other word matches.

Well done Neil - you showed humility in victory and were very gracious towards your opponents, some of whom gave you a 'run for your money.'

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:03 pm

Only just caught up, and good to see Neil completing his octochamp run in style. You had to see off some really tough opponents to make it too, so doubly well done. Good luck for the finals!

Ian Fitzpatrick · Post by **Ian Fitzpatrick** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:14 am

Watched Neil reaching his octochamp status last night, congratulations to Neil, best of luck in the series final.
I must say Jeff's hosting is getting better and better, good to see you putting him right on the 87 times table.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:31 pm

Ian Fitzpatrick wrote: best of luck in the series final.

Wow, hold your horses. I hope you mean "series finals" not just the final!

Ian Fitzpatrick · Post by **Ian Fitzpatrick** » Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:27 pm

Kirk Bevins wrote:
Ian Fitzpatrick wrote: best of luck in the series final.
Wow, hold your horses. I hope you mean "series finals" not just the final!

Yes, that's probably what I meant, but don't be surpised if I was inadvertently right!