Spoilers For Monday October 21st 2013

[James Robinson]

So, after an quite amazing group of episodes last week, can we expect more of the same this week, I wonder

After Mark Hartnett's brilliant 3 wins, he was dethroned on Friday by the returner, Bradley Cates, who put in a sensational performance to win with a score of 111 points. Will we get a repeat performance today

His opponent today is another member of the Aptoranks in Sean D (don't ask about the surname, I don't know either. ). Will he avenge his fallen Apto-comrade

Arlene Phillips carries on in DC for today and tomorrow, before we have a male presence for the first time in ages, with Dr. Phil Hammond in for the rest of the week.

Graeme will be recapping later on.

[Andy Platt]

One of the best decisions to pick for a final vowel I've ever seen - was hoping Sean would capitalise there - AEROLITES for 9 in round 2 as a DC beater.

[Tony Atkins]

One of the best decisions to pick for a final vowel I've ever seen - was hoping Sean would capitalise there - AEROLITES for 9 in round 2 as a DC beater.

Unfortunately not everyone knows how to fish as well as you! I stuck with EARLIEST (other 8s available too).

Alt 1st numbers (75+3-2)x(10+1)+6

[Andy Platt]

Round 6 numbers: (100 x 50 - 75 - 5) / 5 - 25 = 959 as a Rachel-beater

[Jordan F]

Is Bradley an apterite under a psuedonym or one of the best non-apterites in recent memory? I'm not sure.

[Jack Worsley]

Round 6 numbers: (100 x 50 - 75 - 5) / 5 - 25 = 959 as a Rachel-beater

Awesome, I spent ages on it and still couldn't even get to 960. Was it in time?

Edit: SPIKENARD in R10.

[Andy Platt]

Is Bradley an apterite under a psuedonym or one of the best non-apterites in recent memory? I'm not sure.

After SFUMATO, I'm thinking the same thing. Sorry if I sound like an elitist prick, but I refuse to believe that anybody picks that up without apterous. The other alternative is that he has made himself some sort of excel-based game with dictionary file like this guy did (remember HORTENSIA, DIATRIBE, etc).

Round 6 numbers: (100 x 50 - 75 - 5) / 5 - 25 = 959 as a Rachel-beater

Awesome, I spent ages on it and still couldn't even get to 960. Was it in time?

Took me about three or four seconds.

[Tony Atkins]

Is Bradley an apterite under a psuedonym or one of the best non-apterites in recent memory? I'm not sure.

He was quite good when he won his shows before - and there are other ways to practice and study too.

[Tony Atkins]

Anybody work out what SPRAINED+K was?

[Andy Platt]

Anybody work out what SPRAINED+K was?

SPIKENARD in R10.

Edit

Round 14: ((75 + 2) x 50 x 3 + 100) / 25, took me well over 30 seconds though.

Unlucky Sean there, thought you played well enough to beat around 75% of contestants, but unfortunate to run into Bradley there.
His only weakness seems to be the tricky numbers.

[Tony Atkins]

Anybody work out what SPRAINED+K was?

SPIKENARD in R10.

That was his edit to the posting.

[Jack Worsley]

Is Bradley an apterite under a psuedonym or one of the best non-apterites in recent memory? I'm not sure.

Rachel W perhaps?

Great performance again. Well played too Sean, very few people would have coped with Bradley today.

Last numbers: (75+3)*(100+50)/25-2 = 466

[sean d]

SFUMATO came from Bradley's list of art/music terms! He said he's not on apterous and no reason to doubt that.
Bah AEROLITES .... 5 vowels is my relative strength in letters and the nice selection prompted me to go 5 vowels- though I wasnt specifically chasing anything I felt it was the type of selection I'd played on Apterous before.... and then I couldn't even see earliest !!
Pleased enough to get to 955 in studio conditions. I found 960 a little later. 959 is super elite 4L territory!

Will post later when I've had a look at the recording

[James S Roper]

Is Bradley an apterite under a psuedonym or one of the best non-apterites in recent memory? I'm not sure.

I have an inkling that it's Matthew Brockwell, however correct me if I'm wrong.

[Innis Carson]

SFUMATO has come up on the show before, and so have things like OSTERIA and BEGONIA, it's possible he's just been watching the show devoutly and has a good memory for words. Or perhaps discovered these words through other means as people have said. If his appearances as an 11-year-old prove anything, it's that he has a good 'natural' ability for finding words, and so didn't necessarily need the help of apterous to reach the standard he's at now.

[Martin Long]

Two very tough 4L rounds there - I was happy with 960 for round 6 and did (75+3)*(100+50)/25-2 for round 14.

Another high quality game there, well done Sean - unlucky to come up against such a strong player.

[Mark James]

I was told Bradley has a photographic memory. He plays Countdown games, just not apterous.

[Jennifer Steadman]

Is Bradley an apterite under a psuedonym or one of the best non-apterites in recent memory? I'm not sure.

I have an inkling that it's Matthew Brockwell, however correct me if I'm wrong.

That was who I suspected. But Matthew was playing on Apto while (I believe) Bradley would've been filming on the 31st August.

If he told Sean and Mark he's not on Apterous, fair enough - he doesn't really stand to gain anything by lying.

[James Robinson]

Is Bradley an apterite under a psuedonym or one of the best non-apterites in recent memory? I'm not sure.

I have an inkling that it's Matthew Brockwell, however correct me if I'm wrong.

That was who I suspected. But Matthew was playing on Apto while (I believe) Bradley would've been filming on the 31st August.

If he told Sean and Mark he's not on Apterous, fair enough - he doesn't really stand to gain anything by lying.

I personally asked him on Twitter why he doesn't go on Apterous or attend CO-events, and he said it just wasn't his thing, which is fair enough.

But, a fantastic competitor none the less.

[Matthew Brockwell]

Is Bradley an apterite under a psuedonym or one of the best non-apterites in recent memory? I'm not sure.

I have an inkling that it's Matthew Brockwell, however correct me if I'm wrong.

To end the speculation, I can confirm that Matthew Brockwell is my real name, and so is not anyone playing under a pseudonym. I guess not being on Facebook (at the moment) and hard(ish) to Google makes it difficult to track someone down .

[James S Roper]

To end the speculation, I can confirm that Matthew Brockwell is my real name, and so is not anyone playing under a pseudonym. I guess not being on Facebook (at the moment) and hard(ish) to Google makes it difficult to track someone down .

Heh, sorry!