Countdown in St Albans recaps for Saturday 12 July 2014.
I didn't write down all of my opponent's declarations so apologies if I give the wrong word or numbers solution that any of you gave.
First preliminary game
C1: Callum Todd.
C2: Giles Hutchings.
DC: Jeff Clayton and James Robinson
R01: V N D N I E U L A
R02: Q M G P I E E I R
R03: 50, 7, 10, 4, 2, 5. Target: 683.
R04: N I R I F A T S B
R05: R T T E O A T S X
R06: 100, 9, 8, 6, 2, 7. Target: 467.
R07: G R A D I H I G E
R08: T S N D O A E L I
R09: 50, 7, 6, 7, 4, 2. Target: 945.
R10: T T U E H S E O P
R11: C D R E O I B P U
R12: Y K E U S J A E L
R13: L N Z S A A E F A
R14: 25, 4, 10, 7, 4, 6. Target: 589.
R15: S T A L B A N S D (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Enjoy the show, as the two Countdown champions of 2013 collide.
Round 1: V N D N I E U L A
Callum: ANNELID (7)
Giles: unailed
DC: UNNAILED (8)
Score: 7–0 (max 8)
Unlucky start for Giles as he is one letter away from beating me with a new ODO darrenic eight, but it's not to be this time and I take an early lead.
Round 2: Q M G P I E E I R
Callum: RIEMPIE (7)
Giles: REGIME (6)
Score: 14–0 (max 15)
I take a risk here and it pays off, as I was only sure of the plural and didn't know the singular was spelt like that but it is and I double my lead.
Round 3: 50, 7, 10, 4, 2, 5. Target: 683.
Callum: 683. (50x2-(5-4))x7-10 (10)
Giles: 683. (10+4)x50-5x2-7 (10)
Score: 24–10 (max 25)
Two different methods for the numbers here, we both score ten points.
Round 4: N I R I F A T S B
Callum: BRAINS (6)
Giles: BRAINS (6)
DC: AFRITS (6)
OT: BAIRNS (6) BRANTS (6) FAINTS (6) FIBRIN (6) FIRNIS (6) IFTARS (6) INSTAR (6) ISATIN (6) RAISIN (6) STRAIN (6) TIBIAS (6) TRAINS (6)
Score: 30–16 (max 31)
A flat round of sixes. James declares AFRITS to be the nicest of the lot, and Giles points out that it has an anagram: IFTARS.
Round 5: R T T E O A T S X
Callum: ROTATES (7)
Giles: TOASTER (7)
DC: ATTESTOR (8) TESTATOR (8)
Score: 37–23 (max 39)
What to Giles and I looked like a flat round of sevens actually had two eights lurking!
Round 6: 100, 9, 8, 6, 2, 7. Target: 467.
Callum: 467. (100-8)x(9-6+2)-7 (10)
Giles: 467. (100/2+(7-6))x9+8 (10)
Score: 47–33 (max 49)
Two different methods again on the numbers, and ten more points apiece.
Round 7: G R A D I H I G E
Callum: DAGGIER (7)
Giles: DAGGIER (7)
Score: 54–40 (max 56)
We both get the darrenic seven.
Round 8: T S N D O A E L I
Callum: DELATIONS (18)
Giles: DELATIONS (18)
Score: 72–58 (max 74)
All pretense abandoned, we both stop working after a couple of seconds. That'll buff our scores up nicely
Round 9: 50, 7, 6, 7, 4, 2. Target: 945.
Callum: 946. (6x2+7)x50-4 (7)
Giles: 944. ((7-4)x50+7)x6+2 (7)
Graeme: 945. (50+7+6)x(4x2+7) (10)
Score: 79–65 (max 84)
Giles is one below and I am one above, so we each get seven points. We're stumped for the exact solution though, but thankfully we can Ask Graeme, who has found an excellent solve. Good job I hadn't been drawn against Graeme for this round!
Round 10: T T U E H S E O P
Callum: TOUPEES (7)
Giles: TOUPEES (7)
OT: OUTSTEP (7) PUTTEES (7)
Score: 86–72 (max 91)
Seven points apiece.
Round 11: C D R E O I B P U
Callum: PRODUCE (7)
Giles: RECOUP (6)
DC: PERCOID (7)
Score: 93–72 (max 98)
I extend my lead by seven points here.
Round 12: Y K E U S J A E L
Callum: LAKES (5)
Giles: SLEEK (5)
OT: ASYLEE (6) SLEEKY (6)
Score: 98–77 (max 104)
Giles and I both thought about SLEEKY, and both dismissed it, but as it turns out the word is in. None of us thought about ASYLEE though, which was the other (very nice) six available in this round.
Round 13: L N Z S A A E F A
Callum: AZALEAS (7)
Giles: AZALEAS (7)
Score: 105–84 (max 111)
We both get the darrenic seven. If you know the word, it jumps straight out at you with it's Z and three As.
Round 14: 25, 4, 10, 7, 4, 6. Target: 589.
Callum: 589. 25x4x6-7-4 (10)
Giles: 589. 25x4x6-7-4 (10)
Score: 115–94 (max 121)
Nice and easy numbers here.
Round 15: S T A L B A N S D
Giles buzzes on 2 seconds to say SANDBLAST which is correct.
Despite having thought about SANDBLAST about an hour ago when thinking of 9 letter words with STALBANS in them, it still takes me a good four or five seconds longer than Giles to solve this conundrum. A good finish to the game from Giles sees him move into the next round with a very respectable score. The statistics show we were level on maximums and I was one behind on raw score, so I feel lucky to have picked up a win here but I'll take what I can get.
Final Score: 115–104 (max 131)
Statistics
Raw score: Callum 115 - Giles 116
Maximums: Callum 10 - Giles 10
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Second preliminary game
C1: Callum Todd (1 win, 115 points.)
C2: Callum Pickering.
DC: Jeff Clayton and James Robinson.
R01: M I T A S O R I S
R02: F G O E T S E T O
R03: 25, 8, 1, 4, 7, 5. Target: 999.
R04: F P N Z I I A A S
R05: R D Q A E O C C E
R06: 25, 75, 50, 10, 6, 8. Target: 772.
R07: V D S H I E E I P
R08: S C R A A E B A D
R09: 25, 8, 5, 3, 10, 7. Target: 803.
R10: L R P E A O T G I
R11: N K D E O O A T N
R12: O E I L R W L D S
R13: R T R O E I U N Y
R14: 50, 75, 5, 10, 4, 3. Target: 912.
R15: S A L T I B U T R (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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My first game was the battle of 2013 Countdown champions; my second is the battle of the Callums, as I take on Callum Pickering, whose game is getting stronger by the day since he joined apterous a few months ago.
Round 1: M I T A S O R I S
Callum Todd: AORISTS (7)
Callum Pickering: MITOSIS (7)
DC: AMORISTS (8) AMITOSIS (8)
Score: 7–7 (max 8)
Callum and I both have sevens here, and we both could have added just one letter into our words at some point to make them into an 8. I miss the M out of AMORISTS, while he misses the A off of AMITOSIS.
Round 2: F G O E T S E T O
Callum Todd: FOOTS (5)
Callum Pickering: STOOGE (6)
Score: 7–13 (max 14)
Callum trumps me here with a good darren spot.
Round 3: 25, 8, 1, 4, 7, 5. Target: 999.
Callum Todd: 999. 25x8x5-1 (10)
Callum Pickering: 999. 5x8x25-1 (10)
Score: 17–23 (max 24)
A fairly straight forward numbers here; we both get ten points.
Round 4: F P N Z I I A A S
Callum Todd: PAISAN (6)
Callum Pickering: PAINS (5)
Score: 23–23 (max 30)
I reply to Callum P's early darrenic six with one of my own to put the scores level.
Round 5: R D Q A E O C C E
Callum Todd: COERCED (7)
Callum Pickering: COERCED (7)
Score: 30–30 (max 37)
We both get the darrenic seven.
Round 6: 25, 75, 50, 10, 6, 8. Target: 772.
Callum Todd: 772. The standard method (10)
Callum Pickering: 772. The standard method (10)
Score: 40–40 (max 47)
Nothing more needs to be said.
Round 7: V D S H I E E I P
Callum Todd: VIDESHI (7)
Callum Pickering: pished
OT: PEEVISH (7)
Score: 47–40 (max 54)
I must admit I was pretty chuffed with this one, and it puts me in front for the first time in this game.
Round 8: S C R A A E B A D
Callum Todd: SCARED (6)
Callum Pickering: SACRED (6)
DC: ARCADES (7) ABRADES (7) BECARDS (7)
Score: 53–46 (max 61)
Callum P and I were both quite disappointed to miss ARCADES here, but we equalled each other so no great damage done.
Round 9: 25, 8, 5, 3, 10, 7. Target: 803.
Callum Todd: 803. (10x7+5+25)x8+3 (10)
Callum Pickering: 805.
Score: 63–46 (max 71)
I manage to avoid the trap of looking for a 32 and find a different way to reach 800 with the 3 left over.
Round 10: L R P E A O T G I
Callum Todd: EPILATOR (8)
Callum Pickering: GLOATER (7)
DC: PILOTAGE (8) PETIOLAR (8)
Score: 71–46 (max 79)
Round 11: N K D E O O A T N
Callum Todd: ODONATE (7)
Callum Pickering: TANKED (6)
Score: 78–46 (max 86)
The appearance of the word ODONATE sparks a debate over the validity of ODONATA. After double checking it, I can confirm that it is valid as, although the headword is capitalised, defintion 1.1 isn't
Round 12: O E I L R W L D S
Callum Todd: SWILLED (7)
Callum Pickering: DOLLIES (7)
DC: SOLDIER (7) WILDERS (7)
OT: DOWRIES (7) LOWLIER (7) ROWDIES (7) SOLIDER (7) SWILLER (7) SWIRLED (7) WEIRDOS (7)
Score: 85–53 (max 93)
A very flat round of sevens here. James rightly picks out WILDERS as the most interesting word of the bunch.
Round 13: R T R O E I U N Y
Callum Todd: TOURNEY (7)
Callum Pickering: ROUTINE (7)
DC: ROUTIER (7) RUNTIER (7) TURNERY (7)
Score: 92–60 (max 100)
I go for an apt word, while Callum P makes a routine spot to see us both pick up maximum points from another flat round.
Round 14: 50, 75, 5, 10, 4, 3. Target: 912.
Callum Todd: 912. (4x3)x75+(50+10)/5 (10)
Callum Pickering: 912. 5x4x50-75-10-3 (10)
Score: 102–70 (max 110)
Two different solutions here; ten points apiece.
Round 15: S A L T I B U T R
Callum Todd buzzes on 2 seconds to say BRUTALIST which is correct.
Final Score: 112–70 (max 120)
Statistics
Raw score: C Todd 117 - C Pickering 88
Maximums: C Todd 12 - C Pickering 7
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My notes of my third game are incomplete, so moving straight on to the:
Group A Quarter Final
C1: Callum Todd (3 wins, 355 points.)
C2: Ned Pendleton (3 wins.)
DC: Jeff Clayton and James Robinson.
OT: Other words and solutions.
R01: T R G Q E E E S B
R02: R R S S E E I U L
R03: M N F U A E N T N
R04: 25, 50, 75, 10, 1, 10. Target: 917.
R05: D F T I I E R T X
R06: R M Z D A A E E T
R07: T W T O U A R A M
R08: 100, 75, 50, 25, 10, 3. Target: 523.
R09: M I R A C L E P I (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: T R G Q E E E S B
Callum: GREETS (6)
Ned: GREETS (6)
DC: BERETS (6) BEGETS (6) EGRETS (6)
OT: GREBES (6)
Score: 6–6 (max 6)
A nice flat round to start us off.
Round 2: R R S S E E I U L
Callum: LEISURE (7)
Ned: SURLIER (7)
DC: SLURRIES (8)
Score: 13–13 (max 14)
During our game earlier, Giles informed me that LEISURE doesn't take an S, so I thought I was safe with a seven here but there was an eight lurking. Thankfully Ned doesn't see it either so we stay level.
Round 3: M N F U A E N T N
Callum: UNMEANT (7)
Ned: UNMEANT (7)
Score: 20–20 (max 21)
I was unsure of this, but I only had fives otherwise so went for it. Thankfully I was right to do so, but Ned had it too and was much more confident about it than I was. Worries are starting to creep in here.
Round 4: 25, 50, 75, 10, 1, 10. Target: 917.
Callum: 915. (75+10-1)x10+50+25 (7)
Ned: 915. Mistake in working.
Jeff: 916. (50-10)x25-75-10+1 (7)
Score: 27–20 (max 28)
It's a tricky 3 large here as Ned and I both declare two away. Unfortunately for Ned though, he seems to have gone wrong somewhere so I take the seven points. Jeff shows us how to get one closer, but it's impossible to solve exactly.
Round 5: D F T I I E R T X
Callum: EDITRIX (7)
Ned: TIDIER (6)
DC: FRITTED (7)
Score: 34–20 (max 35)
I double my lead here as Ned is very unlucky to chicken FRITTED.
Round 6: R M Z D A A E E T
Callum: AERATED (7)
Ned: AERATED (7)
Score: 41–27 (max 42)
We both get the darren.
Round 7: T W T O U A R A M
Callum: MUTATOR (7)
Ned: TROUT (5)
OT: AUTOMAT (7)
Score: 48–27 (max 49)
Ned is stuck on fives so I seal my place in the semi-final with a seven.
Round 8: 100, 75, 50, 25, 10, 3. Target: 523.
Callum: 523. (100+75)x3-50/25 (10)
Ned: 523. (100+75)x3-50/25 (10)
Score: 58–37 (max 59)
It's four big ones this time, but we both have the solution.
Round 9: M I R A C L E P I
Callum buzzes on 2 seconds to say EMPIRICAL which is correct.
And I'm just ahead of Ned on the conundrum to bag another ten points towards the potentially crucial points total.
Final Score: 68–37 (max 69)
Statistics
Raw score: Callum 68 - Ned 48
Maximums: Callum 8 - Ned 4
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Group A Semi Final
C1: Callum Todd (4 wins, 423 points.)
C2: Innis Carson (4 wins.)
DC: Jeff Clayton and James Robinson.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: R C F E A E Z O P
R02: U A E R M D P O T
R03: V T I N O A H C E
R04: 5, 7, 1, 3, 4, 2. Target: 328.
R05: R Q R I A E L R U
R06: R R N N I U I O N
R07: G L T I O E H T E
R08: 6, 7, 3, 9, 1, 10. Target: 532.
R09: G L O O P Y O I L (conundrum)
And now a brief interlude before our main feature:
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Round 1: R C F E A E Z O P
Callum: PREFACE (7)
Innis: PREFACE (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
We both get the darren to start off with. There's a small debate in the room over its pronunciation, and then we move on
Round 2: U A E R M D P O T
Callum: TRUMPED (7)
Innis: TRUMPED (7)
DC: TEMPURA (7) MATURED (7) READOPT (7) ADOPTER (7) TRAMPED (7) TROMPED (7) UPRATED (7)
Score: 14–14 (max 14)
A very flat round of sevens here.
Round 3: V T I N O A H C E
Callum: INCHOATE (8)
Innis: CONATIVE (8)
Score: 22–22 (max 22)
I go for one of the eights, Innis goes for the over. Who will crack first?
Round 4: 5, 7, 1, 3, 4, 2. Target: 328.
Callum: 328. (4x3x7-2)x(5-1) (10)
Innis: 329.
Score: 32–22 (max 32)
This six small looks easy at first but it turns out the be harder than it looks. I just about get there in time to take a ten point lead.
Round 5: R Q R I A E L R U
Callum: QUARRIER (8)
Innis: QUARREL (7)
Score: 40–22 (max 40)
Innis and I both had this noted down but only I was foolish enough to risk it. Luckily for me, it is in and I extend my lead. Can I hold on though?
Round 6: R R N N I U I O N
Callum: INURN (5)
Innis: UNION (5)
DC: INION (5) NINON (5)
OT: RONIN (5)
Score: 45–27 (max 45)
A tough selection here with five miserable fives all to play for.
Round 7: G L T I O E H T E
Callum: TOILET (6)
Innis: GOETHITE (8)
Score: 45–35 (max 53)
Wow! An excellent spot from Innis pulls him right back into the game. I think it's probably a double darren, and a lovely word. My offering... not so much.
Round 8: 6, 7, 3, 9, 1, 10. Target: 532.
Callum: 532. 9x6x10-7-1 (10)
Innis: 532. 9x6x10-7-1 (10)
Score: 55–45 (max 63)
Innis was hoping we wouldn't be playing another 6 small round here, but we were. Thankfully he solves it to take this great game to a crucial conundrum.
Round 9: G L O O P Y O I L
Innis buzzes on 2 seconds to say POLIOLOGY which is incorrect.
Callum buzzes on 8 seconds to say OLIGOPOLY which is correct.
It's terribly unlucky for Innis, whose very good attempt at the conundrum could have taken the game to a tie-break. Fortune was very much on my side that day though, as
I had that conundrum on apterous the day before, and had also guessed POLIOLOGY. I take the points to claim this game and a place in the Grand Final against Jack but, despite the points gap, there was nothing between us here really. A fantastic game with a wonderful competitor; I shall remember it for a long time to come.
Final Score: 65–45 (max 73)
Statistics
Raw score: Callum 71 - Innis 52
Maximums: Callum 8 - Innis 6