Penultimate episode of the Championship of Champions XV (and that also means it's also nearly time for me to once again become inactive until early-May after tomorrow as University swallows up my time). Second Semi-Finals Match where I somehow correctly predicted Bradley and definitely correctly predicted Tom to go through to the Semi-Finals. (As I initially predicted Ann would win against John, and it's weird because I remember predicting in the scenario had Ann fought Bradley the former would barely win but what I typed was the opposite!
Maybe it's because of my viral fever back in mid-December 2018 when I typed my Predictions but nevermind back to the present...)
So, this is the third rematch of the whole CoC, the Series 77 Grand Final repeat since 22 December 2017 (Johnny if you're reading this, I so envy you that you beat me to recapping this back then
), 395 days since then and we're here, except role reversal of course which you already know if you read my previous review (and the one before too).
Bradley has an early setback with Tom's UNASKED, the last time round it was vice versa and hats off to Rachel for tricking both of them into thinking there was a possible solution for R3
. Excellent spot from the both of them with GODIZES but why are we having "7"s as the Max all the way? Nevermind and later, Tom has nothing in R9 and Bradley snatches the lead with an easy solution! (In fact, everyone on the Daily Chat (minus him of course) failed to get the target!)
After R11, it seemed that we were heading for a low Max game with no one yet to spot an eight-letter word until R12 came with the IMPERIALS (Cue that 'Star Wars' song), then whoa Bradley, ATHEROMA, for the first time Tom is in danger of losing! Bradley must get R14 to go through and he did it! 1 - 1, fair and square, although tbf when Tom got PHLEBITIS in the Conundrum I realised that Bradley literally dodged a bullet there.
Commiserations Tom, what can I say, you were one of the better players in this Championship and came up with many excellent words throughout the last fortnight, but alas when it came to meeting your former opponent Bradley, he was definitely more than prepared to face you once again, and boy did he dish out "revenge" by beating you.
I'm sorry that it had to end like this and on all days, someone who you've beaten before. While the first two rematches in this Championship saw the same outcome, this one was definitely hard to swallow for me, primarily because knowing how you've done so well in Series 77 itself, you were outclassed on this occasion. However, I'm sure as you retreat back into the audience to watch the Championship Final, I'm sure you can be proud of yourself knowing you maintained a century for all your games here and created the 4th Double Century game in the Championship. Hopefully you will cheer on for both him and Zarte for tomorrow!
As for Bradley, congratulations, the winner becomes the defeated and vice versa, I'm sure that's how life sometimes works and it worked in your favour today, beating someone who defeated you before is definitely not easy and to advance all the way to the Championship Final must be a dream come true for you, if not something you would've probably never imagined!
At last, in just less than 24 Hours time, the 15th Championship of Champions will draw to a close, the 15th Champion will be crowned. Will it be Zarte Siempre, the highest Xicount and the highest scorer of Countdown ever, or will it be Bradley Horrocks, who defeated two out of three of his contenders in his Finals including the very guy who won to take the Grand Champion title of Series 77 right here? This is a Final you surely cannot miss! It's going to be a ultimate showdown, sparks will definitely fly in some way or another you bet!
Progress:
Preliminary #1 (02 January):
Jonathan Wynn (Series 73 Grand Champion) vs Phil Davies (Series 78 Semi-Finalist) (
103 - 68)
Preliminary #2 (03 January): Ann Dibben (Series 74 Runner-Up) vs
John Cowen (Series 77 Semi-Finalist) (94 -
97)
Preliminary #3 (04 January):
Matthew Tassier (Series 73 Runner-Up) vs Dougie Mackay (Series 78 Semi-Finalist) (
96 - 78)
Preliminary #4 (07 January):
Thomas Carey (Series 73 Semi-Finalist) vs Stephen Read (Series 76 Grand Champion) (
106 - 87)
Preliminary #5 (08 January): Paul Erdunast (Series 74 Grand Champion) vs
Zarte Siempre (Series 78 Grand Champion) (105 -
113)
Preliminary #6 (09 January):
Tom Chafer-Cook (Series 77 Grand Champion) vs Martin Hurst (Series 75 Grand Champion) (
129 - 89)
Preliminary #7 (10 January):
Bradley Horrocks (Series 77 Runner-Up) vs Andrew Macleod (Series 75 Runner-Up) (
128 - 104)
Preliminary #8 (11 January):
Philip Aston (Series 78 Runner-Up) vs Noel McIlvenny (Series 77 Semi-Finalist) (
103 - 89)
Quarter-Finals #1 (14 January): Jonathan Wynn (Preliminary #1 Winner) vs
Philip Aston (Preliminary #8 Winner) (92 -
110)
Quarter-Finals #2 (15 January): John Cowen (Preliminary #2 Winner) vs
Bradley Horrocks (Preliminary #7 Winner) (96 -
99)
Quarter-Finals #3 (16 January): Matthew Tassier (Preliminary #3 Winner) vs
Tom Chafer-Cook (Preliminary #6 Winner) (62 -
111)
Quarter-Finals #4 (17 January): Thomas Carey (Preliminary #4 Winner) vs
Zarte Siempre (Preliminary #5 Winner) (122 -
150)
(RECORD!!!)
Semi-Finals #1 (18 January): Philip Aston (Quarter-Finals #1 Winner) vs
Zarte Siempre (Quarter-Finals #4 Winner) (73 -
106)
Semi-Finals #2 (21 January):
Bradley Horrocks (Quarter-Finals #2 Winner) vs Tom Chafer-Cook (Quarter-Finals #3 Winner) (
111 - 110)
Championship Final (22 January): Zarte Siempre (Semi-Finals #1 Winner) vs Bradley Horrocks (Semi-Finals #2 Winner)