C1: Champion Steve Etherington (7 wins, 567 points.) A Warehouse operative from Skelmersdale but originally from Liverpool
C2: Challenger Daren Barnes He is a duty manager in a supermarket from Wittering in East Sussex
DC: Robert Rinder
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: L N A P T E D E S
R02: W P G A O S D E R
R03: 100, 6, 10, 7, 8, 4. Target: 822.
TTT: SLOGONCE - "They're sent all the way from Germany."
R04: N M D A O N T O E
R05: R W N R E I D A S
R06: 25, 75, 10, 6, 8, 4. Target: 284.
R07: M L E A N S G O Y
R08: B S L T O U P O R
R09: 75, 4, 4, 7, 10, 1. Target: 703.
TTT: NINERAGS - "Elderly ladies with myths about fruit."
R10: H V C I A F M I T
R11: S K T E S E D O R
R12: T D R U I G N O F
R13: T C L I H E O G T
R14: 50, 25, 5, 10, 3, 4. Target: 826.
R15: L U G I N A F L Y (conundrum)
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Round 1: L N A P T E D E S
Steve: STAPLED (7)
Daren: PEDESTAL (8)
DC: PEDESTAL (8)
OT: DEPLANES (8)
Score: 0–8 (max 8)
A great start from our challenger with a brilliant 8 Pedestal our champion can only manage 7 with Stapled
Round 2: W P G A O S D E R
Steve: pegodas
Daren: DOWAGERS (8)
DC: WORDAGES (8)
Score: 0–16 (max 16)
Very unlucky from our champion Steve having pegodas disallowed.....it is spelt as PAGODAS.........but our challenger has taken an early lead with some good spots
Round 3: 100, 6, 10, 7, 8, 4. Target: 822.
Steve: 822. ((7 − 6) × 100 + 4) × 8 − 10 (10)
Daren: 822. (100 + 4) × 8 − 10 (10)
Score: 10–26 (max 26)
Not too taxing this numbers solve.........Steven gets his first points on the board
Teatime teaser: SLOGONCE -> COLOGNES
Round 4: N M D A O N T O E
Steve: DAEMON (6)
Daren: MOONED (6)
DC: ODONATE (7)
OT: NOONMEAT (8)
Score: 16–32 (max 34)
6s all round......but DC come up with a 7 ODONATE......but there is an 8 hidden away.......one I managed to spot....Noonmeat
Giving us our first Darren of the day !!!!!
Odonate :A predatory insect of the order Odonata; a dragonfly or damselfly.
Noonmeat : A meal taken at noon; lunch.
Round 5: R W N R E I D A S
Steve: DRAINERS (8)
Daren: REWINDS (7)
OT: SERRANID (8)
Score: 24–32 (max 42)
A great spot from out champion............putting him 8 points behind and still everything to play for
Round 6: 25, 75, 10, 6, 8, 4. Target: 284.
Steve: 286.
Daren: 284. (75 − 6) × 4 + 8 (10)
Score: 24–42 (max 52)
A good numbers solve from our challenger Darren.......allowing him to go 18 points ahead........but the gap still remains tight !!!!
Round 7: M L E A N S G O Y
Steve: MANGLES (7)
Daren: MANGLES (7)
DC: NOSEGAY (7)
OT: LANGSOME (8)
7s all round..........but there is an 8 sneakily hidden away Langsome
Nosegay : A small bunch of flowers, typically one that is sweet-scented.
Langsome : Long, lengthy, especially excessively or tediously so; lasting or taking a long time.
Dialect, rare Of a person: slow or tardy in action; procrastinating, dilatory. Formerly also: †tediously lengthy in writing, long-winded (obsolete).
Langsome has two meanings
Score: 31–49 (max 60)
Round 8: B S L T O U P O R
Steve: UPROOTS (7)
Daren: TROOPS (6)
OT: SUBPLOT (7)
Score: 38–49 (max 67)
A Brilliant spot from our Champion Steven with Uproots.........reducing the arrears to 11 points
Round 9: 75, 4, 4, 7, 10, 1. Target: 703.
Steve: 703. (75 − 4) × 10 − 7 (10)
Daren: 703. (75 − 4) × 10 − 7 (10)
Score: 48–59 (max 77)
Top marks in the numbers department........but the gap still remains tight
Teatime teaser: NINERAGS -> GRANNIES
Round 10: H V C I A F M I T
Steve: AITCH (5)
Daren: MATCH (5)
DC: VICTIM (6)
Score: 53–64 (max 83)
Round 11: S K T E S E D O R
Steve: RETOSSED (8)
Daren: restoked
DC: STROKED (7)
Score: 61–64 (max 91)
A great 8 from Steven with Retossed one I spotted
Darren's 8 RESTOKED was disallowed reducing the arrears to 3 points in this closely fought battle !!!
Round 12: T D R U I G N O F
Steve: ROUTING (7)
Daren: TOURING (7)
DC: FORDING (7)
Score: 68–71 (max 98)
7s all round DC spot FORDING.........as I pay tribute to my favourite actor Harrison Ford
Round 13: T C L I H E O G T
Steve: LITHE (5)
Daren: GLITCH (6)
DC: CLOTHE (6) GLITCH (6)
OT: GLOTTIC (7)
Score: 68–77 (max 105)
A great 6 from Daren with Glitch our champion Steven can only manage 5 with Lithe.............the gap still remains tight..........there is a 7 hidden away with Glottic
Steve needs these two last rounds.......to secure octochampdom........BUT THERE IS ANOTHER TWIST TO THIS CONTEST...........Daren needs it too........to SECURE THE TEAPOT which one these of two these will win ?????????
Round 14: 50, 25, 5, 10, 3, 4. Target: 826.
Steve: -
Daren: 825. (10 + 5) × 50 + 3 × 25 (7)
RR: 826. (50 + 25 + 5 + 3) × 10 − 4 (10)
Score: 68–84 (max 115)
Steve doesn't get this numbers game........Daren gets it with one away and secures the teapot.....and wins before the conundrum........but Rachel gets to shine by mopping up and producing the perfect solution
Round 15: L U G I N A F L Y
Steve buzzes on 25.5 seconds to say GAINFULLY which is correct.
Final Score: 78–84 (max 125)
What a seesaw battle this game was, congratulations to Daren Barnes for securing the teapot he had some amazing spots....but take nothing away from 7 times winner Steven Etherington who put up a really good fight but it was not enough.........will his total be enough to secure his place in the series 86 finals.........I will miss his colourful and quirky outfits that have brightened up my TV Screen !!!
In the meantime bye for now !!
