Series 92 Finals Predictions (With Poll)

[Ryan Lam]

It's already December, 30 Days to a brand new year, and with an amazing finish by Ricky today, there's not enough Preliminaries to have another person squeeze into the Finalist list since there's only six Preliminaries left after today and whoever wins the last one of Series 92 will simply carry on to Series 93 in 2026. Without further ado, here's the list below!

Quarter-Finals #1 (11 December): Jase Cullen (#1 Seed) vs Shemina Kirby (#8 Seed)
Quarter-Finals #2 (12 December): Brett Davids (#2 Seed) vs Mark Allen (#7 Seed)
Quarter-Finals #3 (15 December): Ben Hocking (#3 Seed) vs Ricky Cohen (#6 Seed)
Quarter-Finals #4 (16 December): Ciaran McCarthy (#4 Seed) vs John Payne (#5 Seed)

Half a year ago, we all probably thought the Finalists of Series 91 were lacking that shot in the arm in terms of the cumulative scores. I'm so glad to be proven wrong now with not just seven Octochamps, of which all but Mark scored above 800 overall, but also a whopping seven returnees, the highest in the show's history (I think)? That is one heck of a line-up I think it'll be hard to forget for a while, and to think this is barely 1.5 years after the massive ODP Cull which I thought a scene like this will never happen in ages. Strong Series overall for sure with many potential Octochamps but were unfortunate to have their runs ended by someone else.

Now, for the very first time, since our Discord server is now a thing, I am going to go hybrid for this Series to test the waters and see if this topic should remain here on this forum, or move over there from June 2026 for Series 93 and beyond. I know I might be doing double the work, but it's a way to also observe if I can reach out to more people on another platform eventually. Reviews of each episode will remain here for now since I will not be restricted by the 2000 character count per message (although I'm still pondering if I should split the post up over there as of the time of writing...).

I'm not going to be sharing any predictions and will be writing a review of the episode each day as per the last 14 Series, so if you have any feel free to post them here or on Discord. I'll unfortunately be rehearsing Christmas Carols on the day the second Semi-Final airs, but I hope to be with all of you apart from that as much as possible!

The poll will close on the day the First Quarter Final airs and you will be allowed to change your vote until then. Finally, if you happen to be reading this in the near future, apologies but you will not be able to vote.

[Philip A]

Can confirm: 7 returnees in the finals is a record, and Series 92 has also set a new record for the most returnees with 23 (and counting); 2025 has had 37 returnees (and counting), also a record. Over 325 people have now had a second go.

2025 is also the first year in which all Dictionary Corner guests have actually appeared on Monday to Friday.

The finalists have won 76 games between them, prior to these finals. That’s another record. 11 teapots is a record as well, I think.

The top 6 are all returnees, and all of these 6 have averaged over 100 points per game. Ricky Cohen I think is the fifth two-time finalist?

No. 7 seed Mark Allen is the only newcomer in these finals.

John Pakenham has the highest average score among newcomers so far with 99, but lost his 6th game to now-No. 1 seed and Zoomdown Champion Jase Cullen (he was out of the game for many years). Unfortunately for John, his 5 wins pushed him down to 9th so he misses out – very unlucky.

There’s a reason why I think there has been so many returnees this series: they have recently scrapped telephone auditions, and auditions are now done on Zoom, which makes it easier to determine contestant suitability and to detect cheating.

One of the most stacked line-ups of all-time for sure. I think Jase is the slight favourite but Brett definitely in hot pursuit having achieved a max game.

Final Prediction: Jase V Brett, with Jase winning after a crucial conundrum.

[Jon Stammers]

11 teapots is a record as well, I think.

Interesting post Philip, this was the only bit I didn’t get.

[Jon Stammers]

Really good final line-up. Obvs Jase has to be slight favourite, but could easily go to any of the top 5, and I wonder if Ben Hocking especially might be a bit of a dark horse? Never came close to beating him from my sofa, maybe I was just having a bad week though! So yes I do think Jase really, but I’ll change my vote to Ben just to be more interesting!

Ricky may be able to step up a gear too and take it who knows, as the only one I’ve met. Not sure whether I’m gutted or relieved not to have got through one more show and faced him. I did beat him from my sofa watching that show back the week before last, but I guess I can’t count that since I’d basically already watched it from the green room!!!

[Philip A]

11 teapots is a record as well, I think.

Interesting post Philip, this was the only bit I didn’t get.

Jase, Brett and Ricky are previous winners, so they have 2 teapots. So, 8 + 3.

With three heats to go, 25 people have had a second go this series and 39 this year.

[Steve Hyde]

11 teapots is a record as well, I think.

Series 90 had 11 as well - Kirby, Roe and Newnham all had teapots from previous appearances. Fiona Wood was also a previous winner, but from the pre-teapot era

[Philip A]

11 teapots is a record as well, I think.

Series 90 had 11 as well - Kirby, Roe and Newnham all had teapots from previous appearances. Fiona Wood was also a previous winner, but from the pre-teapot era

Ah, thanks - so a joint record then.

[Philip A]

Also I make it 89 of the 118 prelim matches to feature at least one returnee, meaning just under 25% of prelim matches have been between two non-returning contestants.

[Tracey Anne Mills]

Hard to predict for this series I think I am going to with Jase as the series 92 champion, but don't rule out Brett Davids or Ben Hocking.