Recap for Friday 18 December. Series 61. Final

[Allan Harmer]

Countdown recap for Friday 18 December 2009.
Welcome to the Series 61 Final between Chris and Andrew, who are both well known to us on apterous. They have both been consistently top class throughout the Series, with averages of 110 and 111, respectively.
C1: Champion Chris Davies (10 wins, 1102 points.)
Chris is a modest musician and Charity worker from The Wirral, with a hobby of 'Speed Cubing'. He thrilled us all with his breathtaking comeback in yesterday's Semi Final against Innis Carson, turning round a deficit of 15 points in the last two rounds, culminating in the fiendishly difficult Conundrum 'SLEEPSUIT'
C2: Champion Andrew Hulme (10 wins, 1111 points.)
Andrew is from Lincolnshire and is a likeable student at Warwick University. He is also a cricket coach and is getting into Professional Poker. He clinically beat Ryan Taylor in the other Semi Final, to justify his place as Number 1 seed.
DC: Susie Dent and Rory McGrath.
Rory has quickly established himself as one of the top DC guests, showing an unbridled enthusiasm for the game and proving to be a first class wordsmith.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.

R01: W R M A E O T U O
R02: B G R E A M P O R
R03: L W T E I E R T N
R04: O E R T Q D O T E
R05: 6, 2, 3, 10, 1, 100. Target: 396.
TTT: GNATWING - "Playing an instrument on somebody's heart strings"
R06: N L N A E P U T O
R07: R F S A O I C M D
R08: E Y K A S S T N E
R09: S R S G A I E D I
R10: 9, 5, 2, 7, 4, 75. Target: 248.
TTT: MENBEAST - "Below ground level sometimes, with car lifting devices"
R11: P D S A I E P S T
R12: A E D S J I T N M
R13: O A O E U H D L S
R14: 8, 1, 5, 3, 3, 50. Target: 542.
R15: A R T L E P O O L (conundrum)


And now a brief interlude before our main feature:

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER

Enjoy the show.

Round 1: W R M A E O T U O

C1: WOOMERA (7)
C2: WOOMERA (7)
OT: OUTWEAR (7) OUTWORE (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
Dictionary Corner is open-mouthed at this opening offering from both players of an Aboriginal word for a stick used to throw a spear more forcibly.
Round 2: B G R E A M P O R

C1: PROGRAM (7)
C2: EMBARGO (7)
OT: BEGORRA (7)
Score: 14–14 (max 14)

Round 3: L W T E I E R T N

C1: ENTITLE (7)
C2: ENTITLE (7)
OT: RETITLE (7) TERNLET (7) WRENTIT (7) WRITTEN (7)
Score: 21–21 (max 21)

Round 4: O E R T Q D O T E

C1: TETRODE (7)
C2: ROOTED (6)
Score: 28–21 (max 28)
Chris produces a stunning Darren to take a 7 point lead and to keep DC redundant with another max round
Round 5: 6, 2, 3, 10, 1, 100. Target: 396.

C1: 396. 100-1=99x(6-2) (10)
C2: 396. (6-2)x100-3-1 (10)
Score: 38–31 (max 38)

Rory tells us about the after-effects of running a London Marathon (which he has run 3 times in good times), when he stiffened up at the 1993 League Cup Final between Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday. We also find out that Jeff has also regularly completed it in excellent times
Teatime teaser: GNATWING -> TWANGING

Round 6: N L N A E P U T O

C1: OPULENT (7)
C2: POLENTA (7)
OT: ANNULET (7) APOLUNE (7) TONNEAU (7)
Score: 45–38 (max 45)

Round 7: R F S A O I C M D

C1: SARCOID (7)
C2: SARCOID (7)
Score: 52–45 (max 52)
Good work by both players under pressure.
Round 8: E Y K A S S T N E

C1: ASSENT (6)
C2: STEAKS (6)
DC: SENATES (7)
OT: ENTASES (7) SENSATE (7)
Score: 58–51 (max 59)
DC finally gets the opportunity to make a contribution and ruins Chris's chance of a max Final.

Round 9: S R S G A I E D I

C1: DIARISES (8)
C2: DIGRESS (7)
OT: AIRSIDES (8)
Score: 66–51 (max 67)
Chris pulls another rabbit out of the hat to establish a 15 point lead.

Round 10: 9, 5, 2, 7, 4, 75. Target: 248.

Susie tells us of the origins of the Greek Drama words: TRAGEDY, PROTAGONIST, ANTAGONIST and MELODRAMA

C1: 248. 75-(7-5+2+9)-64x4 (10)
C2: 248. 75-(7-5+2+9)-64x4 (10)
Score: 76–61 (max 77)

Teatime teaser: MENBEAST -> BASEMENT

Round 11: P D S A I E P S T

C1: SAPPIEST (8)
C2: SAPPIEST (8)
Score: 84–69 (max 85)
Andrew responds to Chris's 8 declaration with a tentative 8 himself and it turns out that both players have found this Darren.

Round 12: A E D S J I T N M

C1: MINDSET (7)
C2: MINDSET (7)
DC: MEDIANTS (8)
Score: 91–76 (max 93)
It is surprising that both players missed CD favourite MEDIANTS. However, it is understandable at this point, where pressure is building up relentlessly on both players.

Round 13: O A O E U H D L S

C1: HOUSED (6)
C2: houseload
DC: SHOALED (7)
Score: 97–76 (max 100)
Poker player Andrew goes 'all-in' to gamble on the 9 letter houseload, which is a great spot but sadly not in the Dictionary. This hands the Championship to Chris, whose safe 6 gives him an unassailable 21 point lead.

Round 14: 8, 1, 5, 3, 3, 50. Target: 542.

C1: 542. 8+3=11x50=550-5-3 (10)
C2: 542. 5+3+3=11x50-8 (10)
Score: 107–86 (max 110)

Round 15: A R T L E P O O L
C1 buzzes on 6 seconds to say ALLOTROPE which is correct.
Score: 117–86 (max 120)
Damon has come up with a very clever, yet extremely difficult Conundrum and Chris is equal to it, as he buzzes with the correct answer after 6 seconds. ALLOTROPE is a chemical term relating to the different physical forms that an element can take.
This gives Chris a staggering score of 117 points, the second highest score in a Final in the 15 round era. Thanks to Jack Hurst for the info in today's Spoilers.
Jeff quips that this is the first Final that 'Artlepool have appeared been in for years.

And that wraps up Series 61, which has proved to be one of the best ever, with a staggering standard produced throughout.

Chris proudly holds the cup aloft as Andrew trousers a nice £1000 cheque.

It just remains for me to heartily congratulate Chris Davies on a magnificent victory and commiserations to Andrew Hulme, who was a worthy Finalist. I know how much practice Chris put in on the way to his appearance and he has reaped the reward for this effort.

Well done chaps and thanks for some stunning entertainment. I wish I could have seen it live in the studio and shared the excitement with you. It was a truly excellent Final between two outstanding, yet modest and sporting players.

I look forward to Series 62 with relish.

Further summaries are at:
http://www.apterous.org/cdb/series.php?series=61

[Howard Somerset]

Another very enjoyable recap, Allan, and well worthy of the final of a truly great series.

[Marc Meakin]

Which 2 rounds was it when Chris's answers were not written down?
BTW nice recap.

[James Robinson]

Which 2 rounds was it when Chris's answers were not written down?

Rounds 7 & 10. Nice recap, Allan. Also interesting that you have the contestants in the other positions.

[Marc Meakin]

Which 2 rounds was it when Chris's answers were not written down?

Rounds 7 & 10. Nice recap, Allan. Also interesting that you have the contestants in the other positions.

Thanks James.
I think it would be a useful addition to include this information in future games.

[Howard Somerset]

This gives Chris a staggering score of 117 points, the second highest score in the 15 round era.

I believe that should really be the second highest score in a final in the 15 round era. The highest also being by a contestant names Chris.

[Allan Harmer]

This gives Chris a staggering score of 117 points, the second highest score in the 15 round era.

I believe that should really be the second highest score in a final in the 15 round era. The highest also being by a contestant names Chris.

Yes Howard - I did mean 'in a Final' Sorry, I was getting a little tired (it's my age!) when I finished it.