c4countdown

So, we've had 4 exceptional quarter-finals culminating in that brilliant crucial conundrum at the end of yesterday's game.

But now, we enter the semi-final stage with the top 4 seeds still in play.

Today's first semi-final is between #1 seed Jack Hurst and #4 seed Marcus Hares.

Here are the stats:

Firstly, No.1 Seed Jack Hurst - 9 Wins, 1,054 Points
Highest Score: 133 vs. Alex Curran (7th Game)
Lowest Score: 108 vs. Peter Godwin (Quarter-Final)
9's Achieved: 6/7
Total Points/Max/%: 1054/1145 (92%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 726/794 (91%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 258/261 (99%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 70/90 (78%)

Secondly, No.4 Seed Marcus Hares - 9 Wins, 926 Points
Highest Score: 116 vs. James Bradley (2nd Game)
Lowest Score: 87 vs. Steve Turvey (1st Game)
9's Achieved: 3/7
Total Points/Max/%: 926/1131 (82%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 634/787 (81%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 222/254 (87%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 70/90 (78%)

I'll be recapping later. (I say later, but since I'm off work today, it'll be much earlier than normal.)

I posted 2 minutes before you - so who's going to have "the thread"?

This one's got a reply already, so it must be this one!

Is it spoilers if I say who is in which chair?

JackHurst wrote:Is it spoilers if I say who is in which chair?

I shouldn't have thought so, especially at this stage of the day.

James Robinson wrote:

JackHurst wrote:Is it spoilers if I say who is in which chair?

I shouldn't have thought so, especially at this stage of the day.

I wont say that I am in the challengers chair then.

BOLEROS as a nice alternative in round 1.

KITENGE for r3.

Ah, that's just joyous watching Paul Zenon do his magic on this show.

Round 5 using all numbers:

(100*1)+2+3+(8/4)

Could go to anyone at this stage...

Unless, I'm not mistaken, that's only the 2nd time that Jack has ever been behind.

RAMPION and ROMAINE as round 7 equallers.

And STURGEON in round 8. Actually surprised that gruntles isn't in.

Pfff! Now that's a word!!!! Might have to think about changing my best word pick for the Charlies.

James Robinson wrote:Pfff! Now that's a word!!!! Might have to think about changing my best word pick for the Charlies.

Make as many noms as you want.

Joseph Krol wrote:

James Robinson wrote:Pfff! Now that's a word!!!! Might have to think about changing my best word pick for the Charlies.

Make as many noms as you want.

Ooooh, excellent. Add NARIYALS to my noms, please, Joseph.

Ouchy Is that a possible turning point

James Robinson wrote:Unless, I'm not mistaken, that's only the 2nd time that Jack has ever been behind.

Murray Walker would be proud of you, James. Are you really Robert Baxter?

Where did the 2 come from in Jack's method for R14? Wouldn't have changed the result, but would have set up a crucial...

WOW!!!! BLUMMING BRILLIANT!!!!

That's the way to win a semi-final.

Very well done, Jack. Commiserations, Marcus.

Pfff, these finals haven't disappointed yet.

Hope there's still more brilliance to come.

Joseph Krol wrote:Where did the 2 come from in Jack's method for R14? Wouldn't have changed the result, but would have set up a crucial...

He started off by doing 100 - 8 for the 92.

He was then going to multiply by 75 then divide by 25, basically times by 3. So, 3 x 92 = 276.

50 / 25 is the 2, so by adding that 50 to the massive number before dividing it by 25, is like adding the 2 on.

Hope that answers your question.

Excellent game, lads. Well played.

Congrats on making the final, Jack, great numbers game there. Well done on making the semis, Marcus, when Jeff said you won the toss, I thought you would have picked the option of the two numbers games/rounds?

Nominate Jack for best numbers solve by a contestant. That would definitely qualify for an oxygen mask, if not a spacesuit.

James Robinson wrote:

Joseph Krol wrote:Where did the 2 come from in Jack's method for R14? Wouldn't have changed the result, but would have set up a crucial...

He started off by doing 100 - 8 for the 92.

He was then going to multiply by 75 then divide by 25, basically times by 3. So, 3 x 92 = 276.

50 / 25 is the 2, so by adding that 50 to the massive number before dividing it by 25, is like adding the 2 on.

Hope that answers your question.

It works out as :
92 x 75 = 6900
6900+50= 6950
6950/25= 278
Magnificent game from Jack and Marcus. Well done both.

Jojo Apollo wrote:Excellent game, lads. Well played.

Congrats on making the final, Jack, great numbers game there. Well done on making the semis, Marcus, when Jeff said you won the toss, I thought you would have picked the option of the two numbers games/rounds?

Jeff always says that the person sitting in the champion's chair wins the toss even though it is usually the other way around.

Great game to watch, felt bad at the UNTITLED moment but kind of relieved that it didn't cost Marcus the game. Incredible numbers solve under immense pressure by Jack and worthy of winning any game, the conundrum was just an added bonus and has apparently only ever been solved by one human on apterous - Joseph Bolas (TWICE!).

Ryan Taylor wrote:

Jojo Apollo wrote:Excellent game, lads. Well played.

Congrats on making the final, Jack, great numbers game there. Well done on making the semis, Marcus, when Jeff said you won the toss, I thought you would have picked the option of the two numbers games/rounds?

Jeff always says that the person sitting in the champion's chair wins the toss even though it is usually the other way around.

Great game to watch, felt bad at the UNTITLED moment but kind of relieved that it didn't cost Marcus the game. Incredible numbers solve under immense pressure by Jack and worthy of winning any game, the conundrum was just an added bonus and has apparently only ever been solved by one human on apterous - Joseph Bolas (TWICE!).

Ah righto, cheers for that, Ryan.

That great numbers solve reminds me of this classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfa3MHLLSWI

Cheers for the nice comments.

The third numbers game actually had some much more intuitive solutions that the once I used, but that was the first one I saw, and I spent the rest of the thirty seconds double and triple checking that it was right instead of looking for something more obvious.

(100+75)*(50/25)-8*9 There are loads of ways you can do it from noticing that 278=350-8*9

(75+9)*(100/25)-8-50 Was the method I spotted while I was just watching it back.

JackHurst wrote:(100+75)*(50/25)-8*9 There are loads of ways you can do it from noticing that 278=350-8*9

It wasn't a case of how easy it was. It was being able to do it under these conditions. There was a different kind of pressure on Marcus than on you since Marcus knew that if he didn't solve it exactly he would know pretty much that he had lost out on a place in the Grand Final. Unfortunately the pressure got the better of him and you managed to prevail for which I commend you. Sorry to refer back to this but I'm pretty sure Innis would have solved 655 sat at home on apterous or even in his sleep but the fact that a place in the Grand Final was up for grabs by solving it exactly adds a new dimension to the numbers game. This is why the numbers game in today's game was so good, it was a true indication of a potential champion being able to win the game in that fashion. That's why I say well done.

Thanks Ryan. <3

I made a funny at the end of the episode, but they edited it out

Joseph Krol wrote:KITENGE for r3.

And EXIGENT

Brilliant game again today - excitement all the way through. Jack looked gutted on behalf of Marcus on the misdeclaration. But a fabulous ending from Jack. Thanks to both for a great game.

Great episode.

Just realised I haven't said anything to Marcus in these comments.
You played really well, and it was a great game. I think I was very lucky to escape a crucial conundrum, and I felt terrible for you when you misdeclared UNTITLED. Was great to meet you and be in your company at the finals.


It was a dream come true to get that four large on the show, as it was something I'd spent hours and hours practising, the fact that it came for me at such a crucial time was incredibly lucky. But as I've said already, there were masses of other solutions, so people are probably going to call me a prick for showing off.

Cracking.

Absolutely class, Jack. Fantastic game. I know people hate it when I do this but I feel I have to here as the game was such fun to play along with. I had KITENGE as a beater and had AUBADES and was rolling along nicely - then was sitting back with ARALIAS in round 9 when you said "8"....then I saw NARIYALS but it was too late. Super spot and best word of the series so far. Your consistency under pressure was top class. Then with the final numbers game I got 278 with your silly method too and thought I'd cross the line without a crucial but nope, you got it as well (best numbers game solution I've witnessed whilst watching) and then you nail the conundrum in 2 seconds to beat me. Absolutely brilliant.

Enjoyed every minute of the game and really thought Marcus could win it - unlucky mate. BIATHLETE is a bastard of a conundrum to spot (Scott said all finals conundrums were non-apto, he was wrong but this was a good one as not many people had solved it) and top marks for getting it. I can never remember the anagram of TITHEABLE^.

Really hope the 2nd semi final lives up to a similar excitement factor, which I'm sure it will as both Daniel and Eoin are quality players.

P.s good to see at least Ryan Taylor, Dinos, Tom Rowell, Eoin and Daniel in the audience

Kirk Bevins wrote: P.s good to see at least Ryan Taylor, Dinos, Tom Rowell, Eoin and Daniel in the audience

...and me at the front leaning forward in my horrible but nice festive jumper, next to my Mum who appeared to be crying. I think she was upset that Marcus had been knocked out, she took a real shine to him.

Watched this episode but missed the audience shot, when abouts is it?

Ben Hunter wrote:Watched this episode but missed the audience shot, when abouts is it?

Right near the end when Paul's talking about his charity.

Brilliant game, almost as good as yesterday's. Liked the numbers game at the end, I had 278 the same way.

Dan McColm wrote: Liked the numbers game at the end, I had 278 the same way.

Can't wait to see you on the show...good luck. [and I mean that genuinely rather than a sarcastic reply]

Slightly surreal playing in a Countdown semi-final with Jack - I was glad to keep it as close as I did for as long as I could. Jack, you're an amazing player and if I'm not wrong you maxed the final 9 rounds after I took the lead with AUBADES - a great numbers solve and very quick conundrum which was not easy so hats off to you - brilliant

As most people will know this was my 2nd time on the show and I was very lucky to be given another chance, the whole experience well surpassed any expectations I had going into it but I had the best time and met some great people and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is thinking of applying.

Would also like to thank Charlie who doesn't get enough praise for this website - without apterous I was an ok player, but with a little bit of practice it helped me to achieve much more than I could ever have hoped for.

Kirk Bevins wrote:

Dan McColm wrote: Liked the numbers game at the end, I had 278 the same way.

Can't wait to see you on the show...good luck. [and I mean that genuinely rather than a sarcastic reply]

Cheers, Kirk. The method looks impressive, but all I did was replace the 50 and 75 with a 2 and 3 respectively. I find that helps a lot with 4-large games.

Yeah what Ryan said. A brilliant game for so many reasons. Was sat in the staffroom watching this and was yelling at anyone who would listen that my mate was on the tv

It's basically (92 x 3) + 2. Nothing super-special. Just showing off.

I'm sure there's been debate in the past as to whether you need to do the intermediate calculations when you have a numbers solution like that. If you're clever enough to think something like that up, you're clever enough not to have to work out what 92x75 is even though you could. People used to criticise Carol because she would work out 6900 for the contestant, making it look as if she was helping them. Rachel just did the calculation the way you'd do it in your head, which makes more sense to me, though I wonder if the average viewer would have followed it.

David Williams wrote:People used to criticise Carol because she would work out 6900 for the contestant, making it look as if she was helping them. Rachel just did the calculation the way you'd do it in your head, which makes more sense to me, though I wonder if the average viewer would have followed it.

Another reason why Rachel is better than Carol, in my opinion. She understood what I was doing and the way she wrote it down made the logic of the solution a lot more clearer than Carols way of doing it.

David Williams wrote:though I wonder if the average viewer would have followed it.

This. I'm sure people would be saying "but where did the 2 come from?" which is what the person sat next to me in the audience asked (one of Daniel Pati's fans) and even after an explanation by Dinos he still looked a little confused.

Either way you do it you're going to leave some people confused about what's going on, since you don't really have time to explain all the relevant laws of arithmetic. At least with the shortcut method Rachel could convince herself that Jack was correct.

You can't do it all the time, either. (10+1/2)x10 would look OK done Rachel's way, when it isn't, whereas (4x25+50)/75 is OK, but wouldn't look it.

Another excellent game - Jack was put under pressure but came through. Excellent game by Marcus too.

Liam Tiernan wrote:Nominate Jack for best numbers solve by a contestant. That would definitely qualify for an oxygen mask, if not a spacesuit.

Yeah - it makes me wonder whether 1000 and 10000 are the best thresholds to have as suggested in the feature requests thread.

I quite like those 4-large solutions but don't tend to get them that often (didn't get this one) but I'm going to start doing some 4-large in Apterous to practise.

By the way I thought that AUBADES round was a bit strange. Maybe it was the editing, but I'd not heard of the word before, and Marcus says "Oh bads", and then Susie, without asking him how to spell it looks it up and finds that it's a word, even though she must have known it was a word to know the spelling. And then Rachel puts it up on the board, still with no reference having been made to the spelling.