c4countdown

So, we're into the midweek now and after a couple of days reminiscing the heydays of Countdown, it's time for a return to some more recent faces from the archives.

This penultimate preliminary match of this Birthday Championships features the man with the 2nd highest octochamp total in the history of the show, that's Andrew Hulme, pitting himself against the reigning Champion of Champions, Steve Briers.

With both these players having 3-figure averages, this game promises high scores and high action too.

Here are the stats:

Firstly, Series 61 Runner-Up Andrew Hulme - 11 Games, 10 Wins, 1,197 Points. (Average: 108.82) (Just His Series 61 Games, No 9 Rounders)
Highest Score: 133 vs. Micheal Harris (1st Game)
Lowest Score: 86 vs. Jacqueline Baker (Quarter-Final) & Chris Davies (Grand Final)
9's Achieved: 7/11
Total Points/Max/%: 1197/1431 (84%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 832/991 (84%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 295/330 (89%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 70/110 (64%)

Secondly, Series 55 Quarter-Finalist & CoC XIII Champion Steve Briers - 13 Games, 12 Wins, 1,329 Points. (Average: 102.23)
Highest Score: 136 vs. Dean Rowley (2nd Game)
Lowest Score: 72 vs. Phil Watson (Quarter-Final)
9's Achieved: 6/12
Total Points/Max/%: 1329/1670 (80%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 923/1159 (80%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 336/381 (88%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 70/130 (54%)

I'll be around with the recap later.

Alternate 1st numbers game: ((9 x 5) - 7) x (6+4)

Arguably an even weirder 2nd number game alternate: (25 - (8-7) - 1) x 6 - 8

Round 6: JUDOKA DC beater

mauro

Well done Andrew, haven't lost much of your touch since last time you were on. Unlucky Steven, I think you played better than the 74 indicates, it just so happened that Andrew was on top form.

Better more solid game than yesterday's - enjoyed today's better than yesterday's. Yesterday's lacked something.

Andrew on excellent form - one to watch. Commiserations Steven.

Mauro

Impressive performance, Andrew, even more so since you hadn't been on apterous much prior to the announcement of the tournament. STRATEGIC and DEADBOLT were great spots at crucial times to tip the game in your favour. Steven was unlucky to see the final score looking like it did though as it was a close game until the nine. The scores would probably have been higher but for some awful selections in the middle.

COUMARIN in round 3.

Fine performance from Andrew there and another good game.

I thought I had a beater in round 1 with OUTSPINS but its not allowed.

Good contest, very well played Andrew, Steven played well also.

SPINOUTS good for Scrabble, but hyphenated in ODE unfortunately.

1st numbers alt: 9 x 5 - 7 x (6 + 4)

1st numbers ALT. ((7 x 6) - 4 ) x (9 + 1)

Another cracking game well done to both.

When RTGAEICS came up i was thinking "i hope the next letter is a T"

Well played, Andrew. I was impressed with DEADBOLT and could tell you had something decent with your relaxed attitude.

Rhys Benjamin wrote:1st numbers alt: 9 x 5 - 7 x (6 + 4)

That equals -25!!!

P.S. Something similar also exists higher up the page................

An impressive performance, Andrew. Very top draw.

WETLAND in round 2.

1st Numbers Alt.: (((9 + 6 - 4) x 7) - 1) x 5 = 380

Grant Waters wrote:When RTGAEICS came up i was thinking "i hope the next letter is a T"

Andy and I were muttering "T, T, T, T" in the audience as he was picking the last letter - must've worked...

No disrespect to Steven, but although I'm not a good Countdown player, STRATEGY (even though it wasn't there) was leaping out at me, so I just thought, "STRATEGIC?" and spent the rest of the time checking and re-checking.

Jennifer Steadman wrote:

Grant Waters wrote:When RTGAEICS came up i was thinking "i hope the next letter is a T"

Andy and I were muttering "T, T, T, T" in the audience as he was picking the last letter - must've worked...

Didn't you want a different letter? :p

Congrats Andrew, when I was playing from the audience you had me with DEADBOLT, and then you had me with the conundrum, which was more Usain Bolt.

N

Andy Platt wrote:

Jennifer Steadman wrote:

Grant Waters wrote:When RTGAEICS came up i was thinking "i hope the next letter is a T"

Andy and I were muttering "T, T, T, T" in the audience as he was picking the last letter - must've worked...

Didn't you want a different letter? :p

N for RECASTING - well done, I'd forgotten that!

Exceptional performance there, Andrew! Looking forward to more of the same. Really strong game from Steve too, but Andrew was like a runaway train after that 9. Brilliant standard.

Preliminary 8 2020 Word Update

The max would have increased by one point (from 127 to 128) if played today thanks to an 8 available in R1, that wasn't around in 2013.

New Words Now Allowed:

R1: OUTSPINS (increase MAX from 7 to 8)
R2: DOWNLET, OATLAND
R3: ACONITUM, NOCTURIA
R6: GOAFED
R8: BOMMIE, MOMPEI
R9: GODIFY
R12: RAPINER

James Robinson wrote: ↑Wed May 13, 2020 4:28 pm Preliminary 8 2020 Word Update

The max would have increased by two points (from 127 to 128)

Great maths there.

Jack Worsley wrote: ↑Wed May 13, 2020 5:08 pm

James Robinson wrote: ↑Wed May 13, 2020 4:28 pm Preliminary 8 2020 Word Update

The max would have increased by two points (from 127 to 128)

Great maths there.

Always not a good idea to do two in a row...

Has anyone got a definition for GOAFED? I can't find it anywhere on lexico or other dictionaries.

Edit: found it under goave! https://www.lexico.com/definition/goave