c4countdown

Midweek has arrived and with the fate of the series now sealed in film, it's time to find out how it's all going to unwrap.

Today's match features a recent series semi-finalist against one of the greatest players in the history of the show.

Our first contestant is the Series 59 semi-finalist (and all-round good guy) Martin Bishop, and he's up against the champion of Series 47, and the closest man to beat Graham Nash in a match, Chris Wills.

Here are the stats:

Firstly, Series 59 Semi-Finalist Martin Bishop - 10 Games, 9 Wins, 977 Points (Average: 97.7)
Highest Score: 115 vs. Alice Donald (2nd Game)
Lowest Score: 56 vs. Junaid Mubeen (Semi-Final)
9's Achieved: 1/3
Total Points/Max/%: 977/1204 (81%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 684/822 (83%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 233/282 (83%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 60/100 (60%)

Secondly, Series 47 Champion & CoC XI Runner-Up Chris Wills - 16 Games, 14 Wins, 1,709 Points (Average: 106.81 - Not Including The 25th Birthday Special With Conor Travers)
Highest Score: 129 vs. April Carlin (4th Game)
Lowest Score: 73 vs. Graham Nash (CoC Grand Final)
9's Achieved: 5/17
Total Points/Max/%: 1709/2085 (82%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 1171/1461 (80%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 418/464 (90%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 120/160 (75%)

Graeme will be recapping for you all later.

ISOHYET in round 3 as a DC beater

IRONWARE in round 1.

Alternate first numbers: (100+4) x 3 + (75/25)

DROMOI as an alternative 6

David Barnard wrote:DROMOI as an alternative 6

on rd 6

BOUDOIR as a beater in that same round, I think.

Alternate 2nd nmbers (75-9)*(4-1)+(10-7)

Finding Chris' throat goatee strangely intriguing.

Another cracking game, there, Chris could go far in this if he carries on that form

What a way for Chris to get the win, very well done to him, I was nowhere near on that conundrum. Very unlucky Martin, particularly with that DRAGOUTS risk, but you definitely proved to be a strong competitor today.

ROUND NINE in, er, round nine.

Good contest well played both, I was expecting to see Chris choose six small numbers or four large as I seem to recall him being very good on the numbers game.

I got BOUDOIR in r5 too and the following 2nd numbers Alt;

(7+9+4) x 10 + 1

Quality game. Conundrum was incredible!

A very close and exciting game between two excellent players. Great conundrum spot by Chris to snatch the victory and well done to Martin who played very well too and could have won on another day.

Did anyone watching at home solve the conundrum before Chris? I don't think any of the Countdowners in the audience did.

Jordan F wrote:What a way for Chris to get the win, very well done to him, I was nowhere near on that conundrum. Very unlucky Martin, particularly with that DRAGOUTS risk, but you definitely proved to be a strong competitor today.

I was pretty sure DRAGOUTS was rubbish, but hadn't spotted a 7, so had to go for it.

Adam Gillard wrote:Did anyone watching at home solve the conundrum before Chris? I don't think any of the Countdowners in the audience did.

No, and I paused the TV for a good 3 or 4 minutes trying to get it after he buzzed. I don't recall ever seeing/hearing the word though, so that's probably why

Adam Gillard wrote:Did anyone watching at home solve the conundrum before Chris? I don't think any of the Countdowners in the audience did.

Nor me. I "buzzed" on 3 seconds with HYPOMATIC. Very good solve. And what a game. Great standard of play from both Martin and Chris!

Adam Gillard wrote:Did anyone watching at home solve the conundrum before Chris? I don't think any of the Countdowners in the audience did.

I got it after about 5 seconds. Made up for only seeing BOARD in yesterday's conundrum, and not rearranging the others into FRET.

Is everyone in the OK board with PLUMAGES, cos we actually don't give it as good, nor does the solver...........

But a very good win for Chris, and super unlucky for Martin to lose like that.

Adam Gillard wrote:Did anyone watching at home solve the conundrum before Chris? I don't think any of the Countdowners in the audience did.

I did /brag

Oh and super game guys!

James Robinson wrote:Is everyone in the OK board with PLUMAGES, cos we actually don't give it as good, nor does the solver...........

I'm uncomfortable with it. Susie's rationale was that "different birds have different plumage", which is probably what you'd call mixed signals... It'd be the best thing ever if OUP had a massive review of their count and mass noun labelling so she could just say "Yep, mass noun, so you can't pluralise it" rather than being put on the spot so often.

Really good and entertaining game though, hugely impressed with Chris for staying calm and maintaining the deficit at 7 for several rounds before he finally got an opportunity to strike back. Great play by Martin too, overall. Shame he couldn't just sneak that one extra point somewhere to join me and Mark in the Century Losers club, because the game and his play absolutely merited it.

Nick Deller wrote:I'm uncomfortable with it. Susie's rationale was that "different birds have different plumage", which is probably what you'd call mixed signals...

Ha yeah, I thought that too! Odd decision considering she couldn't even bring herself to add the -S in her example.

Chris Hare wrote:ROUND NINE in, er, round nine.

Brilliant!

First Round Game 4 2020 Word Update

For only the second time so far, the max would have remained as it was at 124, if played today.

New Words Now Allowed:

R2: EDUCAND, MAUDLED, UNLAMED
R3: FOYAITE
R6: MORTIDO
R7: MATIERES, TERMWISE
R8: ECONTRA, PORCATE, PRECANT, TROPANE
R12: PODARGUS

James Robinson wrote: ↑Wed Jan 23, 2013 7:36 pm
Is everyone in the OK board with PLUMAGES, cos we actually don't give it as good, nor does the solver...........

It's in now! But that might just be because of this ticket.

Dave Mattingly at 2013-01-23 14:58:28 wrote
Language: English
I believe the following words should be added: PLUMAGES

PLUMAGES was accepted by Susie in episode that aired on 23/1/2013.

I always think it's a bit dubious adding words for that reason, especially as Susie's rulings aren't always consistent. Plus it was 7 years ago now and we've moved dictionaries - how long does a Susie ruling last for? Does it ever expire?

ODE3 gives it as the collective name for a bird's feathers, but does give it as mass noun. I would argue restaurant rule on that one (although whether you would ask for the feathers of several birds is another matter).

Restaurant rule? For feathers?

I'm not judging you if you do like feathers.

I've never seen it as food. I'm calling bullshit. Especially plumage rather than the odd feather that might get into some bird-based meal that someone might have.

KAIROSES in R11

Nick Deller wrote: ↑Wed Jan 23, 2013 8:00 pm It'd be the best thing ever if OUP had a massive review of their count and mass noun labelling so she could just say "Yep, mass noun, so you can't pluralise it" rather than being put on the spot so often.

http://wiki.apterous.org/Contestant_Gui ... categories
Maybe they have. If these guidelines are still in use, most of these words now have a count noun meaning specified.