B'day Championship Spoilers For Thursday February 21st 2013

[James Robinson]

So, we have now arrived at the real nitty-gritty of this extraordinary tournament, and now that every contestant needs just 3 more wins to become the ULTIMATE CHAMPION, all of our remaining contestants will now be trying their hardest to get that title.

Interestingly, there are 5 series champions left in this competition, and today, our first quarter-final is between 2 of the non-series champions

Our contestants are the Series 66 runner-up Jonathan Rawlinson, and yesterday's winner, the Series 60 semi-finalist Neil Zussman.

Here are the stats:

Firstly, Series 66 Runner-Up Jonathan Rawlinson - 14 Games, 13 Wins, 1,415 Points (Average: 101.07 - Not Including Tie-Break Conundrum)
Highest Score: 120 vs. Stewart Calver (3rd Game)
Lowest Score: 70 vs. Jack Worsley (Grand Final)
9's Achieved: 3/6
Total Points/Max/%: 1415/1709 (83%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 965/1155 (84%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 340/414 (82%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 110/140 (79%)

Secondly, Series 60 Semi-Finalist Neil Zussman - 12 Games, 11 Wins, 1,117 Points (Average: 93.08 - Not Including Tie-Break Conundrum)
Highest Score: 111 vs. Anita Fairhurst (3rd Game)
Lowest Score: 81 vs. Rick Warburton (7th Game)
9's Achieved: 2/5
Total Points/Max/%: 1117/1465 (76%)
Letters Points/Max/%: 765/994 (77%)
Numbers Points/Max/%: 262/351 (75%)
Conundrum Points/Max/%: 90/120 (75%)

I'll be back in the recappers' chair later on.

[Adam Gillard]

Classic from Neil: I've not slept much since the last game

[Zarte Siempre]

Classic from Neil: I've not slept much since the last game

I lol'd

[Zarte Siempre]

surreal as alt to jealous

[Oliver Garner]

MIDSOLE as a winner in round 8

[Zarte Siempre]

sinuous to tie in r12

[Adam Gillard]

Very strong performance there, Rawlo, excellent stuff. Well done Neil on reaching the quarter-finals and smiling and approaching it with alacrity all the way! You can be really proud of that

[Oliver Garner]

Is that 14 maxes including 2 unsolvable numbers games? If so, very impressive Jonathan! Did you have MIDSOLE when you stuck with 6 on that round?

[Jordan F]

Very well done Jonathan on your best performance out of any of your countdown games, a 14-maxer and just a MIDSOLE away from a max game. You should be able to provide a strong challenge for either Jack or David next week. Unlucky Neil, there were still some nice spots today and you were able to take everything in good stride and had a lot of fun today.

[Dan McColm]

Is that 14 maxes including 2 unsolvable numbers games? If so, very impressive Jonathan! Did you have MIDSOLE when you stuck with 6 on that round?

Yes he did

[Oliver Garner]

Yes he did

[Jojo Apollo]

Excellent performance, Jonathan, well done, also well done Neil for making the quarters.

[JackHurst]

To be fair, he also had MISLODGE, DOGSMILE, GODLIES, GIDSOME and QELOIDS written down too.

[JackHurst]

In all seriousness, that was a cracking performance, and an enjoyable show to watch back. I don't fancy playing Jonathan now, so I'm hoping I lose on tuesday.

Loving the Indian accent at the end. Nothing awkward at all there.

[Andy Platt]

Loving the Indian accent at the end. Nothing awkward at all there.

I don't remember this, can someone elaborate? lol.

[szodiac]

Well done Jonathan, commiserations to Neil.

An observation: I've been watching on the computer thru a liveTV website (not C4) this week and been listening with earphones as the kids, at home for half term, want to watch something else (?) when the conundrum comes round have heard that when the left ear hears the buzz in the left hand contestant answers and when the right ear hears the buzz in the right hand opponent answers.

Wonderful stuff stereo

Mauro

[szodiac]

Loving the Indian accent at the end. Nothing awkward at all there.

I don't remember this, can someone elaborate? lol.

Rachel talking about receiving a phone call from a Dr Kumar

Mauro

[Jack Worsley]

That was a brilliant performance by Jonathan, very few people would have beaten him today. I'm sure he'll be kicking himself over MIDSOLE but tactically, it was probably the right decision to leave it if he wasn't sure. Unlucky there Neil to come up against him on this form but you took it all with good humour and you can be proud of what you've done in the tournament.

[Neil Zussman]

If I hadn't risked belittled AND I'd spotted Ionisable AND I'd spotted Jealous AND I'd spotted Midsole AND I hadn't royally buggered up all 3 numbers rounds... then I would still have lost on a crucial conundrum. So I can't have any complaints, the better player certainly won. But I had a load of fun; I enjoyed this match a lot more than yesterdays in a funny sort of way (apart from the result, of course), certainly from about R7 onwards, because I didn't feel any pressure cos I knew I was going to lose! But I had a load of fun, and got to appear on the show 3 more times than I thought looked likely. So thanks again to the Countdown Team, and to all the other competitors- I had a blast.
It's a shame I was too useless to put Jonathan under any pressure, else he'd've risked Midsole and might've got a max game. But congrats JR, and good luck in the next round!
Oh and sorry Rachel for arguing with you about what 197*4 is...

[Jojo Apollo]

Oh yeah I forgot to ask Neil, did Susie ask you to spell OUTWORN but it was edited out, because it could have been spelt incorrectly as OUTWARN ?

[Gavin Chipper]

Phil Hammond should have got Nick to stop saying "Tick Tock" before the start of the rounds. Not that he does this every time, but it's still a bit annoying.

[Gavin Chipper]

Oh yeah I forgot to ask Neil, did Susie ask you to spell OUTWORN but it was edited out, because it could have been spelt incorrectly as OUTWARN ?

I think we'll never know.

[James Robinson]

Quarter-Final 1 2020 Word Update

The max would have increased by three (from 119 to 122), if played today, as there was a 6 available in Round 4, a 7 available in Round 6 and an 8 available in Round 8, that weren't available in 2013.

NOTE: VIDEOES would've been allowed in R13 in this episode in 2013, but not if played today...

New Words Now Allowed:

R1: AEROTOW
R2: GENOISE
R3: MARRIER
R4: PHOTAE (increases MAX from 5 to 6)
R6: TITTLED (increases MAX from 6 to 7)
R8: MISLODGE (increases MAX from 7 to 8)