It's another potentially big day in the series as another one of our own aims for the perfect eight.
C1: Champion Alex Fish (7 wins, 704 points) is hoping to become the fourth octochamp of the series, just two weeks after Jen Steadman was crowned. The top three are out of reach so regardless of what happens today, he will be the number 4 seed for a while.
C2: Challenger Michael Richards. A senior actuarial analyst from Bournemouth who is a big fan of open water swimming. He has swum in the likes of Lake Windemere before.
DC: Susie Dent and Deborah Meaden.
RR: Rachel Riley.
OT: Other words or solutions.
R01: E N T H M U E D O
R02: R I E D N O R P A
R03: 100, 7, 9, 8, 6, 9. Target: 763.
TTT: PLUMPEER - "Make someone turn the colour of a plum"
R04: L S T E A Q E B F
R05: O U S D C R X A E
R06: 100, 75, 5, 6, 3, 8. Target: 849.
R07: O E N G T M O U T
R08: S R I O V L G A E
R09: 25, 7, 5, 10, 6, 10. Target: 277.
TTT: HOMETERM - "A bright spark wouldn't leave home without one"
R10: O A E S D S I P R
R11: A O C R N S N H I
R12: G V O H S I E O J
R13: A E N K T W L A N
R14: 6, 2, 10, 1, 5, 5. Target: 567.
R15: N A V A L G I G S (conundrum)
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Round 1: E N T H M U E D O
C1: MOUNTED (7)
C2: MOUTHED (7)
DC: DEMOUNT (7)
Score: 7–7 (max 7)
A steady start for everyone.
Round 2: R I E D N O R P A
C1: REORDAIN X
C2: PARRIED (7)
DC: PREORDAIN (18)
Score: 7–14 (max 25)
Now that's double unlucky for Alex. Susie points out that he could have stuck the P on the front of his word for a fantastic nine but doesn't mention that he could have turned it around a bit for ORDAINER, which would also have been a winner. Michael takes the lead but can he build on this to spoil the party for our champ?
Round 3: 100, 7, 9, 8, 6, 9. Target: 763.
C1: 763. (100 + 9) x 7 (10)
C2: 763. (100 + 9) x 7 (10)
Score: 17–24 (max 35)
Teatime teaser: PLUMPEER -> EMPURPLE
Round 4: L S T E A Q E B F
C1: STABLE (6)
C2: TABLES (6)
DC: BLEATS (6)
OT: ABLEST (6) ELATES (6) FABEST (6) FABLES (6) FESTAL (6) FLEETS (6) STELAE (6) TEASEL (6)
Score: 23–30 (max 41)
Only sixes here and plenty to choose from.
Round 5: O U S D C R X A E
C1: CAROUSED (8)
C2: SCOURED (7)
Nick: DOUSER X
Score: 31–30 (max 49)
Alex takes a narrow lead with a fine spot, the only eight available in this round.
Round 6: 100, 75, 5, 6, 3, 8. Target: 849.
C1: 849. (100 + 5) x 8 + 6 + 3 (10)
C2: 848.
Score: 41–30 (max 59)
Alex is getting closer to becoming an octochamp with this numbers solve but there's still plenty of time for things to change of course.
Deborah talks about her favourite ever investment; a mill.
Round 7: O E N G T M O U T
C1: TONGUE (6)
C2: TONGUE (6)
DC: MUTTON (6) GNOME (5)
OT: OUTGONE (7)
Score: 47–36 (max 66)
OUTGONE was lurking for seven but no one can find it. TONGUE will have to do instead.
Round 8: S R I O V L G A E
C1: SERAGLIO (8)
C2: GRAVIES (7)
DC: GLOVERS (7)
OT: GIRASOLE (8) OVERSAIL (8) VALORISE (8) VIRAGOES (8)
Score: 55–36 (max 74)
Alex uses his apterous brain to the max here and now leads by 19 points.
Round 9: 25, 7, 5, 10, 6, 10. Target: 277.
C1: 277. (10/5 + 25) x 10 + 7 (10)
C2: 277. (10/5 + 25) x 10 + 7 (10)
Score: 65–46 (max 84)
Not immediately obvious but both players get there.
Teatime teaser: HOMETERM -> OHMMETER
Round 10: O A E S D S I P R
C1: PARODISES X
C2: DIAPERS (7)
DC: DIASPORES (18)
Score: 65–53 (max 102)
Alex tries a risky nine and when he said it, I thought he would have DIASPORES. There's no such word as PARODISES^ though and Michael closes the gap to a precarious 12 points.
Round 11: A O C R N S N H I
C1: ACORNS (6)
C2: ACORNS (6)
DC: INCARN X ANCHORS (7)
OT: ARCHONS (7) CHANSON (7) CHINARS (7)
Score: 71–59 (max 109)
OoW: Susie talks about the dated term "afray" and the origin of the term "petrified".
Round 12: G V O H S I E O J
C1: HOGIES X
C2: HOOVES (6)
DC: SHOVE (5) HIVES (5)
OT: OGIVES (6) SHIVOO (6)
Score: 71–65 (max 115)
All of a sudden, Michael is right back in the game with his HOOVES which forces the champion into declaring his third invalid word of the day. HOAGIES is the correct spelling and it's useless without the A. Is Michael going to be the party pooper afterall?
Round 13: A E N K T W L A N
C1: ANKLET (6)
C2: TAKEN (5)
OT: ALKANET (7)
Score: 77–65 (max 122)
Alex immediately repairs the damage done in the last round by spotting ANKLET out of an awkward selection and maybe he won't have to face a crucial afterall. ALKANET was undiscovered by the corner as the darrenic seven.
Round 14: 6, 2, 10, 1, 5, 5. Target: 567.
C1: 570. (5 x 10 + 6 + 1) x 5 x 2 (7)
C2: 565 X
RR: 565. (7)
OT: 567. ((10 + 6) x 5 + 1) x (5 + 2) (10)
Score: 84–65 (max 132)
Michael has to win the round to stand a fighting chance so you can't blame him for gambling on six small. CECIL is often cruel at this point to the trailing player by handing out an easy target but this one is anything but, especially under this much pressure. Michael declares two away and looks like forcing a crucial conundrum after Alex is only within three. However, the challenger immediately realises that he has used the 5 three times so it's game up for him and "The Fish" can breathe a huge sigh of relief. It's been a nervy ending but he can now celebrate octochampdom at last!
Round 15: N A V A L G I G S
C1 buzzes on 3 seconds to say SALVAGING which is correct.
Final Score: 94–65 (max 142)
Alex has the final say to give the scoreline a flattering look. He had to battle hard today to shake off Michael but fortunately he held his nerve and the disallowed words didn't cost him. His final total is 798, just two short of the 800 club but still a huge 147 points behind number 3 seed Glen Webb. That means Alex is fourth seed as things stand and will surely be returning for the finals in December. Congratulations to him on a solid run and in the end, he is a very worthy octochamp.
Today was the 39th consecutive game featuring at least one apterite and that run will probably end tomorrow when two newbies take to the chairs. At least we won't have to wait long before some more apto talent comes along. Callum Todd makes his debut on Friday and I'm sure Adam Dexter will be on soon too, although I'm not sure when. There's every chance that those two will run into each other and we could have an intriguing game but since I don't know any spoilers, I'm not sure.
I'll be back next week to bore you all again with my latest edition but I'll see some of you on Saturday in Leamington. Until next time, take care, bye!
Further summaries are at:
http://cdb.apterous.org/series.php?series=69