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Dougie Mackay

From Countdown
Dougie Mackay in Series 78.

Dougie Mackay was a finalist in Series 78 and a participant in Championship of Champions XV.

Appearances on the programme

Heat games

Mackay started his run by defeating one-time winner Luke O'Neill easily and obtained his first century. His journey was not smooth all the time, having to face three crucial conundrums, two of which he survived including one which was a close shave after Apterite Andy Christley blanked out on MRGOTNINE (Mr. Mackay got that one though). Alas, it all came to an end on the third one on his eighth game when his final preliminary opponent, Mac Walker buzzed in on DEFTCREEP in a second, not only ending his preliminary run with a defeat, but his chances of becoming an Octochamp as well. However, Mackay's total of 759 points meant that he achieved the highest ever total for a seven-time winner, surpassing Steve Baines' record of 758 from Series 57, as well as the then second-highest total for any non-octochamp after fellow Series 78 contestant Philip Aston's 760 from just seven games.

Finals

Mackay's successful heat run also guaranteed him the #6 seed spot for the Series 78 finals, and he returned in June to take on the unbeaten octochamp Chris Thorn in his quarter-final. Here, he proved to be on impressive form, outplaying Thorn in both of his six-small selections and spotting the nine-letter word DOVETAILS to seal a 97 – 68 victory. Mackay next faced Apterite Philip Aston in the semi-finals; although both players put in strong efforts on both the letters and numbers, Mackay ultimately could not quite match Aston's scoring power, in large part due to the latter player's early spot of MONRADITE, and the Apterite prevailed 98 – 76 to qualify for the Grand Final.

Championship of Champions XV

Mackay participated in the Championship of Champions XV in January 2019. Here, he faced the Series 73 runner-up and 6-small numerist, Matthew Tassier, in the third preliminary round of the tournament. Tassier broke away on both of his numbers selections and won fairly comfortably, though Mackay's solution to the conundrum HOOPERMEN did deny Tassier a century.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
6800 6/04/2018 P Luke O'Neill 73 – 109 Dougie Mackay Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Colin Murray Susie Dent 131
6801 9/04/2018 P Dougie Mackay 78 – 70 Darren Newton Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Colin Murray Susie Dent 131
6802 10/04/2018 P Dougie Mackay 105 – 36 Colin Broome Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jimmy Osmond Susie Dent 122
6803 11/04/2018 P Dougie Mackay 102 – 59 Sarah Farley Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jimmy Osmond Susie Dent 130
6804 12/04/2018 P Dougie Mackay 78 – 58 Simon Clayton Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jimmy Osmond Susie Dent 123
6805 13/04/2018 P Dougie Mackay 95 – 84 Andy Christley Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jimmy Osmond Susie Dent 133
6806 16/04/2018 P Dougie Mackay 101 – 53 Gary Tanner Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Jimmy Osmond Susie Dent 124
6807 17/04/2018 P Dougie Mackay 91 – 93 Mac Walker Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Pasha Kovalev Susie Dent 123
6849 18/06/2018 QF Chris Thorn 68 – 97 Dougie Mackay Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Helen Fospero Susie Dent 128
6852 21/06/2018 SF Philip Aston 98 – 76 Dougie Mackay Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Paul Zenon Susie Dent 132
6982 4/01/2019 CP Matthew Tassier 96 – 78 Dougie Mackay Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Kate Humble Susie Dent 135