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Difference between revisions of "Chris Wills"
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[[Image:Chris Wills 1.jpg|thumb|right|Chris Wills]] | [[Image:Chris Wills 1.jpg|thumb|right|Chris Wills]] | ||
− | '''Chris Wills''' is often considered the greatest all-round player in Countdown history. | + | '''Chris Wills''', the champion of [[Series 47]], is often considered the greatest all-round player in Countdown history. |
He began his rise to fame in [[Series 47]], debuting on the 14 January 2002. He won his first seven games with centuries (including a {{score|120|107}} thriller against [[Terry Rattle]]) but won his last game with 92, missing out on the opportunity to be the first all-centuries [[octochamp]]. His total of 875 points is still the eighth highest to date. | He began his rise to fame in [[Series 47]], debuting on the 14 January 2002. He won his first seven games with centuries (including a {{score|120|107}} thriller against [[Terry Rattle]]) but won his last game with 92, missing out on the opportunity to be the first all-centuries [[octochamp]]. His total of 875 points is still the eighth highest to date. | ||
− | In the middle of his run was a classic game against [[Terry Rattle]]. | + | In the middle of his run was a classic game against [[Terry Rattle]]. Wills was leading {{score|100|79}} going into the last letters game, where Chris played {{word|REACHING}} to Rattle's {{word|CHAGRINED}}, which Rattle declared as "very dodgy". Dictionary Corner okayed the word and after both players scored 10 points in the final numbers game, it was a [[conundrum|crucial conundrum]] {{score|110|107}} in Wills' favour. The conundrum {{word|LINGOFLOW}} revealed itself and Wills buzzed in with {{word|FOLLOWING}} before the first second had elapsed. Wills is therefore the highest-scoring [[octochamp]] to have had a crucial conundrum game during their run. Rattle's 107 was the highest losing score in the 15-round era until [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]] scored 111, also against Chris Wills. |
− | Having totted up a record 875 points, he returned for the series finals as #1 seed, beating first Brenda Jolley and then Rupert Stokoe with scores of 110 and 118. In the final he faced the excellent [[Tom Hargreaves]], and [[Episode 3279|beat him comfortably]] to take the series. | + | Having totted up a record 875 points, he returned for the series finals as #1 seed, beating first [[Brenda Jolley]] and then [[Rupert Stokoe]] with scores of 110 and 118. In the final he faced the excellent [[Tom Hargreaves]], and [[Episode 3279|beat him comfortably]] to take the series. |
− | He returned for [[Championship of Champions XI]] at the beginning of 2003, and was drawn against the masterful [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]], holder of the 9-round octochamp record. The game was a classic, with Wills emerging the victory with 113 to Williams' 111. In the quarter finals, he faced the popular Loz Sands, and won comfortably but without a century. A semifinal score of 120 against John Rawnsley saw him comfortable into the final, where he was strong favourite to beat [[Graham Nash]]. The match was not as explosive as hoped, and the [[crucial conundrum]] was revealed with the scores at {{score|79|73}} in Nash's favour. Neither player could solve {{word|OVERSPADE}}, so Nash took the CoC trophy and Wills was beaten at last. | + | He returned for [[Championship of Champions XI]] at the beginning of 2003, and was drawn against the masterful [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]], holder of the 9-round octochamp record. The game was a classic, with Wills emerging the victory with 113 to Williams' 111. In the quarter-finals, he faced the popular [[Loz Sands]], and won comfortably but without a century. A semifinal score of 120 against [[John Rawnsley]] saw him comfortable into the final, where he was strong favourite to beat [[Graham Nash]]. The match was not as explosive as hoped, and the [[crucial conundrum]] was revealed with the scores at {{score|79|73}} in Nash's favour. Neither player could solve {{word|OVERSPADE}}, so Nash took the CoC trophy and Wills was beaten at last. |
Many fans had expected Wills to face [[Julian Fell]] in the final, but Fell had been knocked out early on by Nash. To appease fans, a special "[[Episode S12|Fell vs Wills]]" episode was filmed in March 2003 and broadcast on the 12 September. Wills was beaten again; this time, Fell was forced to come from behind, but solved the tricky conundrum {{word|VICTORIUS}} in just a few seconds to take the game. | Many fans had expected Wills to face [[Julian Fell]] in the final, but Fell had been knocked out early on by Nash. To appease fans, a special "[[Episode S12|Fell vs Wills]]" episode was filmed in March 2003 and broadcast on the 12 September. Wills was beaten again; this time, Fell was forced to come from behind, but solved the tricky conundrum {{word|VICTORIUS}} in just a few seconds to take the game. | ||
− | Since then, Wills has been a regular at unofficial Countdown competitions, winning [[CoBris]] in 2006 and 2007. | + | Since then, Wills has been a regular at unofficial Countdown competitions, winning [[CoBris]] in 2006 and 2007. He also attended [[COLIN]] events in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, winning the first three of those too. He is consistently rated as one of the top players, and is one of the few players ever to be rated over 1000. |
He holds the record for the most appearances since the start of the 15-round era and for this reason holds the record for the most points scored by any Countdowner. In 17 games including a [[Episode 4473|12-round special]] against [[Conor Travers]], he scored 1767 points – 106.81 points per game, not counting the 12-round game in the average score. | He holds the record for the most appearances since the start of the 15-round era and for this reason holds the record for the most points scored by any Countdowner. In 17 games including a [[Episode 4473|12-round special]] against [[Conor Travers]], he scored 1767 points – 106.81 points per game, not counting the 12-round game in the average score. | ||
− | Wills has also appeared on '' | + | Wills has also appeared on ''Fifteen-to-One'', ''The Weakest Link'' (which he won), ''BrainTeaser'' (which he also won, but failed to take any prize money), ''Mastermind'', ''1 vs 100'', ''A Question of Genius'' (on which he won £5000 with his knowledge of The Smiths), and ''Pointless''. |
+ | |||
+ | He currently works at the University of Leeds, in the Department of Health Studies. | ||
{{series winner|preceded_by=Ben Wilson|series=47|followed_by=Julian Fell}} | {{series winner|preceded_by=Ben Wilson|series=47|followed_by=Julian Fell}} | ||
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{{ep | 3402 | 22/01/2003 | CSF |Chris Wills| 120 – 88 |[[John Rawnsley]]|[[Eric Knowles]]|Susie Dent|132}} | {{ep | 3402 | 22/01/2003 | CSF |Chris Wills| 120 – 88 |[[John Rawnsley]]|[[Eric Knowles]]|Susie Dent|132}} | ||
{{ep | 3404 | 24/01/2003 | CGF |Chris Wills| 73 – 79 |[[Graham Nash]]|Eric Knowles|Susie Dent|106}} | {{ep | 3404 | 24/01/2003 | CGF |Chris Wills| 73 – 79 |[[Graham Nash]]|Eric Knowles|Susie Dent|106}} | ||
− | {{ep | S12 | | + | {{ep | S12 | 12/09/2003 | S |[[Julian Fell]]| 100 – 92 |Chris Wills|[[Bob Bevan]]|[[Alison Heard]]|123}} |
{{ep | 4473 | 2/11/2007 | S |Chris Wills| 58 – 69 |[[Conor Travers]]|none|Alison Heard|110}} | {{ep | 4473 | 2/11/2007 | S |Chris Wills| 58 – 69 |[[Conor Travers]]|none|Alison Heard|110}} | ||
{{episode table end}} | {{episode table end}} | ||
− | ==See | + | ==See Also== |
{{WP}} | {{WP}} | ||
* His own record of [http://www.thecountdownpage.com/exp-chris-wills-1.htm his ''Countdown'' experience], on [[The Countdown Page]]. | * His own record of [http://www.thecountdownpage.com/exp-chris-wills-1.htm his ''Countdown'' experience], on [[The Countdown Page]]. |
Revision as of 21:11, 4 November 2011
Chris Wills, the champion of Series 47, is often considered the greatest all-round player in Countdown history.
He began his rise to fame in Series 47, debuting on the 14 January 2002. He won his first seven games with centuries (including a 120 – 107 thriller against Terry Rattle) but won his last game with 92, missing out on the opportunity to be the first all-centuries octochamp. His total of 875 points is still the eighth highest to date.
In the middle of his run was a classic game against Terry Rattle. Wills was leading 100 – 79 going into the last letters game, where Chris played REACHING to Rattle's CHAGRINED, which Rattle declared as "very dodgy". Dictionary Corner okayed the word and after both players scored 10 points in the final numbers game, it was a crucial conundrum 110 – 107 in Wills' favour. The conundrum LINGOFLOW revealed itself and Wills buzzed in with FOLLOWING before the first second had elapsed. Wills is therefore the highest-scoring octochamp to have had a crucial conundrum game during their run. Rattle's 107 was the highest losing score in the 15-round era until David Williams scored 111, also against Chris Wills.
Having totted up a record 875 points, he returned for the series finals as #1 seed, beating first Brenda Jolley and then Rupert Stokoe with scores of 110 and 118. In the final he faced the excellent Tom Hargreaves, and beat him comfortably to take the series.
He returned for Championship of Champions XI at the beginning of 2003, and was drawn against the masterful David Williams, holder of the 9-round octochamp record. The game was a classic, with Wills emerging the victory with 113 to Williams' 111. In the quarter-finals, he faced the popular Loz Sands, and won comfortably but without a century. A semifinal score of 120 against John Rawnsley saw him comfortable into the final, where he was strong favourite to beat Graham Nash. The match was not as explosive as hoped, and the crucial conundrum was revealed with the scores at 79 – 73 in Nash's favour. Neither player could solve OVERSPADE, so Nash took the CoC trophy and Wills was beaten at last.
Many fans had expected Wills to face Julian Fell in the final, but Fell had been knocked out early on by Nash. To appease fans, a special "Fell vs Wills" episode was filmed in March 2003 and broadcast on the 12 September. Wills was beaten again; this time, Fell was forced to come from behind, but solved the tricky conundrum VICTORIUS in just a few seconds to take the game.
Since then, Wills has been a regular at unofficial Countdown competitions, winning CoBris in 2006 and 2007. He also attended COLIN events in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, winning the first three of those too. He is consistently rated as one of the top players, and is one of the few players ever to be rated over 1000.
He holds the record for the most appearances since the start of the 15-round era and for this reason holds the record for the most points scored by any Countdowner. In 17 games including a 12-round special against Conor Travers, he scored 1767 points – 106.81 points per game, not counting the 12-round game in the average score.
Wills has also appeared on Fifteen-to-One, The Weakest Link (which he won), BrainTeaser (which he also won, but failed to take any prize money), Mastermind, 1 vs 100, A Question of Genius (on which he won £5000 with his knowledge of The Smiths), and Pointless.
He currently works at the University of Leeds, in the Department of Health Studies.
Preceded by Ben Wilson |
Series winner Series 47 |
Followed by Julian Fell |
Preceded by Kate Ogilvie |
Champion of Champions runner-up Championship of Champions XI |
Followed by Mark Tournoff |
Episodes
# | Date | Type | Contestant 1 | Score | Contestant 2 | Presenters | Guest | Lex | Max | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3166 | 14/01/2002 | P | Jeremy Slaney | 66 – 107 | Chris Wills | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Kathryn Apanowicz | Susie Dent | 153 | ||
3167 | 15/01/2002 | P | Chris Wills | 118 – 44 | Floraidh Campbell | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Kathryn Apanowicz | Susie Dent | 127 | ||
3168 | 16/01/2002 | P | Chris Wills | 103 – 68 | Jeff Baines | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Kathryn Apanowicz | Susie Dent | 123 | ||
3169 | 17/01/2002 | P | Chris Wills | 129 – 77 | April Carlin | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Kathryn Apanowicz | Susie Dent | 131 | ||
3170 | 18/01/2002 | P | Chris Wills | 103 – 47 | David Shaw | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Kathryn Apanowicz | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
3171 | 21/01/2002 | P | Chris Wills | 120 – 107 | Terry Rattle | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Tim Rice | Susie Dent | 152 | ||
3172 | 22/01/2002 | P | Chris Wills | 103 – 48 | Len Barker | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Tim Rice | Susie Dent | 139 | ||
3173 | 23/01/2002 | P | Chris Wills | 92 – 52 | Agnes Budis | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Tim Rice | Susie Dent | 140 | ||
3273 | 20/06/2002 | QF | Chris Wills | 110 – 86 | Brenda Jolley | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Geoffrey Durham | Susie Dent | 120 | ||
3277 | 26/06/2002 | SF | Rupert Stokoe | 78 – 118 | Chris Wills | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Richard Digance | Damian Eadie | 130 | ||
3279 | 28/06/2002 | GF | Tom Hargreaves | 67 – 110 | Chris Wills | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Richard Digance | Damian Eadie | 129 | ||
3391 | 7/01/2003 | CP | Chris Wills | 113 – 111 | David Williams | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Martin Jarvis | Susie Dent | 131 | ||
3398 | 16/01/2003 | CQF | Chris Wills | 98 – 69 | Loz Sands | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Tim Rice | Susie Dent | 129 | ||
3402 | 22/01/2003 | CSF | Chris Wills | 120 – 88 | John Rawnsley | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Eric Knowles | Susie Dent | 132 | ||
3404 | 24/01/2003 | CGF | Chris Wills | 73 – 79 | Graham Nash | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Eric Knowles | Susie Dent | 106 | ||
S12 | 12/09/2003 | S | Julian Fell | 100 – 92 | Chris Wills | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Bob Bevan | Alison Heard | 123 | ||
4473 | 2/11/2007 | S | Chris Wills | 58 – 69 | Conor Travers | Des O'Connor | Carol Vorderman | none | Alison Heard | 110 |
See Also
- Chris Wills on Wikipedia.
- His own record of his Countdown experience, on The Countdown Page.
- Archive version of his Countdown website
Championship of Champions Runners-Up | |
---|---|
I : Joyce Cansfield | II : Peter Evans | III : David Trace | IV : Tony Vick | V : Gino Corr | VI : Chris Waddington | VII : Damian Eadie | VIII : Kenneth Michie | IX : Pete Cashmore | X : Kate Ogilvie | XI : Chris Wills | XII : Mark Tournoff | XIII : Charlie Reams | XIV : Dan McColm | XV : Bradley Horrocks | XVI : James Haughton |