Due to persistent vandalism, account creation has been suspended. If you would like an account, please contact Charlie Reams on Apterous.

Difference between revisions of "14 round format (old)"

From Countdown
m (how's this??)
m (TobyMcDonald moved page 14 round format (series finals) to 14 round format (old) over redirect: Per talk)
 
(32 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
The 14-round format was used almost exclusively for grand finals of series and championships of champions, as well as two [[special game]]s celebrating Countdown's 1000th and 1500th episodes. It comprised:
+
The '''14-round format''' is the arrangement of [[letters]], [[numbers]] and [[conundrum]] rounds used for grand finals of series and [[Championship of Champions|Championships of Champions]] between [[Series 2]] and [[Series 45]]. Described by fans as "LLNLLNCLLNLLNC", the format was also used for two [[special game]]s celebrating Countdown's [[Episode 1003|1000th]] and [[Episode 1523|1500th]] episodes.
  
−
{{Rounds-start||}}
+
Episodes played to this format normally lasted for 45 minutes, including one advertising break after the first conundrum (round 7), though the 1500th episode special was extended to 50 minutes. The additional numbers rounds and conundrums arguably added an air of chance to the final, as there was a greater emphasis on numbers and conundrum skill than in a normal game.
−
{{R-letters |1 |LETTERS||||||}}
+
 
−
{{R-letters |2 |LETTERS||||||}}
+
The format effectively plays a final over two legs, but squished into one, slightly longer, programme (thus necessitating the removal of two letters games), thus explaining the conundrum in the middle of the game which has baffled many modern-day fans. Like many ideas from the early years of Countdown, this concept of a two-legs final was first used on [[Calendar Countdown]], with [[Episode CC7]] being a 20-round game played over two episodes.
−
{{R-numbers  |3 | N|U|M|B|E|R|S
+
 
−
|
+
==Rounds==
−
|
+
{{Rounds-start|Champion (C1)|Challenger (C2)}}
−
|||}}
+
{{Rx-letters | 1|C1LETTERS||||||}}
−
{{R-letters |4 |LETTERS||||||}}
+
{{Rx-letters | 2|C2LETTERS||||||}}
−
{{R-letters |5 |LETTERS||||||}}
+
{{R-numbers  | 3|C|2|NUMBERS|||||||||}}
−
{{R-numbers  |3 | N|U|M|B|E|R|S
+
{{Rx-letters | 4|C1LETTERS||||||}}
−
|
+
{{Rx-letters | 5|C2LETTERS||||||}}
−
|
+
{{R-numbers  | 6|C|1|NUMBERS|||||||||}}
−
|||}}
+
{{R-conundrum| 7|CONUNDRUM||||}}
−
{{R-conundrum|7|CONUNDRUM||||}}
+
{{Rx-letters | 8|C2LETTERS||||||}}
−
{{R-letters |8 |LETTERS||| ||| }}
+
{{Rx-letters | 9|C1LETTERS||||||}}
−
{{R-letters |9 |LETTERS|||                   | | | }}
+
{{R-numbers  |10|C|1|NUMBERS|||||||||}}
−
{{R-numbers  |3 | N|U|M|B|E|R|S
+
{{Rx-letters |11|C2LETTERS||||||}}
−
|
+
{{Rx-letters |12|C1LETTERS||||||}}
−
|
+
{{R-numbers  |13|C|2|NUMBERS|||||||||}}
−
|||}}
 
−
{{R-letters |11|LETTERS| | |                   | | | }}
 
−
{{R-letters |12|LETTERS| | |                   | | | }}
 
−
{{R-numbers  |3 | N|U|M|B|E|R|S
 
−
|
 
−
|
 
−
|||}}
 
 
{{R-conundrum|14|CONUNDRUM||||}}
 
{{R-conundrum|14|CONUNDRUM||||}}
 
{{Rounds-end}}
 
{{Rounds-end}}
−
Fans of the show sometimes describe the format in compressed notation as LLNLLNCLLNLLNC.
+
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 2em auto 0; text-align: center;"
−
 
+
! !! Chosen by champion !! Chosen by challenger !! Total
−
 
+
|-
−
 
+
! Letters rounds
−
The episodes lasted for forty-five minutes. Many people felt that the added numbers rounds and conundrums added an air of random chance to the final, with a greater emphasis on numbers and conundrum skill than in a normal game.
+
| 4 || 4 || 8
−
 
+
|-
−
The 14-round format was not used until the grand final of [[Series 2]] – the [[Series 1]] final was played to the [[9 round format]]. Likewise, the final of [[Championship of Champions I]] was also 9 rounds rather than 14, though from [[Championship of Champions II]] onwards the 14 round format was used.
+
! Numbers rounds
−
 
+
| 2 || 2 || 4
−
The last 14-round game broadcast was the grand final of [[Series 45]], with [[John Rawnsley]] being the last-ever 14-round winner. All competitive games from the start of [[Series 46]] onwards have been played to the [[15 round format]], except for the Ladies' Championship and Junior Tournament, played to the [[9 round format]],  in [[Series Winners|Series]] [[Series 49|49]] and [[Series 48|48]] respectively.
+
|-
 +
! Conundrums
 +
| || || 2
 +
|}
  
−
[[Category:Terminology]]
+
[[Category:Formats|14]]
 +
[[Category:14-round games| ]]

Latest revision as of 00:00, 15 February 2023

The 14-round format is the arrangement of letters, numbers and conundrum rounds used for grand finals of series and Championships of Champions between Series 2 and Series 45. Described by fans as "LLNLLNCLLNLLNC", the format was also used for two special games celebrating Countdown's 1000th and 1500th episodes.

Episodes played to this format normally lasted for 45 minutes, including one advertising break after the first conundrum (round 7), though the 1500th episode special was extended to 50 minutes. The additional numbers rounds and conundrums arguably added an air of chance to the final, as there was a greater emphasis on numbers and conundrum skill than in a normal game.

The format effectively plays a final over two legs, but squished into one, slightly longer, programme (thus necessitating the removal of two letters games), thus explaining the conundrum in the middle of the game which has baffled many modern-day fans. Like many ideas from the early years of Countdown, this concept of a two-legs final was first used on Calendar Countdown, with Episode CC7 being a 20-round game played over two episodes.

Rounds

Rnd Selection Champion (C1) Score Challenger (C2) Others Max.
1 C1LETTERS  – 
2 C2LETTERS  – 
3 C 2 NUMBERS →  – 


4 C1LETTERS  – 
5 C2LETTERS  – 
6 C 1 NUMBERS →  – 


7 CONUNDRUM  – 
8 C2LETTERS  – 
9 C1LETTERS  – 
10 C 1 NUMBERS →  – 


11 C2LETTERS  – 
12 C1LETTERS  – 
13 C 2 NUMBERS →  – 


14 CONUNDRUM  – 
Chosen by champion Chosen by challenger Total
Letters rounds 4 4 8
Numbers rounds 2 2 4
Conundrums 2
Retrieved from "https://wiki.apterous.org/index.php?title=14_round_format_(old)&oldid=159128"