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Difference between revisions of "9 round format"

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(These mini-series weren't mentioned anywhere, but they did use 9 rounders.)
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The '''9-round format''' was used for the first forty-five series of ''Countdown''. It comprised:-
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The '''9 round format''' is the arrangement of [[letters]], [[numbers]] and [[conundrum]] rounds used for the first forty-five series of ''Countdown''. Summarised by fans of the programme as {{word|LLLNLLLNC}}, this format saw each episode run to approximately 30 minutes including advertising breaks. Compared to the [[15 round format]] used today, games tended to be closer with many more [[crucial conundrum]]s; the small number of rounds heightened the element of chance or luck, as a single mistake or disallowed word could easily lead to defeat. However, it has the advantage that contestant choose the same number of letters and numbers rounds, arguably offering a fairer game.
  
* 3 letters rounds
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During what fans refer to as the "9 round era", all preliminary, quarter-final and semi-final matches were contested over 9 rounds, while each series' grand final was decided over [[14-round format|14 rounds]]. However from [[Series 46]] onwards, the programme has used the [[15 round format]] exclusively for regular series games. The only exceptions were the three-day junior tournament in [[Series 47]] and the similar ladies' tournament in [[Series 49]]. However, the format lives on in unofficial [[Apterous|online games]] and at Countdown tournaments including [[Countdown in Lincoln|COLIN]].
* A numbers round
 
* The half-time adverts break
 
* 3 more letters rounds
 
* A second numbers round
 
* The conundrum
 
  
Fans of the show sometimes describe the format in compressed notation as LLLNLLLNC.
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==Original Rounds==
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{{Rounds-start|Champion (C1)|Challenger (C2)}}
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{{Rx-letters  |1 |C1LETTERS||||||}}
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{{Rx-letters  |2 |C2LETTERS||||||}}
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{{Rx-letters  |3 |C1LETTERS||||||}}
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{{R-numbers  |4 |C|2|N|U|M|S||||||}}
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{{Rx-letters  |5 |C2LETTERS||||||}}
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{{Rx-letters  |6 |C1LETTERS||||||}}
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{{Rx-letters  |7 |C2LETTERS||||||}}
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{{R-numbers  |8 |C|1|N|U|M|S||||||}}
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{{R-conundrum|9 |CONUNDRUM||||}}
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{{Rounds-end}}
  
The programme ran to about 30 minutes, including adverts. Due to the small number of rounds, many more games went to crucial conundrums, and the general element of chance was much higher because a single mistake or disallowed word could easily lead to defeat.
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==Rounds for the [[Junior Championship|Junior Tournament]]==
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{{Rounds-start|Champion (C1)|Challenger (C2)}}
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{{Rx-letters  |1 |C1LETTERS||||||}}
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{{Rx-letters  |2 |C2LETTERS||||||}}
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{{Rx-letters  |3 |C1LETTERS||||||}}
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{{R-numbers  |4 |C|2|N|U|M|S||||||}}
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{{R-TTT|TEATIME TEASER|||}}
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{{Rx-letters  |5 |C2LETTERS||||||}}
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{{Rx-letters  |6 |C1LETTERS||||||}}
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{{Rx-letters  |7 |C2LETTERS||||||}}
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{{R-numbers  |8 |C|1|N|U|M|S||||||}}
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{{R-conundrum|9 |CONUNDRUM||||}}
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{{Rounds-end}}
  
During the "9 round era", as it is known, the grand final was decided by over [[14-round format|14 rounds]]. However from [[Series 46]] onwards, the programme has used the [[15-round format]] exclusively. The only exceptions were the three-day junior tournament in [[Series 47]] and the similar ladies' tournament in [[Series 49]].
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{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 2em auto 0; text-align: center;"
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! !! Chosen by champion !! Chosen by challenger !! Total
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|-
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! Letters rounds
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| 3 || 3 || 6
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|-
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! Numbers rounds
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| 1 || 1 || 2
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|-
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! Conundrums
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| || || 1
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|}
  
The 9-round format is still much used in unofficial online games and at Countdown tournaments such as [[Countdown in Lincoln|COLIN]].
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[[Category:Formats|09]]
 
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[[Category:9-round games| ]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
 

Latest revision as of 13:07, 29 October 2012

The 9 round format is the arrangement of letters, numbers and conundrum rounds used for the first forty-five series of Countdown. Summarised by fans of the programme as LLLNLLLNC, this format saw each episode run to approximately 30 minutes including advertising breaks. Compared to the 15 round format used today, games tended to be closer with many more crucial conundrums; the small number of rounds heightened the element of chance or luck, as a single mistake or disallowed word could easily lead to defeat. However, it has the advantage that contestant choose the same number of letters and numbers rounds, arguably offering a fairer game.

During what fans refer to as the "9 round era", all preliminary, quarter-final and semi-final matches were contested over 9 rounds, while each series' grand final was decided over 14 rounds. However from Series 46 onwards, the programme has used the 15 round format exclusively for regular series games. The only exceptions were the three-day junior tournament in Series 47 and the similar ladies' tournament in Series 49. However, the format lives on in unofficial online games and at Countdown tournaments including COLIN.

Original Rounds

Rnd Selection Champion (C1) Score Challenger (C2) Others Max.
1 C1LETTERS  – 
2 C2LETTERS  – 
3 C1LETTERS  – 
4 C 2 N U M S →  – 


5 C2LETTERS  – 
6 C1LETTERS  – 
7 C2LETTERS  – 
8 C 1 N U M S →  – 


9 CONUNDRUM  – 


Rounds for the Junior Tournament

Rnd Selection Champion (C1) Score Challenger (C2) Others Max.
1 C1LETTERS  – 
2 C2LETTERS  – 
3 C1LETTERS  – 
4 C 2 N U M S →  – 


TTT TEATIME TEASER
5 C2LETTERS  – 
6 C1LETTERS  – 
7 C2LETTERS  – 
8 C 1 N U M S →  – 


9 CONUNDRUM  – 


Chosen by champion Chosen by challenger Total
Letters rounds 3 3 6
Numbers rounds 1 1 2
Conundrums 1