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FOCAL

From Countdown
Revision as of 17:12, 7 October 2016 by Smjg (talk | contribs) (make this appear at the front of its category)

FOCAL is the voluntary organisation responsible for organising the vast majority of unofficial Countdown tournaments since 2016. The organisation's name is an acronym for Finals Of the Co-event Annual League. Perhaps coincidentally, "focal" also means "word" in the Irish language.

Players play in events across the British Isles throughout the year, with the top 8 highest ranked players at the end of the year receiving free entry into the finals event in Birmingham, held alongside a normal tournament that is open to everyone. Events are open to all, regardless of experience, level of play or age, and can be set up anywhere and by anyone. Events typically lasts between 6 and 8 hours, followed by a trip to the pub.

Rated events in 2016 are being hosted in Lincoln, Bristol, Leeds, King's Lynn, St Albans, Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Dublin, Huddersfield and Glasgow. All events are hosted on a Saturday, with the exception of two 'hangover' events, held on the Sundays in Lincoln and Glasgow as secondary events. Tournament entrance costs between £10 and £16 dependent on event.

The organisation was the brainchild of Series 69 contestant and .co.mk organiser Zarte Siempre in mid-2015. The team is currently chaired by Series 70 champion Mark Murray, organiser of the 2015 and 2016 Countdown in Bristol tournaments.

As of 28th August, Series 66 champion Jack Worsley was leading the 2016 rankings after 8 events. The other players on course to qualify as the top 8 for the FOCAL Finals at present are COHUD and CoStAl organiser James Robinson, Series 73 semi-finalist Thomas Carey, Zarte Siempre, highest-scoring female octochamp and CoC XIV semi-finalist Jen Steadman, Series 68 champion Giles Hutchings, Series 69 champion and Countdown in Leeds 2016 organiser Callum Todd, and Rob Foster.

Full current standings for the year, details about events, a FAQs section for newcomers, and pictures from previous tournaments can be found at the FOCAL website .


Events on the 2016 calendar