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Difference between revisions of "Octochamp"

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An '''octochamp''' is a contestant who wins all eight of their heat games. The concept has existed since the show began, but no one achieved it until [[William Bradford]]'s run in [[Series 3]]. The choice of 8 as the maximum number of preliminaries in a champion's run appears to be based on the fact that Countdown was originally transmitted four days per week, meaning that after two weeks of dominance, a contestant would retire unbeaten.
+
An '''octochamp''' is a contestant who wins all eight of their heat games. The concept has existed since the show began, but no one achieved it until [[William Bradford]]'s run in [[Series 3]]. The choice of 8 as the maximum number of preliminaries in a champion's run appears to be based on the fact that Countdown was originally transmitted four days per week, meaning that after two weeks of dominance, a contestant would retire unbeaten. Each series typically has only a few octochamps, and eight wins has been adequate to qualify for the finals in all series to date.
  
Each series typically has only a few octochamps, and eight wins has been adequate to qualify for the finals in all series to date. An octochamp's total score is known as their octotal.
+
An octochamp's total score is known as their ''octotal'' or ''octototal'', and based on these total point counts, octochamps can be classified into categories according to quality, the most well-known of these being the [[800 club]].
  
 
With the introduction of the [[15 round format]] in [[Series 46]], the threshold was changed to six wins, and such players were known as '''''viscounts''''', a play on the Roman numeral VI for six. Only five viscounts exist, however, because this reduction did not sit well with fans, and the original rules were reintroduced in [[Series 47]]. [[Tom Hargreaves]], whose run began in the very first episode of this series, became the first 15-round octochamp. Note that octochamps are more frequent in the 15-round era, as the extra rounds give a better player more time to assert his or her quality. The highest number of octochamps in any series to date was in Series 47, where all 8 finalists were octochamps. The highest number in any [[9 round game|9 round]] series was in [[Series 41]], with 6 octochamps, where Whiteley coined the word.
 
With the introduction of the [[15 round format]] in [[Series 46]], the threshold was changed to six wins, and such players were known as '''''viscounts''''', a play on the Roman numeral VI for six. Only five viscounts exist, however, because this reduction did not sit well with fans, and the original rules were reintroduced in [[Series 47]]. [[Tom Hargreaves]], whose run began in the very first episode of this series, became the first 15-round octochamp. Note that octochamps are more frequent in the 15-round era, as the extra rounds give a better player more time to assert his or her quality. The highest number of octochamps in any series to date was in Series 47, where all 8 finalists were octochamps. The highest number in any [[9 round game|9 round]] series was in [[Series 41]], with 6 octochamps, where Whiteley coined the word.
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<div style="float:right; 24%; margin-left: 1%;">
 
<div style="float:right; 24%; margin-left: 1%;">
* [[Cate Henderson]] (Series 60)
 
* [[Shane Roberts]] (Series 60)
 
* [[Jimmy Gough]] (Series 60)
 
* [[James Doohan]] (Series 60)
 
* [[Innis Carson]] ([[Series 61]])
 
* [[Andrew Hulme]] (Series 61)
 
* [[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies]] (Series 61)
 
* [[Jeffrey Burgin]] (Series 61)
 
* [[Steve Wood (Series 61)|Steve Wood]] (Series 61)
 
* [[Brian Selway]] (Series 61)
 
 
* [[Ryan Taylor]] (Series 61)
 
* [[Ryan Taylor]] (Series 61)
 
* [[Oliver Garner]] ([[Series 62]])
 
* [[Oliver Garner]] ([[Series 62]])
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* [[Thomas Carey]] (Series 73)
 
* [[Thomas Carey]] (Series 73)
 
* [[John Hardie]] (Series 73)
 
* [[John Hardie]] (Series 73)
 +
* [[Matthew Tassier]] (Series 73)
 +
* [[Tim Down]] ([[Series 74]])
 +
* [[Paul Erdunast]] (Series 74)
 +
* [[Conrad Teixeira]] (Series 74)
 +
* [[Ann Dibben]] (Series 74)
 +
* [[Dave Costello]] (Series 74)
 +
* [[Robin McKay]] (Series 74)
 +
* [[Andrew Fenton]] ([[Series 75]])
 +
* [[Annie Humphries]] (Series 75)
 +
* [[Martin Hurst]] (Series 75)
 +
* [[Jamie Washington]] (Series 75)
 +
* [[Andrew Macleod]] (Series 75)
 +
* [[John Shaw]] (Series 75)
 +
* [[Elliott Mack]] ([[Series 76]])
 +
* [[Wesley Jardine]] (Series 76)
 +
* [[Lawrie Collingwood]] (Series 76)
 +
* [[Jeff Clayton]] (Series 76)
 +
* [[Stephen Read]] (Series 76)
 +
* [[Moose Rosser]] (Series 76)
 +
* [[James Slater]] (Series 76)
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div style="float:right; width:24%;">
 
<div style="float:right; width:24%;">
 
==15-round octochamps==
 
==15-round octochamps==
* [[Brenda Jolley]] ([[Series 47]])
+
* [[Tom Hargreaves]] ([[Series 47]])
 
* [[Chris Wills]] (Series 47)
 
* [[Chris Wills]] (Series 47)
 
* [[Kevin Thurlow]] (Series 47)
 
* [[Kevin Thurlow]] (Series 47)
 
* [[Lee Hartley]] (Series 47)
 
* [[Lee Hartley]] (Series 47)
* [[Mike Pullin]] (Series 47)
+
* [[Brenda Jolley]] (Series 47)
 
* [[Rupert Stokoe]] (Series 47)
 
* [[Rupert Stokoe]] (Series 47)
* [[Tom Hargreaves]] (Series 47)
 
 
* [[Wendy Roe]] (Series 47)
 
* [[Wendy Roe]] (Series 47)
* [[Danny Hamilton]] ([[Series 48]])
+
* [[Mike Pullin]] (Series 47)
 +
* [[Julia Wilkinson]] ([[Series 48]])
 +
* [[Grace Page]] (Series 48)
 +
* [[Danny Hamilton]] (Series 48)
 +
* [[Julian Fell]] (Series 48)
 
* [[George Greenhough]] (Series 48)
 
* [[George Greenhough]] (Series 48)
* [[Grace Page]] (Series 48)
 
 
* [[Joe Zubaidi]] (Series 48)
 
* [[Joe Zubaidi]] (Series 48)
* [[Julia Wilkinson]] (Series 48)
 
* [[Julian Fell]] (Series 48)
 
 
* [[John Davies (Series 49)|John Davies]] ([[Series 49]])
 
* [[John Davies (Series 49)|John Davies]] ([[Series 49]])
 
* [[Martin Gardner]] (Series 49)
 
* [[Martin Gardner]] (Series 49)
 
* [[Chris Cummins]] ([[Series 50]])
 
* [[Chris Cummins]] ([[Series 50]])
 
* [[Jim Bentley]] (Series 50)
 
* [[Jim Bentley]] (Series 50)
 +
* [[Stuart Solomons]] (Series 50)
 
* [[Stuart Earl]] (Series 50)
 
* [[Stuart Earl]] (Series 50)
* [[Stuart Solomons]] (Series 50)
+
* [[Richard Pay]] (Series 51)
 +
* [[Stewart Holden]] (Series 51)
 
* [[Gary Male]] ([[Series 51]])
 
* [[Gary Male]] ([[Series 51]])
 
* [[Nik Von Uexkull]] (Series 51)
 
* [[Nik Von Uexkull]] (Series 51)
* [[Richard Pay]] (Series 51)
 
* [[Stewart Holden]] (Series 51)
 
 
* [[Sweyn Kirkness]] (Series 51)
 
* [[Sweyn Kirkness]] (Series 51)
 
* [[David Thirlwall]] ([[Series 52]])
 
* [[David Thirlwall]] ([[Series 52]])
 
* [[Jack Welsby]] (Series 52)
 
* [[Jack Welsby]] (Series 52)
* [[Steven Moir]] (Series 52)
+
* [[Paul Gallen]] (Series 52)
 
* [[John Gray]] (Series 52)
 
* [[John Gray]] (Series 52)
 
* [[John Hunt (Series 52)|John Hunt]] (Series 52)
 
* [[John Hunt (Series 52)|John Hunt]] (Series 52)
 +
* [[Steven Moir]] (Series 52)
 
* [[Mark Tournoff]] (Series 52)
 
* [[Mark Tournoff]] (Series 52)
* [[Paul Gallen]] (Series 52)
+
* [[Judith Young]] ([[Series 53]])
* [[John Brackstone]] ([[Series 53]])
 
 
* [[John Mayhew]] (Series 53)
 
* [[John Mayhew]] (Series 53)
 
* [[Jon O'Neill]] (Series 53)
 
* [[Jon O'Neill]] (Series 53)
* [[Judith Young]] (Series 53)
+
* [[Ross Allatt]] (Series 53)
 +
* [[John Brackstone]] (Series 53)
 
* [[Richard Heald]] (Series 53)
 
* [[Richard Heald]] (Series 53)
* [[Ross Allatt]] (Series 53)
 
 
* [[Conor Travers]] ([[Series 54]])
 
* [[Conor Travers]] ([[Series 54]])
* [[Jon Corby]] (Series 54)
 
 
* [[Keith Maynard]] (Series 54)
 
* [[Keith Maynard]] (Series 54)
* [[Matthew Shore]] (Series 54)
 
 
* [[Michael Bowden]] (Series 54)
 
* [[Michael Bowden]] (Series 54)
 
* [[Paul Howe]] (Series 54)
 
* [[Paul Howe]] (Series 54)
* [[Chris McHenry]] ([[Series 55]])
+
* [[Matthew Shore]] (Series 54)
 +
* [[Jon Corby]] (Series 54)
 +
* [[Tony Warren]] ([[Series 55]])
 
* [[Richard Brittain]] (Series 55)
 
* [[Richard Brittain]] (Series 55)
 +
* [[Stu Horsey]] (Series 55)
 
* [[Steven Briers]] (Series 55)
 
* [[Steven Briers]] (Series 55)
* [[Stu Horsey]] (Series 55)
+
* [[Chris McHenry]] (Series 55)
* [[Tony Warren]] (Series 55)
+
* [[Amey Deshpande]] ([[Series 56]])
* [[Aaron Webber]] ([[Series 56]])
 
* [[Amey Deshpande]] (Series 56)
 
 
* [[Jean Webby]] (Series 56)
 
* [[Jean Webby]] (Series 56)
 +
* [[Aaron Webber]] (Series 56)
 
* [[Nick Wainwright]] (Series 56)
 
* [[Nick Wainwright]] (Series 56)
 
* [[James Hurrell]] ([[Series 57]])
 
* [[James Hurrell]] ([[Series 57]])
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* [[Neil Zussman]] ([[Series 60]])
 
* [[Neil Zussman]] ([[Series 60]])
 
* [[Kirk Bevins]] (Series 60)
 
* [[Kirk Bevins]] (Series 60)
 +
* [[Cate Henderson]] (Series 60)
 +
* [[Shane Roberts]] (Series 60)
 +
* [[Jimmy Gough]] (Series 60)
 +
* [[James Doohan]] (Series 60)
 +
* [[Innis Carson]] ([[Series 61]])
 +
* [[Andrew Hulme]] (Series 61)
 +
* [[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies]] (Series 61)
 +
* [[Jeffrey Burgin]] (Series 61)
 +
* [[Steve Wood (Series 61)|Steve Wood]] (Series 61)
 +
* [[Brian Selway]] (Series 61)
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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* [[Harvey Freeman]] ([[Series 10]])
 
* [[Harvey Freeman]] ([[Series 10]])
 
* [[Jon Marsh]] ([[Series 12]])
 
* [[Jon Marsh]] ([[Series 12]])
* [[John Hadfield]] ([[Series 14]])
+
* [[Nic Brown]] ([[Series 14]])
* [[Nic Brown]] (Series 14)
+
* [[John Hadfield]] (Series 14)
 
* [[Stephen Deakin]] (Series 14)
 
* [[Stephen Deakin]] (Series 14)
 
* [[Allan Saldanha]] ([[Series 15]])
 
* [[Allan Saldanha]] ([[Series 15]])
 
* [[Dick Green]] (Series 15)
 
* [[Dick Green]] (Series 15)
 
* [[Steve Williams]] ([[Series 16]])
 
* [[Steve Williams]] ([[Series 16]])
* [[Lawrence Pearse]] ([[Series 17]])
+
* [[Tim Morrissey]] ([[Series 17]])
* [[Tim Morrissey]] (Series 17)
+
* [[Lawrence Pearse]] (Series 17)
 
* [[Jonathan Anstey]] ([[Series 18]])
 
* [[Jonathan Anstey]] ([[Series 18]])
 
* [[Richard Evans]] (Series 18)
 
* [[Richard Evans]] (Series 18)
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* [[Lew Schwarz]] ([[Series 21]])
 
* [[Lew Schwarz]] ([[Series 21]])
 
* [[Chris Waddington]] ([[Series 22]])
 
* [[Chris Waddington]] ([[Series 22]])
* [[Gareth Williams]] ([[Series 23]])
+
* [[Phil Jordan]] ([[Series 23]])
* [[Phil Jordan]] (Series 23)
+
* [[Gareth Williams]] (Series 23)
 
* [[Norman Christian]] ([[Series 24]])
 
* [[Norman Christian]] ([[Series 24]])
* [[Don Reid]] ([[Series 25]])
+
* [[James Sinclair]] ([[Series 25]])
* [[James Sinclair]] (Series 25)
+
* [[Don Reid]] (Series 25)
 
* [[Richard Campbell]] ([[Series 27]])
 
* [[Richard Campbell]] ([[Series 27]])
 
* [[Sharon Bridge]] ([[Series 28]])
 
* [[Sharon Bridge]] ([[Series 28]])
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* [[Satbir Gupta]] ([[Series 32]])
 
* [[Satbir Gupta]] ([[Series 32]])
 
* [[James Martin]] ([[Series 34]])
 
* [[James Martin]] ([[Series 34]])
* [[Dag Griffiths]] ([[Series 35]])
+
* [[Natascha Kearsey]] ([[Series 35]])
* [[Natascha Kearsey]] (Series 35)
+
* [[Dag Griffiths]] (Series 35)
* [[Bhavin Manek]] ([[Series 36]])
+
* [[Maria Boyes]] ([[Series 36]])
* [[Maria Boyes]] (Series 36)
+
* [[Bhavin Manek]] (Series 36)
 
* [[Ray McPhie]] ([[Series 37]])
 
* [[Ray McPhie]] ([[Series 37]])
 
* [[Kate Ogilvie]] ([[Series 39]])
 
* [[Kate Ogilvie]] ([[Series 39]])
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* [[Glynn Leaney]] ([[Series 40]])
 
* [[Glynn Leaney]] ([[Series 40]])
 
* [[Peter Hutchings]] (Series 40)
 
* [[Peter Hutchings]] (Series 40)
* [[Lucy Roberts]] ([[Series 41]])
+
* [[Scott Mearns]] ([[Series 41]])
 +
* [[Simon Cooper]] (Series 41)
 +
* [[Sanjay Mazumder]] (Series 41)
 +
* [[Lucy Roberts]] (Series 41)
 
* [[Margaret Foster]] (Series 41)
 
* [[Margaret Foster]] (Series 41)
 
* [[Melvin Hetherington]] (Series 41)
 
* [[Melvin Hetherington]] (Series 41)
* [[Sanjay Mazumder]] (Series 41)
+
* [[Michael Calder (Series 42)|Michael Calder]] ([[Series 42]])
* [[Scott Mearns]] (Series 41)
+
* [[David Ballheimer]] (Series 42)
* [[Simon Cooper]] (Series 41)
 
* [[David Ballheimer]] ([[Series 42]])
 
* [[Michael Calder (Series 42)|Michael Calder]] (Series 42)
 
 
* [[Terence O'Farrell]] (Series 42)
 
* [[Terence O'Farrell]] (Series 42)
 
* [[Graham Nash]] ([[Series 43]])
 
* [[Graham Nash]] ([[Series 43]])

Revision as of 14:33, 13 June 2017

An octochamp is a contestant who wins all eight of their heat games. The concept has existed since the show began, but no one achieved it until William Bradford's run in Series 3. The choice of 8 as the maximum number of preliminaries in a champion's run appears to be based on the fact that Countdown was originally transmitted four days per week, meaning that after two weeks of dominance, a contestant would retire unbeaten. Each series typically has only a few octochamps, and eight wins has been adequate to qualify for the finals in all series to date.

An octochamp's total score is known as their octotal or octototal, and based on these total point counts, octochamps can be classified into categories according to quality, the most well-known of these being the 800 club.

With the introduction of the 15 round format in Series 46, the threshold was changed to six wins, and such players were known as viscounts, a play on the Roman numeral VI for six. Only five viscounts exist, however, because this reduction did not sit well with fans, and the original rules were reintroduced in Series 47. Tom Hargreaves, whose run began in the very first episode of this series, became the first 15-round octochamp. Note that octochamps are more frequent in the 15-round era, as the extra rounds give a better player more time to assert his or her quality. The highest number of octochamps in any series to date was in Series 47, where all 8 finalists were octochamps. The highest number in any 9 round series was in Series 41, with 6 octochamps, where Whiteley coined the word.

In later series, Richard Whiteley began to use the alternative (and less popular) term octavian. However, Des Lynam resurrected the original term and it has been used exclusively ever since.

15-round octochamps

Viscounts

All viscounts appeared in Series 46.

9-round octochamps