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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. Each series typically has only a few octochamps, and eight wins has been adequate to qualify for the finals in all series to date.
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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. 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]].
 
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]].
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<div style="float:right; 24%; margin-left: 1%;">
* [[Danny Pledger]] (Series 62)
 
* [[Scott Gillies]] ([[Series 63]])
 
* [[Tom Rowell]] (Series 63)
 
* [[Daniel Pati]] (Series 63)
 
* [[Eoin Monaghan]] (Series 63)
 
 
* [[Jack Hurst]] (Series 63)
 
* [[Jack Hurst]] (Series 63)
 
* [[Marcus Hares]] (Series 63)
 
* [[Marcus Hares]] (Series 63)
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* [[John Cowen]] (Series 77)
 
* [[John Cowen]] (Series 77)
 
* [[Michael Pfeffer]] (Series 77)
 
* [[Michael Pfeffer]] (Series 77)
 +
* [[Noel McIlvenny]] (Series 77)
 +
* [[Eoin Jackson]] (Series 77)
 +
* [[James Kennedy]] (Series 77)
 +
* [[Graeme Staples]] (Series 77)
 +
* [[Bradley Horrocks]] (Series 77)
 +
* [[Chris Thorn]] ([[Series 78]])
 +
* [[Phil Davies]] (Series 78)
 +
* [[Zarte Siempre]] (Series 78)
 +
* [[Toby McDonald]] (Series 78)
 +
* [[Paul Harper]] (Series 78)
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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* [[Ryan Taylor]] (Series 61)
 
* [[Ryan Taylor]] (Series 61)
 
* [[Oliver Garner]] ([[Series 62]])
 
* [[Oliver Garner]] ([[Series 62]])
 +
* [[Danny Pledger]] (Series 62)
 +
* [[Scott Gillies]] ([[Series 63]])
 +
* [[Tom Rowell]] (Series 63)
 +
* [[Daniel Pati]] (Series 63)
 +
* [[Eoin Monaghan]] (Series 63)
 
</div>
 
</div>
  

Revision as of 14:12, 18 May 2018

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