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Episode 5839

From Countdown

Episode 5839 was broadcast on 20 December 2013, and was the Series 69 grand final.

Dylan Taylor played Callum Todd, with Callum Todd winning 126 – 116. The Dictionary Corner guest was Richard Madeley, and the lexicographer was Susie Dent.

This episode broke two records for a regular series grand final of Countdown (disregarding the 30th Birthday Championship miniseries):

  • Todd’s score of 126 was the highest ever in a grand final at that time, beating 122 by Chris Cummins in the grand final of Series 50.
  • The combined total of 242 was the highest back then, beating 208, again in the grand final of Series 50.

Both records were broken 4.5 years later when Zarte Siempre, the very first opponent Taylor defeated in the preliminaries, scored 128, and together with Philip Aston's score of 118, had a joint score of 246 in the grand final of Series 78.

At the time, the combined total of 242 was also the highest in the new 15-round format, beating 226 on 15 October 2013. It was beaten with 248 on 4 January 2016.

Taylor and Todd scored maximum points in 27 of the 29 picks they offered between them.

This is also the first 15-round grand final won by a player who previously lost a heat game in the same series, and the first won by a player ranked in the lower half of the seed table.

Rounds

Rnd Selection Dylan Taylor Score Callum Todd Others Max.
1 AJTMORETA TERATOMA 8 – 0 MATTER AMARETTO* 8
2 SWNVIEURO ENVIOUS 8 – 8 SOUVENIR 16
3 2 5 4 7 6 9 → 832 832
(9 × 6 − 2) × (7 + 5 + 4)
18 – 18 832
(6 × 5 × 7 − 2) × 4


26
TTT GOTTHERE The two of them got there at the same time. TOGETHER
4 DGPLEIEFS PLEDGES 25 – 25 PLEDGES DEFILES, FLEDGES*, SPIELED* 33
5 ANLUDITSE INSULATED 43 – 43 INSULATED 51
6 100 8 3 10 3 7 → 314 314
(100 + 7) × 3 − 10 + 3
53 – 53 314
(100 + 8) × 3 − 10


61
7 OAORQPDLE LEOPARD 60 – 60 PAROLED PRELOAD* 68
8 MBTMEIOAL IMMOLATE 68 – 68 IMMOLATE 76
9 2 4 9 6 5 8 → 160 160
8 × 5 × 4
78 – 78 160
8 × 5 × 4


86
TTT MOLLYATE Molly ate a plate of luxurious seafood. TOMALLEY
10 RDSXIEOUT OUTSIDER 86 – 86 OUTSIDER DEXTROUS, OUTRIDES 94
11 HGOAETPFZ POTAGE 92 – 92 POTAGE 100
12 NGNCIOAOB CONING 98 – 98 BOOING BAGNIO*, BONING*, CANING*, COOING, GABION*, GABOON* 106
13 EURNRVIEG REVERING 106 – 106 REVERING 114
14 25 7 3 2 10 8 → 910 910
(8 + 3 + 2) × 7 × 10
116 – 116 910
(25 × 3 + 8 × 2) × 10


124
15 IHURTPALM 116 – 126 TRIUMPHAL
(4.5 seconds)
134


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