Leo Smith
| Leo Smith octochamp statistics | |
|---|---|
| Final position | Semi-finalist |
| Seeding | 3 |
| Points total | 869 |
| Conundrums solved | 6 |
Leo Smith was an octochamp in Series 82 and a participant in Championship of Champions XVI. He was a Pest Controller from London.
Smith debuted on 23 November 2020 against the dominant (in the form of returnee) Martyn Simpson. Smith proved to be Simpson's toughest opponent, as he beat him in the first numbers game to take the lead. Simpson then risked POLEWARD in Round 7 to take the lead by one point, and later extended it in Round 11 before Smith clawed back in the following round. Smith finally unseated Simpson on the crucial conundrum to win his first game.
Smith's remaining seven games from his octorun was grandiose with part of it being: his nine-letter word spots of ORIENTALS and COLOURIZE, solving five conundrums and achieving six more centuries.
Twelve days later, Smith began his finals run against Phil Hulme in the third quarter-final. Both players frequently exchanged the lead while remaining within the crucial ten-point margin in a very tense fight. Smith's victory was confirmed by the end of the final numbers round, by nabbing seven points from Hulme's selected gamble of six small.
Smith then took on Sam Cappleman-Lynes in the second semi-final, as they both found REFASHION in the first letters round. Sam took a convincing lead but Smith beat him in three letters rounds by spotting PARBOIL, TWOCKED and DOPAMINE. But it was not enough as Sam broke away and won the game with 124 points to let Smith bow out with his first defeat.
In January 2023, Smith took part in Championship of Champions XVI and played against Florence Cappleman-Lynes (the wife of Sam) in the year's first game. He was ultimately defeated by 100 – 69, although he did produce a strong beater with TOREADOR.
Episodes
| # | Date | Type | Contestant 1 | Score | Contestant 2 | Presenters | Guest | Lex | Max | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7394 | 23/11/2020 | P | Martyn Simpson | 95 – 104 | Leo Smith | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | Tim Rice | Susie Dent | 138 | ||
| 7395 | 24/11/2020 | P | Leo Smith | 105 – 70 | Jonnie Masterson | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | Tim Rice | Susie Dent | 121 | ||
| 7396 | 25/11/2020 | P | Leo Smith | 126 – 40 | Steve Whatmore | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | Samira Ahmed | Susie Dent | 146 | ||
| 7397 | 26/11/2020 | P | Leo Smith | 114 – 81 | Isabella Roper | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | Samira Ahmed | Susie Dent | 134 | ||
| 7398 | 27/11/2020 | P | Leo Smith | 107 – 51 | Amaar Iqbal | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | Samira Ahmed | Susie Dent | 154 | ||
| 7399 | 30/11/2020 | P | Leo Smith | 102 – 61 | Joe Timmins | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | Samira Ahmed | Susie Dent | 124 | ||
| 7400 | 01/12/2020 | P | Leo Smith | 115 – 83 | Liam Coles | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | Samira Ahmed | Susie Dent | 124 | ||
| 7401 | 02/12/2020 | P | Leo Smith | 96 – 93 | Nicola Newton | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | Nina Wadia | Susie Dent | 125 | ||
| 7409 | 14/12/2020 | QF | Leo Smith | 91 – 80 | Phil Hulme | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | John Inverdale | Susie Dent | 123 | ||
| 7412 | 17/12/2020 | SF | Sam Cappleman-Lynes | 124 – 83 | Leo Smith | Nick Hewer | Rachel Riley | Levi Roots | Susie Dent | 157 | ||
| 7922 | 02/01/2023 | CP | Florence Cappleman-Lynes | 100 – 69 | Leo Smith | Colin Murray | Rachel Riley | Richard Osman | Susie Dent | 125 | ||
