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September's featured article 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. 2016's FOCAL Champion was Series 66 champion Jack Worsley, 2017's champion was Rob Foster, 2018 Jonathan Wynn and 2019 Callum Todd. All events are hosted on a Saturday, with the exception of the 'hangover' event, held on the Sunday in Lincoln as secondary events. The organisation was the brainchild of Series 78 champion and former .co.mk organiser Zarte Siempre in mid-2015. The incumbent FOCAL chairman is Series 69 champion Callum Todd. The previous chairmen were Siempre in early 2016 and 2017, Mark Murray in late 2016 and Jeff Clayton from 2016 to 2021. Current standings for the year and many other details can be found at the FOCAL website, as well as the 2020–22 FOCAL season page on this wiki. (more...) More featured articles... [edit] Did you know... ...that en route to posting the then lowest ever 15 round score on 16 May 2011, Christine Buffrey had areolaes ☓ disallowed for being invalid, using phantom letters, and being misdeclared as a six-letter word? ...that three Countdown contestants – Charlie Reams, Dave Dyer and Mark Murphy – have been bleeped for scoring with the word WANKER or WANKERS? ...that on 2 November 2011, Dictionary Corner guest Mark Durden-Smith was bleeped after stating that the longest word in round 3 was SHITFACE? ...that the target in round 5 on 05/05/05 was 505? ...that Countdown was almost hosted by Michael Jackson? Nominate an article [edit] Today in Countdown history 2021: Adele Hannigan beat Gary Knightley, with the game finishing 78 – 65. 2020: Connor Wigley beat Vicky Gibson, scoring 105 – 34. 2017: Sarah Holey beat Mandy Walker with final score 119 – 45. 2015: Matty Artell beat Jonathan Joyce with scores of 96 – 87. 2014: Jamie Ilett-Jones beat Paul Bradley with a score of 129 – 40. 2011: Carl Williams beat Beth Tafat, scoring 116 – 43. 2010: Daniel Pati beat Ben Ponniah in a game that ended 98 – 73. 2009: Chris Davies beat John Smoker in a 105 – 53 game. 2008: Debbi Flack beat Alasdair Duguid, by a score of 97 – 64. 2006: Sarah Duncan beat Jean Bode with final score 82 – 46. 2004: Paul Gallen beat Stephen Todd with scores of 83 – 39. 2003: Kenneth Michie beat David Acton in a special episode. 2000: Sybil Thomson beat Debbie Turnbull with a score of 53 – 43. 1999: John Bolton beat Susan Eardley in a game that ended 40 – 27. 1998: Neil Doherty beat Mike Jones, scoring 50 – 32. 1997: Bhavin Manek beat Malcolm Fairy in a 59 – 36 game. 1995: Maggie Desogus beat John Molloy, by a score of 49 – 31. 1994: Dave Ledger beat Nick Deller with final score 39 – 35. 1993: Gary Thomson beat Andrew Perry with a score of 41 – 35. 1992: Alan Payne beat Edward Martin in a game that ended 44 – 33. 1989: Margaret Budden beat Christopher Alexander, scoring 43 – 34. 1989: Gary Franks beat Sandie Simonis in a Countdown Masters game.

[edit] Popular articles A brief overview of Countdown and some of its records and terminology. The team – Colin Murray, Rachel Riley, and Susie Dent. The show's institutions – the conundrum, the Countdown clock and its music, Dictionary Corner, the pencam, and the Teatime Teaser. Arthur Page, the reigning series champion, and his series grand final against Michael Calder. The most recent Championship of Champions grand final between James Haughton and Ahmed Mohamed. The 30th Birthday Championship grand final between Conor Travers and Jack Hurst. Richard Whiteley, Des Lynam, Des O'Connor, Carol Vorderman, Jeff Stelling, Nick Hewer and Anne Robinson – the show's former permanent presenters. The highest ever score – 154, achieved by Tom Stevenson on 29 September 2022 and Cillian McMulkin on 31 January 2023. [edit] Editors Everyone can edit the Countdown Wiki, just register and then click the edit link at the top of any page (except this one!) and start editing. Here are some useful links: Learn about this wiki and how to use it. Episode style guide - if you want to help us edit the episode pages, this style guide gives comprehensive help. Suggest a featured article which will in turn be featured on the Main Page. [edit] Other Countdown websites Apterous, an online game from the same people that run this site. The Countdown Android App, created by Series 63 champion Jack Hurst. The Countdown Database, detailed statistics and round-by-round details of over 7,800 episodes. FOCAL, regular in-person events that anyone can enter. c4countdown, Countdown's main online forum, populated by many past octochamps. Quantum Tombola, a numbers game solver designed by Series 65 champion Graeme Cole. A mobile version of the above. Greem, a website listing nearly all Co-event scores until early 2020. The Countdown Page, the original site of Countdown stats, by Mike Brown. [edit] Upcoming Countdown tournaments The full list of FOCAL tournaments for 2024 is here. The next scheduled event is Countdown in Blackpool on 14 September 2024. Almost all online tournaments are now held on Apterous: the list of ongoing tournaments is here.

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