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Series 65

From Countdown

Series 65 began on 6 June 2011 and ended on 16 December 2011. The series was the sixth and last presented by Jeff Stelling. The champion was Graeme Cole, who became the first champion since John Mayhew in Series 53 to win the Grand Final on a tiebreak conundrum.

It took a summer break from 22 July to 22 August, with 1 special episode shown during the break.

Seed table

Rank Name Wins Points
1 Mark Deeks 8 824
2 Graeme Cole 8 813
3 Paul Keane 8 744
4 Carl Williams 8 708
5 Jayne Wisniewski 8 705
6 Dave Taylor 8 691
7 Nikki Roberts 7 655
8 David Butcher 7 620
Since Series 60, players are sorted by number of wins, then by number of points. Points from both wins and losses count. Points from sudden death conundrums are not counted, and players with the same number of wins and points are sorted by the number of conundrums correctly guessed, then highest individual score.

Finals progress

Mark Deeks (1) vs David Butcher (8) Mark Deeks (1) vs Carl Williams (4) Carl Williams (4)
vs
Graeme Cole (2)
Jayne Wisniewski (5) vs Carl Williams (4)
Paul Keane (3) vs Dave Taylor (6) Paul Keane (3) vs Graeme Cole (2)
Nikki Roberts (7) vs Graeme Cole (2)
The winner of each game is displayed in bold.

Series finals

Quarter-finals

Number one seed Mark Deeks set the standard for the rest of the finalists to live up to in the first quarter-final, as he trounced David Butcher 116 – 21; one of the most one-sided finals matches in the show's history, and at the time, the lowest score by a finalist since the introduction of the 15 round format until Jan Pask scored 19 against Zarte Siempre in Series 78. Deeks demonstrated his word prowess with offerings such as PICADORS, MESTIZO, PESEWA and the nine GARDENIAS. Graeme Cole recovered from an early deficit against Nikki Roberts after having bongoes ☓ disallowed to win comfortably, thanks partly to the nine DRAGLINES. The match between Paul Keane and Dave Taylor was fairly competitive until Paul spotted MODERNISE in round 12 to effectively seal the game. Only three points separated Carl Williams and Jayne Wisniewski in eight heat games but Williams was the convincing winner in the fourth quarter-final, meaning that the top four seeds advanced to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals

Deeks could not replicate the dazzling form from his quarter-final and Williams showed from the start that he was no pushover. Deeks took the lead with VEHICLE but Williams quickly hit back with SMELTED. Two more winners for Williams in part two left the top seed in deep trouble, but he reduced the deficit to within ten thanks to the second numbers game. They could not be separated any further in the following four rounds, so Williams led going into the crucial conundrum. He eventually found the answer from BLACRHINO to complete one of the most unlikely finals victories of recent times. The second semi-final also threatened to produce an upset after Cole's first round offering of telogens ☓ was disallowed. Keane held on to his lead throughout part one but eventually, Cole's superiority shone through. Words such as EXHAUST and OCCULTED, as well as a fine second numbers solve helped him book his place in the final with a 96 – 71 victory.

Final

The grand final was Jeff Stelling's last episode as host and both finalists contributed to an all-time classic. Williams threatened to pull off another shock as he broke the deadlock in round 6 with ERECTION. Cole halved the deficit after Williams' buda ☓ was rejected and he took the lead thanks to ELUSION in round 11. Cole's traditional choice of six small in the penultimate round produced an impossible target, but he managed to reach the best possible solution, giving himself a precarious ten-point lead before the conundrum. A total of 26 seconds elapsed before Williams dramatically unravelled TIMEUPLAD into AMPLITUDE, meaning that a tiebreak conundrum was needed for a final for the first time since Series 53. Ultimately, Cole was victorious as he turned VAANGELIS into GALVANISE and he became the last champion of Stelling's tenure.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Guest Lex Max
5279 6/06/2011 P Liam Herringshaw 92 - 45 David Brown Shobna Gulati Susie Dent 114
5280 7/06/2011 P Liam Herringshaw 93 - 112 Graeme Cole Shobna Gulati Susie Dent 132
5281 8/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 105 - 49 Steven Hatton Shobna Gulati Susie Dent 126
5282 9/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 99 - 57 Aidan Turnbull Shobna Gulati Susie Dent 119
5283 10/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 92 - 57 James Hall Shobna Gulati Susie Dent 116
5284 13/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 94 - 75 Graham Moonie-Dalton Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 124
5285 14/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 125 - 19 Mike Linnell Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 129
5286 15/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 91 - 41 Justin Maelzer Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 118
5287 16/06/2011 P Graeme Cole 95 - 59 Gary Hendricks Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 116
5288 17/06/2011 P Matt Croy 86 - 50 Barrie Crawford Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 117
5289 20/06/2011 P Matt Croy 96 - 45 Pete Snowdon Tim Vine Susie Dent 119
5290 21/06/2011 P Matt Croy 100 - 53 Mark Worsfold Tim Vine Susie Dent 119
5291 22/06/2011 P Matt Croy 95 - 86 Chris Hemingway Tim Vine Susie Dent 129
5292 23/06/2011 P Matt Croy 71 - 45 Kevan Nijjar Tim Vine Susie Dent 118
5293 24/06/2011 P Matt Croy 90 - 91 Andrew Halliburton Tim Vine Susie Dent 114
5294 27/06/2011 P Andrew Halliburton 90 - 77 James Wilson Michael Vaughan Susie Dent 116
5295 28/06/2011 P Andrew Halliburton 95 - 70 Magnus Mackereth Michael Vaughan Susie Dent 129
5296 29/06/2011 P Andrew Halliburton 100 - 92 Barry Evans Michael Vaughan Susie Dent 132
5297 30/06/2011 P Andrew Halliburton 70 - 73 Gareth Lee Michael Vaughan Susie Dent 135
5298 1/07/2011 P Gareth Lee 84 - 56 Christopher Moriarty Michael Vaughan Susie Dent 149
5299 4/07/2011 P Gareth Lee 85 - 47 Declan Hayes Robin Cousins Susie Dent 130
5300 5/07/2011 P Gareth Lee 68 - 88 John Symonds Robin Cousins Susie Dent 118
5301 6/07/2011 P John Symonds 66 - 43 Simon Garratt Robin Cousins Susie Dent 129
5302 7/07/2011 P John Symonds 78 - 85 Jon Elmer Robin Cousins Susie Dent 118
5303 8/07/2011 P Jon Elmer 89 - 57 Greg Scott Robin Cousins Susie Dent 113
5304 11/07/2011 P Jon Elmer 86 - 46 Jonathan Harrison John Stapleton Susie Dent 121
5305 12/07/2011 P Jon Elmer 89 - 94 Mark Deeks John Stapleton Susie Dent 124
5306 13/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 114 - 73 John Maguire John Stapleton Susie Dent 120
5307 14/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 104 - 58 Joe Zender John Stapleton Susie Dent 119
5308 15/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 86 - 75 Taymar Pitman John Stapleton Susie Dent 128
5309 18/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 102 - 51 Sarah Axcell Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 117
5310 19/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 96 - 43 Linda Muchmore Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 121
5311 20/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 102 - 54 Shelley Worrall Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 137
5312 21/07/2011 P Mark Deeks 126 - 44 Lesley Lewis Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 132
5313 22/07/2011 P Peter Staniland 76 - 64 Shireen Ahmed Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 118
5314 22/08/2011 P Peter Staniland 85 - 71 Andrea Wickham William Roache Susie Dent 120
5315 23/08/2011 P Peter Staniland 60 - 112 Dave Taylor William Roache Susie Dent 141
5316 24/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 81 - 74 Pat Bourne William Roache Susie Dent 140
5317 25/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 61 - 51 Leo Croker William Roache Susie Dent 138
5318 26/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 81 - 65 Tony Wilkins William Roache Susie Dent 123
5319 29/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 78 - 73 Andy Wilson John Inverdale Susie Dent 130
5320 30/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 104 - 53 Jill Kohn John Inverdale Susie Dent 140
5321 31/08/2011 P Dave Taylor 99 - 85 Cillian McMulkin John Inverdale Susie Dent 143
5322 1/09/2011 P Dave Taylor 75 - 66 Richard White John Inverdale Susie Dent 129
5323 2/09/2011 P Martin Steel 89 - 90 Russell Tompkins John Inverdale Susie Dent 130
5324 5/09/2011 P Russell Tompkins 94 - 64 Jaya Bhamidipati Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 129
5325 6/09/2011 P Russell Tompkins 79 - 96 Carl Williams Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 115
5326 7/09/2011 P Carl Williams 72 - 63 Jeff Probst Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 121
5327 8/09/2011 P Carl Williams 116 - 43 Beth Tafat Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 139
5328 9/09/2011 P Carl Williams 84 - 57 Stefan Clarke Gloria Hunniford Susie Dent 132
5329 12/09/2011 P Carl Williams 62 - 59 Campbell Ure Paul Zenon Susie Dent 115
5330 13/09/2011 P Carl Williams 96 - 54 Janet Beavis Paul Zenon Susie Dent 140
5331 14/09/2011 P Carl Williams 94 - 45 Peter Austin Paul Zenon Susie Dent 130
5332 15/09/2011 P Carl Williams 88 - 85 Jayshree Patel Paul Zenon Susie Dent 116
5333 16/09/2011 P Peter Metcalfe 94 - 33 Nick Theobald Paul Zenon Susie Dent 139
5334 19/09/2011 P Peter Metcalfe 65 - 63 Julie Harrington Dave Spikey Susie Dent 140
5335 20/09/2011 P Peter Metcalfe 63 - 96 Andy Royce Dave Spikey Susie Dent 142
5336 21/09/2011 P Andy Royce 74 - 42 Daniel Kirby-James Dave Spikey Susie Dent 122
5337 22/09/2011 P Andy Royce 62 - 56 Jacqui Rowley Dave Spikey Susie Dent 120
5338 23/09/2011 P Andy Royce 69 - 88 Jayne Wisniewski Dave Spikey Susie Dent 141
5339 26/09/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 97 - 66 Craig Anderson Kate Humble Susie Dent 133
5340 27/09/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 102 - 76 Ophelie Humphrey Kate Humble Susie Dent 120
5341 28/09/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 72 - 65 Sydney Martin Kate Humble Susie Dent 116
5342 29/09/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 72 - 64 Brian Poole Kate Humble Susie Dent 120
5343 30/09/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 81 - 79 Suzanne Osen Kate Humble Susie Dent 118
5344 3/10/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 96 - 56 Kate Bronsdon Anneka Rice Susie Dent 142
5345 4/10/2011 P Jayne Wisniewski 97 - 48 Anne Underwood Anneka Rice Susie Dent 114
5346 5/10/2011 P Chris Moore 52 - 66 Wayne Chadwick Anneka Rice Susie Dent 138
5347 6/10/2011 P Wayne Chadwick 67 - 79 Nikki Roberts Anneka Rice Susie Dent 119
5348 7/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 83 - 49 June McGregor Anneka Rice Susie Dent 132
5349 10/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 75 - 68 Rob Smith Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 117
5350 11/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 100 - 44 Jackie Kennedy Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 118
5351 12/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 74 - 67 Jonathon Kay Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 118
5352 13/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 104 - 61 Harry Santiuste Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 132
5353 14/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 83 - 68 Jack Gregson Dr Phil Hammond Susie Dent 127
5354 17/10/2011 P Nikki Roberts 57 - 95 Anne Haley Les Dennis Susie Dent 142
5355 18/10/2011 P Anne Haley 90 - 91 Tom Brooks Les Dennis Susie Dent 129
5356 19/10/2011 P Tom Brooks 55 - 75 Beryl Upshall Les Dennis Susie Dent 122
5357 20/10/2011 P Beryl Upshall 82 - 73 Daniel Holmes Les Dennis Susie Dent 115
5358 21/10/2011 P Beryl Upshall 56 - 63 Sam Weissman Les Dennis Susie Dent 116
5359 24/10/2011 P Sam Weissman 71 - 67 Nabil Shah Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 132
5360 25/10/2011 P Sam Weissman 74 - 80 David Butcher Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 117
5361 26/10/2011 P David Butcher 82 - 63 Robert Linfoot Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 144
5362 27/10/2011 P David Butcher 82 - 79 Mauro Pratesi Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 122
5363 28/10/2011 P David Butcher 87 - 56 Kyle McGrory Cheryl Baker Susie Dent 130
5364 31/10/2011 P David Butcher 60 - 50 Dawn Turner Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 129
5365 1/11/2011 P David Butcher 82 - 57 John Cammies Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 132
5366 2/11/2011 P David Butcher 81 - 49 Chris Allen Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 141
5367 3/11/2011 P David Butcher 66 - 72 Clive Barham Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 116
5368 4/11/2011 P Clive Barham 98 - 62 Barry Morris Mark Durden-Smith Susie Dent 120
5369 7/11/2011 P Clive Barham 74 - 69 Adam Morgan Ken Bruce Susie Dent 122
5370 8/11/2011 P Clive Barham 86 - 42 Mark Peden Ken Bruce Susie Dent 131
5371 9/11/2011 P Clive Barham 78 - 92 Julie Davis Ken Bruce Susie Dent 141
5372 10/11/2011 P Julie Davis 57 - 90 Paul Keane Ken Bruce Susie Dent 127
5373 11/11/2011 P Paul Keane 102 - 70 Siobhan O'Shea Ken Bruce Susie Dent 128
5374 14/11/2011 P Paul Keane 84 - 66 Jack Presswell John Parrott Susie Dent 119
5375 15/11/2011 P Paul Keane 73 - 36 Claire Aizlewood John Parrott Susie Dent 116
5376 16/11/2011 P Paul Keane 86 - 40 Richard Noble John Parrott Susie Dent 119
5377 17/11/2011 P Paul Keane 103 - 31 Nigel Fox John Parrott Susie Dent 118
5378 18/11/2011 P Paul Keane 102 - 53 Jane Wrightson John Parrott Susie Dent 140
5379 21/11/2011 P Paul Keane 104 - 73 Clare Nitman Tim Vine Susie Dent 129
5380 22/11/2011 P Alex Morton 82 - 57 Jamie Wainwright Tim Vine Susie Dent 119
5381 23/11/2011 P Alex Morton 89 - 65 Julie Healey Tim Vine Susie Dent 141
5382 24/11/2011 P Alex Morton 59 - 77 Dudley Lidiard Tim Vine Susie Dent 119
5383 25/11/2011 P Dudley Lidiard 75 - 93 Kirsten Thompson Tim Vine Susie Dent 119
5384 28/11/2011 P Kirsten Thompson 81 - 31 Matt Rose Robin Cousins Susie Dent 120
5385 29/11/2011 P Kirsten Thompson 75 - 76 Phyllis Styles Robin Cousins Susie Dent 120
5386 30/11/2011 P Phyllis Styles 61 - 47 Mark Robinson Robin Cousins Susie Dent 119
5387 1/12/2011 P Phyllis Styles 95 - 71 James Siddall Robin Cousins Susie Dent 130
5388 2/12/2011 P Phyllis Styles 109 - 71 Rachel Shirley Robin Cousins Susie Dent 117
5389 5/12/2011 P Phyllis Styles 102 - 60 Christina King David Lloyd Susie Dent 117
5390 6/12/2011 P Phyllis Styles 94 - 91 Syed Bukhari David Lloyd Susie Dent 130
5391 7/12/2011 P Phyllis Styles 39 - 103 Jack Worsley David Lloyd Susie Dent 122
5392 8/12/2011 QF David Butcher 21 - 116 Mark Deeks David Lloyd Susie Dent 126
5393 9/12/2011 QF Nikki Roberts 61 - 113 Graeme Cole David Lloyd Susie Dent 129
5394 12/12/2011 QF Paul Keane 96 - 78 Dave Taylor Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 132
5395 13/12/2011 QF Jayne Wisniewski 64 - 98 Carl Williams Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 132
5396 14/12/2011 SF Carl Williams 95 - 81 Mark Deeks Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 119
5397 15/12/2011 SF Graeme Cole 96 - 71 Paul Keane Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 119
5398 16/12/2011 GF Carl Williams 95 - 105* Graeme Cole Jon Culshaw Susie Dent 125
* includes 10 points from a tie-break conundrum

External Links

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