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[[Image:Mark Tournoff.jpg|right|thumb|130px|Mark Tournoff on the old striped set.]]
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[[Image:Martin Gardner.jpg|right|130px]]
'''[[Mark Tournoff]]''' (born 1962) was the [[champion]] of [[Series 52]], and runner-up in [[Championship of Champions XII]]. He won eight heat games to become an [[octochamp]], with high scores of 117 and 111 and an average of just over 101 points, placing him in the [[800 club]]. Upon his return for the quarter finals Tournoff trounced [[John Gray]] 138 – 73, setting the second-highest ever score in the process. Victory in a close fought semi final against [[Jack Welsby]] saw Tournoff earn a grand final appearance against #1 seed [[Paul Gallen]]. The game looked like a certain victory for Gallen, who led for 14 rounds. However, misspelling {{word|miriad}} {{X}} in the final [[letters]] game let his adversary in for a crucial conundrum, which Tournoff solved after 27 seconds to come from behind and win the series.
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'''[[Martin Gardner]]''' was an [[octochamp]] and semi-finalist in [[Series 49]]. Before appearing as a contestant on the show, Gardner had a prominent presence in the online Countdown community; he organised Countdown Advance (the forerunner to [[Hypercountdown]] on the [[Gevincountdown]] web forum, served as a moderator on this website, and ran the now-defunct Countdown fan site [[Countdown Update UK]]. After finding the address to send off for an application form on [[Ben Wilson]]'s website, he applied for the televised show and was invited to an audition at the end of 2002.
  
The twelfth Championship of Champions saw Tournoff make a comfortable start, easing past [[Steve Graston]], but his quarter final against [[Matthew Shore]] was arguably one of the closest games in the history of the programme. Neither player ever led by more than ten points, and Tournoff solved the crucial conundrum {{word|SILLYQUOO}} to win the epic 124 – 117. This game set two records: the highest ever losing score of 117, and the highest aggregate score of 241. Tournoff won his semi final against [[Paul Howe]] to set up a [[rematch]] against Paul Gallen, who gained revenge by winning the tournament on yet another crucial conundrum, and narrowly missing out on a perfect game.
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Although he failed his audition, Gardner was invited to the studios as a replacement contestant after [[John Davies (Series 49)|John Davies]] became an [[octochamp]], leaving one seat vacated on [[Episode 3482|14 May 2003]]. In this opening game Gardner achieved his highest televised score of 107, with offerings including the eight-letter words {{word|ATOMISER}} and {{word|ACONITES}}; Martin found no nine-letter words during his appearances on the show. Seven more victories followed, including three further [[century|centuries]].
  
Tournoff remains an active member of the ''Countdown'' community. He has written a book about his experiences on the programme, titled ''[[Crucial - A Champion's Tale]]'', and he has taken part in several unofficial tournaments. ('''[[Mark Tournoff|more...]]''')
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Gardner returned to the series finals as #2 seed behind Davies, his forerunner in the heats. In his quarter-final, the eight letter word {{word|POTHEADS}} and conundrum {{word|SCOOPGREY}} helped Gardner to convincingly defeat [[Peter Jeffery]] by 101 points to 64. He faced [[David Wilson]] in the semi-final and went ahead after three rounds courtesy of the seven-letter word {{word|UPRATED}}. However, he was pegged back in the next round with {{word|MORGUES}}. Thereafter, David scored in every round apart from the conundrum and won the game 98-86. ('''[[Martin Gardner|more...]]''')
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<noinclude>[[Category:Templates|Featuredarticle]]</noinclude>

Latest revision as of 00:57, 28 May 2020

Martin Gardner.jpg

Martin Gardner was an octochamp and semi-finalist in Series 49. Before appearing as a contestant on the show, Gardner had a prominent presence in the online Countdown community; he organised Countdown Advance (the forerunner to Hypercountdown on the Gevincountdown web forum, served as a moderator on this website, and ran the now-defunct Countdown fan site Countdown Update UK. After finding the address to send off for an application form on Ben Wilson's website, he applied for the televised show and was invited to an audition at the end of 2002.

Although he failed his audition, Gardner was invited to the studios as a replacement contestant after John Davies became an octochamp, leaving one seat vacated on 14 May 2003. In this opening game Gardner achieved his highest televised score of 107, with offerings including the eight-letter words ATOMISER and ACONITES; Martin found no nine-letter words during his appearances on the show. Seven more victories followed, including three further centuries.

Gardner returned to the series finals as #2 seed behind Davies, his forerunner in the heats. In his quarter-final, the eight letter word POTHEADS and conundrum SCOOPGREY helped Gardner to convincingly defeat Peter Jeffery by 101 points to 64. He faced David Wilson in the semi-final and went ahead after three rounds courtesy of the seven-letter word UPRATED. However, he was pegged back in the next round with MORGUES. Thereafter, David scored in every round apart from the conundrum and won the game 98-86. (more...)