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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 2024: Alex Call beat Chris Butterly with scores of 104 – 85. 2021: Jodine Lawrence beat Samuel Williams in a special "Black to Front" edition. 2020: Archana Desurkar beat Mike Sutton with a score of 91 – 89. 2019: Sarah Delap beat Joanna Colley with a score of 63 – 51. 2018: Dave Ashton beat Dan Martin with final score 84 – 49. 2014: Farhan Ahmed beat Aly Spencer in a 99 – 59 game. 2013: Jen Steadman beat Ross Lander, by a score of 119 – 82. 2010: Daniel Pati beat Stephen Crawford, scoring 97 – 60. 2009: Bob De Caux beat Christopher Harris in a game that ended 84 – 61. 2008: Mike Lambert beat Debbi Flack with scores of 107 – 75. 2007: Gay Black beat Peter Smith with a score of 83 – 78. 2004: Barbara Matthewman beat Christina Wood with final score 79 – 69. 2003: Debbie Haycock beat Peter Brinkley in a special episode. 2002: Priscilla Munday beat Michael Clarke, by a score of 89 – 86. 2001: Geraldine Hylands beat Mac McDonald, scoring 55 – 46. 1999: Angela Sheffield beat Bill Leslie in a 39 – 27 game. 1998: Neil Doherty beat Sandy Fergusson with scores of 47 – 37. 1997: Bhavin Manek beat Ann Mead with final score 59 – 17. 1996: Mark Tripp beat John Britten with a score of 60 – 24. 1993: Eugene McGoldrick beat Jane Atkins in a game that ended 61 – 21. 1992: Alan Payne beat Sandi Harja, by a score of 69 – 38. 1991: Tamsin Rawlins beat Jack Keane, scoring 37 – 30. 1990: Billy Ward beat Martin Jakes in a 43 – 35 game. 1990: Tony Vick played Stephen Deakin in the first leg of 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. Rhys Jones, the reigning series champion, and his series grand final against Tim James. 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 2025 is here. The next scheduled event is Countdown in Reading on 30 August. Almost all online tournaments are now held on Apterous: the list of ongoing tournaments is here.

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