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[[Image:Mark Tournoff.jpg|right|130px]]
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[[Image:Chris Philpot cue-card.jpg|130px|right]]
'''[[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 series 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 certain to go to 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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'''[[Chris Philpot]]''' (born September 1989) was a contestant in [[Series 51]]. Aged fourteen at the time of his appearance, Philpot competed against [[Ariane Sherine]], now notable for her work as a Guardian columnist and creator of the Atheist Bus Campaign. [[Episode 3636|The game]] was initially close with Sherine holding a slight lead. Spotting {{word|COLLATE}} in round seven gave Philpot a three point advantage going into the [[Countdown#Evolution|third half]], but the words {{word|PUMICE}} and {{word|RELISTED}} allowed Sherine to regain her lead and she saw out the game in style, with Philpot only scoring six further points in the contest.
  
The twelfth Championship of Champions saw Tournoff make a relaxed start, easing past [[Steve Graston]], but his quarter final against [[Matthew Shore]] was arguably the closest game 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 create a [[rematch]] against Paul Gallen who gained his revenge, winning the tournament on another crucial conundrum and narrowly missing out on a perfect game.
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Philpot made a mildly notable use of his short Countdown career by becoming the first - and thus far only - contestant to read out his own cue card. A typographical error on the card lead to [[Richard Whiteley]] mispronouncing the name of Philpot's secondary school. When Philpot pointed out the error, Whiteley replied, "you read it out!" Philpot also accumulated minor acknowledgement for an uncomfortable moment after declaring {{word|PUBIC}} in round 11. Furthermore, at the end of the programme following his defeat Philpot told Whiteley that he had particularly wanted a Countdown [[teapot]]. Sherine, who doesn't drink tea, altruistically gave him her teapot after her final game.
  
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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In 2009, the now nineteen-year-old Philpot challenged Sherine to a rematch on his student radio programme. The game was played over just one [[letters round]], one [[numbers round]] and a [[conundrum]]. Special radio-themed conundrums were provided by members of [[c4countdown]]. In the game itself, both contestants spotted {{word|SPAYING}} in the letters round and, after a relatively easy numbers round, it was once again Sherine who prevailed, unravelling [[Damian Eadie]]'s conundrum {{word|HEARRADIO}} after 13 seconds to win by 27 points to 17.

Revision as of 07:47, 1 December 2009

Chris Philpot cue-card.jpg

Chris Philpot (born September 1989) was a contestant in Series 51. Aged fourteen at the time of his appearance, Philpot competed against Ariane Sherine, now notable for her work as a Guardian columnist and creator of the Atheist Bus Campaign. The game was initially close with Sherine holding a slight lead. Spotting COLLATE in round seven gave Philpot a three point advantage going into the third half, but the words PUMICE and RELISTED allowed Sherine to regain her lead and she saw out the game in style, with Philpot only scoring six further points in the contest.

Philpot made a mildly notable use of his short Countdown career by becoming the first - and thus far only - contestant to read out his own cue card. A typographical error on the card lead to Richard Whiteley mispronouncing the name of Philpot's secondary school. When Philpot pointed out the error, Whiteley replied, "you read it out!" Philpot also accumulated minor acknowledgement for an uncomfortable moment after declaring PUBIC in round 11. Furthermore, at the end of the programme following his defeat Philpot told Whiteley that he had particularly wanted a Countdown teapot. Sherine, who doesn't drink tea, altruistically gave him her teapot after her final game.

In 2009, the now nineteen-year-old Philpot challenged Sherine to a rematch on his student radio programme. The game was played over just one letters round, one numbers round and a conundrum. Special radio-themed conundrums were provided by members of c4countdown. In the game itself, both contestants spotted SPAYING in the letters round and, after a relatively easy numbers round, it was once again Sherine who prevailed, unravelling Damian Eadie's conundrum HEARRADIO after 13 seconds to win by 27 points to 17.