Due to persistent vandalism, account creation has been suspended. If you would like an account, please contact Charlie Reams on Apterous.
CoLei2
CoLei2, held in 2009, was the second time that Countdown in Leicester was organized. It took place on Saturday 10th October at The Stoneycroft Hotel in Leicester, and was hosted by Jeff Clayton. It was won by Jon O'Neill, who beat Kirk Bevan in the final 100 – 97.
22 people entered this time, compared to 9 in 2008.
The tournament started with a qualifying round of 14 rounds (the same as the old finals format), in which every contestant played independently. The rounds for this were preselected by Jeff. This game decided the seeds. However, the actual pairings were picked randomly. The first game was a 15 rounds, and the next 2 games were 9 rounds (due to time constraints). The final game was between consecutive seeds (1st plays 2nd, 3rd plays 4th etc.) and was played for final position; every game apart from the 'final' between Jon and Kirk was played with 9 rounds. After this the final was played as an exhibition match with 15 rounds.
Final results
Rank | Name | Wins | Points |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Jon O'Neill | 4 | 334 |
2 | Kirk Bevins | 3 | 326 |
3 | Dinos Sfyris | 4 | |
4 | Ben Wilson | 3 | |
5 | Jack Hurst | 3 | 289 |
6 | Charlie Reams | 3 | |
7 | Kai Laddiman | ||
8 | Mike Brown | ||
9 | Mark Tournoff | ||
10 | Simon Myers | ||
11 | Julie Taylor | 2 | 235 |
12 | Darren Carter | ||
13 | Karen Pearson | ||
14 | Richard Priest | ||
15 | Steve Wood* | ||
16 | Matt Bayfield | ||
17 | Josh Hurst | ||
18 | Anna Woodward | ||
19 | Alec Rivers | ||
20 | Paul Atkinson | ||
21 | Gerry Atkinson | ||
22 | Tony Graham |
- This is not the same Steve Wood who was reigning Countdown champion at the exact time of this tournament.
Games
Practice rounds
R.1: K T N I E D O C M R.2: 100, 6, 8, 5, 7, 9. Target: 265 R.3: R I V V I G U N S (conundrum)
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Round 1: K T N I E D O C M
MINTED (6), DEMONIC (7)
Max 7.
Round 2: 100, 6, 8, 5, 7, 9. Target: 265
8x7=56
9-6=3
56-3=53
53x5=265
(10)
Max 17.
Round 3: R I V V I G U N S (conundrum)
SURVIVING
(10)
Max 27.
So, as Henry Kelly always said, here's the first round proper...
Qualifier
R.1: L T E U S M A U A R.2: G R A E X N E B D R.3: 3, 2, 8, 1, 8, 7. Target: 621 R.4: U O O A I R L R D R.5: R P A I R E E T T R.6: 8, 5, 10, 75, 6, 1. Target: 862 R.7: S A I L O R B O U (conundrum)
R.8: T Q I E A L S U Y R.9: A I H K B T O T D R.10: 8, 75, 3, 7, 4, 1. Target: 992 R.11: U R V I L E L O R R.12: R A R E B O P Z I R.13: 4, 5, 2, 100, 10, 25. Target: 942 R.14: L A V A D U T E E (conundrum).
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Round 1: L T E U S M A U A
SALUTE (6), MALTASE (7), UMLAUTS (7)
Max 7.
Round 2: G R A E X N E B D
BANGER (6), ANGERED (7)
Max 14.
Round 3: 3, 2, 8, 1, 8, 7. Target: 621
7+2=9
9x8=72
72-3=69
8+1=9
69x9=621.
(10)
Max 24.
Round 4: U O O A I R L R D
ALOUD (5), ARDOUR (6), DOLOUR (6)
Max 30.
Round 5: R P A I R E E T T
PETTIER (7), PRETTIER (8)
Max 38.
Round 6: 8, 5, 10, 75, 6, 1. Target: 862
75+6+5+1=87
87x10=870
870-8=862
(10)
Max 48.
Round 7: S A I L O R B O U (conundrum)
LABORIOUS
(10)
Max 58.
Round 8: T Q I E A L S U Y
SQUEAL (6), QUALITY (7), EQUALITY (8), QUEASILY (8)
Max 66.
Round 9: A I H K B T O T D
BOAT (4), DITTO (5), DIKTAT (6)
Max 72.
Round 10: 8, 75, 3, 7, 4, 1. Target: 992
4+3=7
7x7=49
49+75=124
124x8=992
(10)
Max 82.
Round 11: U R V I L E L O R VELOUR (6), ROUILLE (7) Max 89.
Round 12: R A R E B O P Z I
BIZARRE (7), BRAZIER (7)
Max 96.
Round 13: 4, 5, 2, 100, 10, 25. Target: 942
100x10=1000
25+4=29
29x2=58
100-58=942
(10)
Max 106.
Round 14: L A V A D U T E E (conundrum)
EVALUATED
(10)
Max 116.
______________
Qualifier results
Seed / Name / L / N / C / Points
1 Charlie Reams 55 34 20 109
2 Kirk Bevins 54 34 20 108
3 Jon O'Neill 51 37 20 108
4 Matt Bayfield 50 37 20 107
5 Mark Tournoff 46 40 20 106
6 Mike Brown 53 29 20 102
7 Kai Laddiman 51 30 20 101
8 Jack Hurst 47 40 10 97
9 Dinos Sfyris 46 31 20 97
10 Ben Wilson 48 27 20 95
11 Richard Priest 53 21 20 94
12 Steve Wood 49 24 20 93
13 Alec Rivers 46 27 20 93
14 Karen Pearson 52 20 20 92
15 Anna Woodward 38 25 20 83
16 Julie Taylor 50 22 10 82
17 Simon Myers 50 12 20 82
18 Darren Carter 44 27 10 81
19 Josh Hurst 43 27 10 80
20 Gerry Atkinson 42 7 0 49
21 Tony Graham 37 7 0 44
22 Paul Atkinson 32 0 10 42
I deliberately set the qualifier rounds without a niner, and with good selections of sevens and eights - some less obvious than others - along with some numbers that would show contestants' skills, and it produced a high standard of results. Charlie notched up an impressive 93.97% of the available maximum with Kirk and Jon just a smidgeon behind; the top five scored in excess of 90% of the available maximum; thirteen players achieved upwards of 80%.
______________
Game 1
R.1: D H H Q O E A F X R.2: R L C A D E A L A R.3: D P S E E O H V A R.4: B R I X A P E Q P R.5: 50, 75, 3, 4, 9, 6. Target: 190
R.6: M L R L O I I U U R.7: N E C O G E P S C R.8: R S D E U U E S T R.9: N T G A E E G M E R.10: 2, 6, 8, 1, 5, 25. Target: 869
R.11: L I L N U G E F M R.12: I U I N S S M A S R.13: N E F A D E S K R R.14: 8, 7, 9, 10, 2, 1. Target: 528 R.15: N O T S A L I V A (conundrum).
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Game 1 results
Round 1: D H H Q O E A F X FAXED (5), HOAXED (6) Max 6.
Round 2: R L C A D E A L A
RACED (5), CALLED (6), CALDERA (7)
Max 13.
Round 3: D P S E E O H V A
PHASED (6), SHAVED (6), SHEAVED (7)
Max 20.
Round 4: B R I X A P E Q P
BEAR (4), PAPER (5)
Max 25.
Round 5: 50, 75, 3, 4, 9, 6. Target: 190
50x4=200
75/3=25
25-9-6=10
200-10=190
(10)
Max 35.
Round 6: M L R L O I I U U
MILL (4), ILIUM (5)
Max 40.
Round 7: N E C O G E P S C
SPONGE (6), CONGEES (7), PONGEES (7)
Max 47.
Round 8: R S D E U U E S T
RUDEST (6), DUSTERS (7), UTERUSES (8)
Max 55.
Round 9: N T G A E E G M E
GAMETE (6), MAGNET (6), TEENAGE (7)
Max 62.
Round 10: 2, 6, 8, 1, 5, 25. Target: 869
8-1=7
7x5=35
35x25=875
875-6=869
(10)
Max 72.
Round 11: L I L N U G E F M
FELLING (7), FUELLING (8)
Max 80.
Round 12: I U I N S S M A S
MAINS (5), ANIMUS (6), SIMIANS (7)
Max 87.
Round 13: N E F A D E S K R
FRANKED (7), KNEADERS (8)
Max 95.
Round 14: 8, 7, 9, 10, 2, 1. Target: 528
7-1=6
6x9=54
54-2=52
52x10=520
520+8=528
(10)
Max 105.
Round 15: N O T S A L I V A (conundrum)
SALVATION.
(10)
Max 115.
______________
Game 2
R.1: D L R I E I B O O R.2: A U E S S M T E R R.3: C I R E R I A B C R.4: 10, 1, 8, 3, 50, 6. Target: 580
R.5: P J S I U A B R N R.6: S P R I U E L E A R.7: E O E M N M D A O R.8: 4, 75, 5, 2, 6, 2. Target: 507
R.9: A M P L E D A S H (conundrum)
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Game 2 results
Round 1: D L R I E I B O O BOLDER (6), BLOODIER (8) Max 8.
Round 2: A U E S S M T E R
MASTER (6), MASSEUR (7), MEASURES (8)
Max 16.
Round 3: C I R E R I A B C
CARER (5), ACERBIC (7)
Max 23.
Round 4: 10, 1, 8, 3, 50, 6. Target: 580
50+8=58
58x10=580
(10)
Max 33.
Round 5: P J S I A U B R N
BRAINS (6), JABIRUS (7)
Max 40.
Round 6: S P I R U E L E A
PAIRS (5), REPEALS (7), ESPALIER (8), PLEASURE (8)
Max 48.
Round 7: E O E M N M D A O
MODEM (5), DAEMON (6)
Max 54.
Round 8: 4, 75, 5, 2, 6, 2. Target: 507
75-2=73
5+2=7
73x7=511
511-4=507
(10)
Max 64.
Round 9: A M P L E D A S H (conundrum)
HEADLAMPS / LAMPSHADE
(10)
Max 74.
______________
Game 3
R.1: N D S A I N L A U R.2: N E L A G E R V E R.3: O O U R R V R E R R.4: 4, 1, 8, 5, 9, 100. Target: 404
R.5: C N M I A O S R N R.6: E E U S M R M H L R.7: D G T O Q U E I N R.8: 5, 25, 7, 75, 50, 100. Target: 544
R.9: L O N G T U L I P (conundrum)
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Game 3 results
Round 1: N D S A I N L A U DIALS (5), LANDAUS (7), SUNDIAL (7) Max 7.
Round 2: N E L A G E R V E
ENLARGE (7), LEVERAGE (8)
Max 15.
Round 3: O O U R R V R E R
ERROR (5), ROVER (5)
Max 20.
Round 4: 4, 1, 8, 5, 9, 100. Target: 404
100+1=101
101x4=404
(10)
Max 30.
Round 5: C N M I A O S R N
MOSAIC (6), CRIMSON (7)
Max 37.
Round 6: E E U S M R M H L
SUMMER (6), HUMMERS (7), SLUMMER (7)
Max 44.
Round 7: D G T O Q U E I N
TONGUE (6), QUOTING (7)
Max 51.
Round 8: 5, 25, 7, 75, 50, 100. Target: 544
50/25=2
75+2=77
77x7=539
539+5=544
(10) Max 61.
Round 9: L O N G T U L I P (conundrum)
POLLUTING
(10)
Max 71.
______________
Results after three games
Position / Name / Seed / W / L / F / A / +|- 1 Jon O'Neill 3 3 0 234 114 120 2 Kirk Bevins 2 3 0 229 143 86 3 Ben Wilson 10 3 0 219 125 94 4 Dinos Sfyris 9 3 0 216 125 91 5 Charlie Reams 1 3 0 210 164 46 6 Jack Hurst 8 2 1 224 172 52 7 Mike Brown 6 2 1 221 125 96 8 Kai Laddiman 7 2 1 210 169 41 9 Simon Myers 17 2 1 190 170 20 10 Mark Tournoff 5 2 1 189 186 3 11 Julie Taylor 16 1 2 180 190 -10 12 Darren Carter 18 1 2 179 136 43 13 Karen Pearson 14 1 2 178 181 -3 14 Richard Priest 11 1 2 174 174 0 15 Steve Wood 12 1 2 169 212 -43 16 Matt Bayfield 4 1 2 164 213 -49 17 Anna Woodward 15 1 2 163 174 -11 18 Josh Hurst 19 1 2 149 160 -11 19 Alec Rivers 13 0 3 132 237 -105 20 Paul Atkinson 22 0 3 86 211 -125 21 Gerry Atkinson 20 0 3 74 207 -133 22 Tony Graham 21 0 3 28 230 -202
Game 4 will therefore pair everyone off in a last nine-rounder to determine the ranks; Jon and Kirk will play their de-facto final as a 15-round exhibition game afterwards.
Game 4 (mainstream)
R.1: D A V I L O D O O R.2: N R S A O U B E R R.3: R S T T I E A I L R.4: 100, 75, 50, 25, 6, 1. Target: 822
R.5: T S E E T O D P A R.6: N A E L K M U I P R.7: H L T E E N I U C R.8: 2, 9, 9, 7, 6, 50. Target: 786
R.9: N U T P L I Q U E (conundrum)
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Game 4 results
Round 1: D A V I L O D O O VOID (4), OVOID (5), LADDOO (6) Max 6.
Round 2: N R S A O U B E R
BURNERS (7), SUBORNER (8)
Max 14.
Round 3: R S T T I E A I L
LATTER (6), STRIATE (7), LITERATI (8)
Max 22.
Round 4: 100, 75, 50, 25, 6, 1. Target: 822
100-1=99
99x50=4950
4950/6=825
75/25=3
825-3=822
(10)
Max 32.
EDIT: Is there a simpler method via 137x6? - JC.
Round 5: T S E E T O D P A
PATTED (6), SPOTTED (7), ADOPTEES (8)
Max 40.
Round 6: N A E L K M U I P
PANEL (5), IMPANEL (7), MANLIKE (7), UNALIKE (7)
Max 47.
Round 7: H L T E E N I U C
CENTILE (7), CUTLINE (7), LEUCINE (7), LEUCITE (7)
Max 54.
Round 8: 2, 9, 9, 7, 6, 50. Target: 786
9x9=81
81+50=131
131x6=786
(10)
Max 64.
Round 9: N U T P L I Q U E (conundrum)
QUINTUPLE
(10)
Max 74.
Game 4 (mainstream) results
3rd/4th: Ben Wilson [10] 41-60 Dinos Syfris [9] 5th/6th: Charlie Reams [1] 37-56 Jack Hurst [8] 7th/8th: Mike Brown [6] 34-53 Kai Laddiman [7] 9th/10th: Mark Tournoff [5] 46-42 Simon Myers [17] 11th/12th: Julie Taylor [16] 55-32 Darren Carter [18] 13th/14th: Karen Pearson [14] 46-36 Richard Priest [11] 15th/16th: Steve Wood [12] 39-35 Matt Bayfield [4] 17th/18th: Anna Woodward [15] 27-55 Josh Hurst [19] 19th/20th: Alec Rivers [13] 40-26 Paul Atkinson [22] 21st/22nd: Gerry Atkinson [20] 31-15 Tony Graham [21]
___________
Game 4 (exhibition - 1st/2nd)
C1: Champion Jon O'Neill (3 wins) C2: Champion Kirk Bevins (3 wins) DC: Charlie Reams and Simon Myers. OT: Other words or solutions.
Jon O'Neill graced our screens with his presence in April 2005 (series 53) and racked up a total of 804 from his octochamp run. He progressed to the semi-finals where he lost to John Mayhew by a single point. On the tournament circuit, Jon was the runner up at CoLin 2008 and is looking for his first CoLei victory today.
Kirk Bevins appeared on the show in March 2009 (series 60) and amassed a then record 925 points from his eight games in the heats - notably, scoring a maximum 126 from his third match against Ben Nicholas. Kirk has never won a Co- tournament and was the runner-up to Mark Tournoff at CoLei last year, so he is equally hungry for victory in our final today.
Ladies and gentlemen, Jon O'Neill and Kirk Bevins.
R01: R L N I E O K E G
R02: C R V E A E S U N
R03: N C H E O E N U L
R04: S N C E E E E E S
R05: 100, 50, 75, 25, 2, 8, . Target: 608.
R06: L R D A E E L E U
R07: P S N O E A I N S
R08: R L T E U I D N S
R09: S N S A E A V E Q
R10: 75, 8, 3, 9, 1, 2, . Target: 195.
R11: P X L S I A E L E
R12: B M R I U O Q D R
R13: D N J O E A I N P
R14: 8, 6, 9, 3, 5, 7, . Target: 402.
R15: I F F U D I N O S (conundrum)
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Round 1: R L N I E O K E G
C1: REEKING (7) C2: LEERING (7) OT: KEELING (7) KEROGEN (7) REELING (7) Score: 7–7 (max 7)
Round 2: C R V E A E S U N
C1: UNCREASE (8) C2: UNCREASE (8) Score: 15–15 (max 15)
Round 3: N C H E O E N U L
C1: LUNCHEON (8) C2: COHUNE (6) Score: 23–15 (max 23)
Round 4: S N C E E E E E S
C1: ESSENCE (7) C2: SCENES (6) DC: SENESCE (7) Score: 30–15 (max 30)
Round 5: 100, 50, 75, 25, 2, 8. Target: 608.
C1: 608. ((2x25/50)+75)x8 (10) C2: 608. (2x100x75/25)+8 (10) Score: 40–25 (max 40)
Round 6: L R D A E E L E U
C1: ALLURED (7) C2: ALLURED (7) OT: DUELLER (7) Score: 47–32 (max 47)
Round 7: P S N O E A I N S
C1: PENSIONS (8) C2: SAPONINS (8) Score: 55–40 (max 55)
Round 8: R L T E U I D N S
C1: INSULTED (8) C2: LUSTRINE (8) OT: DILUENTS (8) UNLISTED (8) DILUTERS (8) STUDLIER (8) INSULTER (8) INTRUDES (8) NURDIEST
(8) TENDRILS (8) TRUNDLES (8) UNDERLIT (8) Score: 63–48 (max 63)
Round 9: S N S A E A V E Q
C1: SEVENS (6) C2: SEVENS (6) OT: AVENSES (7) Score: 69–54 (max 70)
Round 10: 75, 8, 3, 9, 1, 2. Target: 195.
C1: 195. (3x2+9)x8+75 (10) C2: 195. (3+2+1+9)x8+75 (10) Score: 79–64 (max 80)
Round 11: P X L S I A E L E
C1: expells C2: ELLIPSE (7) Score: 79–71 (max 87)
Round 12: B M R I U O Q D R
C1: DUMBO (5) C2: QUIM (4) OT: MORBID (6) Score: 84–71 (max 93)
Round 13: D N J O E A I N P
C1: PINNED (6) C2: PANINO (6) DC: PINNAE (6) OT: ADJOIN (6) DINNAE (6) ENDIAN (6) ENJOIN (6) JOINED (6) OPINED (6) PONIED (6) PAINED (6)
PANNED (6) PENNIA (6) Score: 90–77 (max 99)
Round 14: 8, 6, 9, 3, 5, 7. Target: 402.
C1: 402. 9x8x5+6x7 (10) C2: 402. (8+7-6)x5x9-3 (10) Score: 100–87 (max 109)
Round 15: I F F U D I N O S
C2 buzzes on 1 second to say DIFFUSION which is correct. Score: 100–97 (max 119)
So not a crucial conundrum, but ten very well deserved points that bring the scores back oh-so-close. But we have a winner - and with a fine century, the champion of Countdown in Leicester 2009 is Mr. Jon O'Neill!