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Difference between revisions of "Allan Saldanha"
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− | [[Image:Allan Saldanha2.jpg|thumb|right|Allan Saldanha]] | + | [[Image:Allan Saldanha2.jpg|thumb|right|Allan Saldanha during the Supreme Championship.]] |
[[Image:Allan Saldanha.jpg|thumb|right|Allan Saldanha at the 1993 UK [[Scrabble]] Championship.]] | [[Image:Allan Saldanha.jpg|thumb|right|Allan Saldanha at the 1993 UK [[Scrabble]] Championship.]] | ||
− | '''Allan Saldanha''' is one of | + | '''[[Allan Saldanha]]''' was the runner-up in [[Series 15]] and [[Series 33]], and is one of the most well-known ''[[Countdown]]'' [[contestant]]s of all time. Deemed a prodigy after first appearing as a nine-year-old boy, Saldanha holds the record for the contestant who has appeared on the episodes of ''Countdown''. Including his [[special game]]s and [[Countdown Masters]] matches, Saldanha has competed on 21 games of ''Countdown''. |
− | + | ==Appearances on the programme== | |
− | [[ | + | ===Heat games=== |
+ | Upon [[Episode 708|his début appearance]] in 1988, Saldanha was a schoolboy from London aged just nine years old. In his first game against [[Bridgette Lagden]], he quickly amassed a 19 point lead and ran out a comfortable winner, {{score|57|28}}. The six-letter word {{word|TOGGLE}} gave opponent [[Billy Wright]] an early lead in Saldanha's second heat game, but the schoolboy regained the advantage in the very next round and won by 61 points to 26. Saldanha's third heat game was similarly dominant; he scored in 8 out of 9 rounds and won {{score|57|26}}. He defeated [[Margaret Elliot]] by 65 points to 23, and won his fifth game against [[Antony Stafford]] with a total of 60 points – he had actually scored 66 but his offering of {{word|CLOAKS}} was erroneously not added to his cumulative total. In his next game, he played [[Katy Green]] and amassed 81 points out of a possible 84, including 18 for the [[niner]] {{word|BARITONES}}. [[Nick Wilkes]] forced Saldanha to his first [[crucial conundrum]] in his penultimate heat, but Saldanha unravelled {{word|GUNGIERHN}} in 2¾ seconds to take the match. A score of {{score|54|40}} against [[Danny Morris]] gave Saldanha an [[octochamp]] total of 490 points, and he qualified for the series finals as #1 seed. | ||
− | + | ===Series finals=== | |
+ | He briefly fell behind in his quarter-final against [[Paul Walker]] after his opponent spotted {{word|MOLEST}}. Saldanha regained the advantage with {{word|MOLARS}} in round 6 and {{word|GAITERS}} in round 7 and won {{score|50|37}}. In his semi-final versus [[Peter Pryer]], Saldanha gained an early lead with {{word|ANTIGEN}} but then had {{word|morales}} {{X}} and {{word|prones}} {{X}} disallowed in consecutive letters rounds. Pryer beat him to the conundrum {{word|LATINMANG}}, but overall he had been unable to capitalise on Saldanha's mistakes and it was the youngster who qualified for the series final against [[Dick Green]]. | ||
− | + | [[episode 757|The final]] proved to be one of the most controversial games in ''Countdown'' history. The six-letter word {{word|CONGAS}} gave Green the lead in round 2, before the eight-letter word {{word|STODGIER}} enabled Saldanha to take a slim lead in round 5. {{word|TIARA}} gave Green a slight advantage in round 8 which he retained until the penultimate letters game. Trailing by three points, Saldanha risked the word {{word|YOLKED}}, which was incorrectly disallowed by [[lexicographer]] [[Catherine Clarke]]. The game ended {{score|70|81}} to Green and, whilst Saldanha would still have lost the game had {{word|YOLKED}} it been allowed, it was felt that the wrongful dismissal of this word had had a psychological effect on the young man going into the conundrum behind rather than ahead of his opponent. Then-producer [[John Meade]] acknowledged the controversy and bought Saldanha a complete set of the Oxford English Dictionary, identical to the prize awarded to Green. | |
− | + | ===Special episodes=== | |
− | == | + | Saldanha returned to ''Countdown'' for two [[special episode]]s to celebrate the programme's longevity: he defeated fellow prodigy [[Tim Morrissey]] to celebrate the [[Episode 1003|'1000th' episode]], and beat [[Gareth Williams]] in the [[episode 1523|'1500th' episode]]. |
− | [[ | + | |
+ | ===Championship of Champions IV=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Saldanha played in [[Championship of Champions IV]] in January 1989, but was knocked out in the first round by [[Nita Marr]]. She had gained a 23 point advantage within the first three rounds, in part due to the nine-letter word {{word|ASPERSING}}, but Saldanha fought back to take the game to a crucial conundrum. Neither solved it within the 30 seconds and Marr won {{score|45|53}}. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===The Supreme Championship=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | In 1996, the then 18-year-old Saldanha made his final competitive appearance on ''Countdown'' in the [[Series 33|Supreme Championship]]. In the first round, he beat [[Michael Wareham]]. and equalled [[Steve Balment]]'s record [[9 round format|9 round]] score of 83 points in one game in the second round, crushing [[Darryl Francis]] {{score|83|24}} in a classic encounter. Further victories over [[David Trace]], [[Joyce Cansfield]] and [[Tim Morrissey]] brought Saldanha to the final against [[Harvey Freeman]]. In [[episode 1907|the final]], however, Freeman spotted a nine-letter word that Saldanha missed in the first round, taking a lead from which Saldanha was unable to recover. Saldanha was the only person to play six games in the Supreme Championship. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Saldanha would also make a cameo appearance before [[Richard Saldanha|his brother]]'s [[special game]] against [[Kate Ogilvie]], recorded in 2002. | ||
{{series runner-up|preceded_by=Joel Salkin|series=15|followed_by=Roger Wales}} | {{series runner-up|preceded_by=Joel Salkin|series=15|followed_by=Roger Wales}} | ||
+ | <br style="clear: right"/> | ||
{{series runner-up|preceded_by=Dennis Fearon|series=33|followed_by=Harshan Lamabadusuriya}} | {{series runner-up|preceded_by=Dennis Fearon|series=33|followed_by=Harshan Lamabadusuriya}} | ||
− | |||
==Episodes== | ==Episodes== | ||
{{episode table}} | {{episode table}} | ||
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{{ep | 1907 | 20/12/1996 | SGF |Allan Saldanha| 79 – 82 |[[Harvey Freeman]]|Nigel Rees|Catherine Clarke|127}} | {{ep | 1907 | 20/12/1996 | SGF |Allan Saldanha| 79 – 82 |[[Harvey Freeman]]|Nigel Rees|Catherine Clarke|127}} | ||
{{episode table end}} | {{episode table end}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==See also== | ||
+ | [[Richard Saldanha]], Allan's younger brother who reached the final of [[Series 39]]. | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saldanha, Allan}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Saldanha, Allan}} |
Revision as of 14:55, 5 March 2013
Allan Saldanha was the runner-up in Series 15 and Series 33, and is one of the most well-known Countdown contestants of all time. Deemed a prodigy after first appearing as a nine-year-old boy, Saldanha holds the record for the contestant who has appeared on the episodes of Countdown. Including his special games and Countdown Masters matches, Saldanha has competed on 21 games of Countdown.
Contents
Appearances on the programme
Heat games
Upon his début appearance in 1988, Saldanha was a schoolboy from London aged just nine years old. In his first game against Bridgette Lagden, he quickly amassed a 19 point lead and ran out a comfortable winner, 57 – 28. The six-letter word TOGGLE gave opponent Billy Wright an early lead in Saldanha's second heat game, but the schoolboy regained the advantage in the very next round and won by 61 points to 26. Saldanha's third heat game was similarly dominant; he scored in 8 out of 9 rounds and won 57 – 26. He defeated Margaret Elliot by 65 points to 23, and won his fifth game against Antony Stafford with a total of 60 points – he had actually scored 66 but his offering of CLOAKS was erroneously not added to his cumulative total. In his next game, he played Katy Green and amassed 81 points out of a possible 84, including 18 for the niner BARITONES. Nick Wilkes forced Saldanha to his first crucial conundrum in his penultimate heat, but Saldanha unravelled GUNGIERHN in 2¾ seconds to take the match. A score of 54 – 40 against Danny Morris gave Saldanha an octochamp total of 490 points, and he qualified for the series finals as #1 seed.
Series finals
He briefly fell behind in his quarter-final against Paul Walker after his opponent spotted MOLEST. Saldanha regained the advantage with MOLARS in round 6 and GAITERS in round 7 and won 50 – 37. In his semi-final versus Peter Pryer, Saldanha gained an early lead with ANTIGEN but then had morales ☓ and prones ☓ disallowed in consecutive letters rounds. Pryer beat him to the conundrum LATINMANG, but overall he had been unable to capitalise on Saldanha's mistakes and it was the youngster who qualified for the series final against Dick Green.
The final proved to be one of the most controversial games in Countdown history. The six-letter word CONGAS gave Green the lead in round 2, before the eight-letter word STODGIER enabled Saldanha to take a slim lead in round 5. TIARA gave Green a slight advantage in round 8 which he retained until the penultimate letters game. Trailing by three points, Saldanha risked the word YOLKED, which was incorrectly disallowed by lexicographer Catherine Clarke. The game ended 70 – 81 to Green and, whilst Saldanha would still have lost the game had YOLKED it been allowed, it was felt that the wrongful dismissal of this word had had a psychological effect on the young man going into the conundrum behind rather than ahead of his opponent. Then-producer John Meade acknowledged the controversy and bought Saldanha a complete set of the Oxford English Dictionary, identical to the prize awarded to Green.
Special episodes
Saldanha returned to Countdown for two special episodes to celebrate the programme's longevity: he defeated fellow prodigy Tim Morrissey to celebrate the '1000th' episode, and beat Gareth Williams in the '1500th' episode.
Championship of Champions IV
Saldanha played in Championship of Champions IV in January 1989, but was knocked out in the first round by Nita Marr. She had gained a 23 point advantage within the first three rounds, in part due to the nine-letter word ASPERSING, but Saldanha fought back to take the game to a crucial conundrum. Neither solved it within the 30 seconds and Marr won 45 – 53.
The Supreme Championship
In 1996, the then 18-year-old Saldanha made his final competitive appearance on Countdown in the Supreme Championship. In the first round, he beat Michael Wareham. and equalled Steve Balment's record 9 round score of 83 points in one game in the second round, crushing Darryl Francis 83 – 24 in a classic encounter. Further victories over David Trace, Joyce Cansfield and Tim Morrissey brought Saldanha to the final against Harvey Freeman. In the final, however, Freeman spotted a nine-letter word that Saldanha missed in the first round, taking a lead from which Saldanha was unable to recover. Saldanha was the only person to play six games in the Supreme Championship.
Saldanha would also make a cameo appearance before his brother's special game against Kate Ogilvie, recorded in 2002.
Preceded by Joel Salkin |
Series runner-up Series 15 |
Followed by Roger Wales |
Preceded by Dennis Fearon |
Series runner-up Series 33 |
Followed by Harshan Lamabadusuriya |
Episodes
# | Date | Type | Contestant 1 | Score | Contestant 2 | Presenters | Guest | Lex | Max | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
708 | 11/04/1988 | P | Allan Saldanha | 57 – 28 | Bridgette Lagden | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Clement Freud | Julia Swannell | 83 | |
709 | 12/04/1988 | P | Allan Saldanha | 61 – 26 | Billy Wright | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Clement Freud | Julia Swannell | 73 | |
710 | 13/04/1988 | P | Allan Saldanha | 57 – 26 | Alan Brooker | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Clement Freud | Julia Swannell | 73 | |
711 | 14/04/1988 | P | Allan Saldanha | 65 – 23 | Margaret Elliot | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Clement Freud | Julia Swannell | 74 | |
712 | 15/04/1988 | P | Allan Saldanha | 60 – 24 | Antony Stafford | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Clement Freud | Julia Swannell | 76 | |
713 | 18/04/1988 | P | Allan Saldanha | 81 – 15 | Katy Green | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Clement Freud | Julia Swannell | 84 | |
714 | 19/04/1988 | P | Allan Saldanha | 55 – 45 | Nick Wilkes | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Clement Freud | Julia Swannell | 69 | |
715 | 20/04/1988 | P | Allan Saldanha | 54 – 40 | Danny Morris | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Clement Freud | Julia Swannell | 73 | |
751 | 9/06/1988 | QF | Allan Saldanha | 50 – 37 | Paul Walker | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Gyles Brandreth | Julia Swannell | 74 | |
755 | 15/06/1988 | SF | Allan Saldanha | 42 – 38 | Peter Pryer | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Gyles Brandreth | Julia Swannell | 74 | |
757 | 17/06/1988 | GF | Allan Saldanha | 70 – 81 | Dick Green | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Karen Loughlin | Richard Stilgoe, Gyles Brandreth |
Catherine Clarke | 115 | |
815 | 4/01/1989 | CQF | Allan Saldanha | 45 – 53 | Nita Marr | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Lucy Summers | Tim Rice | Catherine Clarke | 84 | |
M37 | 11/12/89-15/12/89 | Masters 1 | Tim Morrissey | 83 – 100 | Allan Saldanha | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | N/A | Freda Thornton | 138 | ||
1003 | 2/07/1990 | S | Allan Saldanha | 94 – 93 | Tim Morrissey | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Gyles Brandreth, Richard Stilgoe |
Catherine Clarke | 121 | ||
1523 | 4/07/1994 | S | Gareth Williams | 62 – 99 | Allan Saldanha | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Denis Norden | Mark Nyman | 129 | ||
1884 | 19/11/1996 | eQF | Michael Wareham | 20 – 69 | Allan Saldanha | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Barry Cryer | Susie Dent | 75 | ||
1886 | 21/11/1996 | eSF | Darryl Francis | 24 – 83 | Allan Saldanha | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Tom O'Connor | Catherine Stokes | 85 | ||
1887 | 22/11/1996 | eF | David Trace | 34 – 45 | Allan Saldanha | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Tom O'Connor | Catherine Stokes | 70 | ||
1903 | 16/12/1996 | SQF | Joyce Cansfield | 50 – 67 | Allan Saldanha | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Nigel Rees | Catherine Clarke | 67 | ||
1906 | 19/12/1996 | SSF | Allan Saldanha | 61 – 57 | Tim Morrissey | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Nigel Rees | Catherine Clarke | 71 | ||
1907 | 20/12/1996 | SGF | Allan Saldanha | 79 – 82 | Harvey Freeman | Richard Whiteley | Carol Vorderman | Nigel Rees | Catherine Clarke | 127 |
See also
Richard Saldanha, Allan's younger brother who reached the final of Series 39.