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Difference between revisions of "FOCAL"

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'''FOCAL''' is the voluntary organisation responsible for organising the vast majority of unofficial [[Countdown tournament]]s 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.
 
'''FOCAL''' is the voluntary organisation responsible for organising the vast majority of unofficial [[Countdown tournament]]s 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. Events are open to all, regardless of experience, level of play or age, and can be set up anywhere and by anyone. Events typically lasts between 6 and 8 hours, followed by a trip to the pub.
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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]].
  
Rated events in 2016 are being hosted in Lincoln, Bristol, Leeds, King's Lynn, St Albans, Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Dublin, Huddersfield and Glasgow. All events are hosted on a Saturday, with the exception of two 'hangover' events, held on the Sundays in Lincoln and Glasgow as secondary events. Tournament entrance costs between £10 and £16, dependent on event.  
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Rated events in 2019 were hosted in Lincoln, Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, London, Cambridge, Halifax, Waterford, Milton Keynes, Dublin, Blackpool, Braintree and Wolverhampton. 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 69]] contestant and [[.co.mk]] organiser [[Zarte Siempre]] in mid-2015. The team is currently chaired by [[Series 70]] champion [[Mark Murray]], organiser of the 2015 and 2016 [[Countdown in Bristol]] tournaments.
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New events in 2019 were in Edinburgh, York, Halifax, Liverpool and Braintree, and more new events in 2020, which include Manchester, however due to the current COVID-19 pandemic it is unknown when the season will resume.
  
The FOCAL top 8 for 2016 were  [[Series 66]] champion [[Jack Worsley]], highest-scoring female octochamp and [[CoC XIV]] semi-finalist [[Jen Steadman]], [[Zarte Siempre]], [[Series 73]] semi-finalist [[Thomas Carey]], [[COHUD]] and [[CoStAl]] organiser [[James Robinson]], [[Countdown in Dublin 2016]] organiser [[Eddy Byrne]], [[Series 69]] champion and [[Countdown in Leeds 2016]] organiser [[Callum Todd]], and [[Series 68]] champion [[Giles Hutchings]]. Impressively, Worsley topped the standings despite having played a tournament less than the six players below him.
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The organisation was the brainchild of [[Series 78]] champion and [[Countdown in Milton Keynes|.co.mk]] organiser [[Zarte Siempre]] in mid-2015. The team is currently FOCAL chairman is [[Series 76]] semi-finalist [[Jeff Clayton]], organiser of several different tournaments. The previous chairmen were Siempre early 2016 and 2017. and [[Mark Murray]] late 2016.
  
Full current standings for the year, details about events, a FAQs section for newcomers, and pictures from previous tournaments can be found at the '''[http://http://focalcountdown.co.uk/ FOCAL website]''' .
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Full standings for the year, details about events, a FAQs section for newcomers, and pictures from previous tournaments can be found at the '''[http://focalcountdown.co.uk/ FOCAL website]''' with events list in the '''[http://focalcountdown.co.uk/upcomingevents calendar]'''.
 
 
 
 
 
 
==Events on the 2016 calendar==
 
*[[Countdown in Lincoln 2016]] and [[The Hangover]] on January 30th/31st
 
*[[Countdown in Bristol 2016]] on February 27th
 
*[[Countdown in Leeds 2016]] on April 30th
 
*[[Countdown in King's Lynn 2016]] on May 28th
 
*[[Countdown in St Albans 2016]] on July 2nd
 
*[[Countdown in Nottingham 2016]] on July 23rd
 
*[[Countdown in Milton Keynes 2016]] on August 20th
 
*[[Countdown in Dublin 2016]] on September 10th
 
*[[Countdown in Huddersfield 2016]] on October 8th
 
*[[Countdown in Glasgow 2016]] and CoGlasgowOnThen on November 12th/13th
 
*The FOCAL Finals/[[Countdown in Birmingham 2016]] on December 3rd
 
  
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==Winners==
 +
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
 +
!data-sort-type=number|Season
 +
!class="name" | Events
 +
!class="name  | Points leader
 +
!class="winner" | Winner
 +
!class="name" | Runner-up
 +
!Finals
 +
|-
 +
![[2016 FOCAL season|2016]]
 +
|12
 +
|[[Jack Worsley]]
 +
|[[Jack Worsley]]
 +
|[[Giles Hutchings]]
 +
|[[2016 FOCAL finals|Report]]
 +
|-
 +
![[2017 FOCAL season|2017]]
 +
|12
 +
|[[Stephen Read]]
 +
|[[Rob Foster]]
 +
|[[Jen Steadman]]
 +
|[[2017 FOCAL finals|Report]]
 +
|-
 +
![[2018 FOCAL season|2018]]
 +
|13
 +
|[[James Robinson]]
 +
|[[Jonathan Wynn]]
 +
|[[Tom Cappleman]]
 +
|[[2018 FOCAL finals|Report]]
 +
|-
 +
![[2019 FOCAL season|2019]]
 +
|14
 +
|[[Callum Todd]]
 +
|[[Callum Todd]]
 +
|[[Bradley Horrocks]]
 +
|[[2019 FOCAL finals|Report]]
 +
|-
 +
!''[[2020–21 FOCAL season|2020–21]]
 +
|''7''
 +
|''[[Jack Worsley]]''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|}
  
 
[[Category:Countdown tournaments|FOCAL]]
 
[[Category:Countdown tournaments|FOCAL]]
[[Category:FOCAL tournaments 2016| ]]
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[[Category:FOCAL tournaments 2016|*]]
 +
[[Category:FOCAL tournaments 2017|*]]
 +
[[Category:FOCAL tournaments 2018|*]]
 +
[[Category:FOCAL tournaments 2019|*]]
 +
[[Category:FOCAL tournaments 2020–21|*]]

Revision as of 01:38, 7 January 2021

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.

Rated events in 2019 were hosted in Lincoln, Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, London, Cambridge, Halifax, Waterford, Milton Keynes, Dublin, Blackpool, Braintree and Wolverhampton. All events are hosted on a Saturday, with the exception of the 'hangover' event, held on the Sunday in Lincoln as secondary events.

New events in 2019 were in Edinburgh, York, Halifax, Liverpool and Braintree, and more new events in 2020, which include Manchester, however due to the current COVID-19 pandemic it is unknown when the season will resume.

The organisation was the brainchild of Series 78 champion and .co.mk organiser Zarte Siempre in mid-2015. The team is currently FOCAL chairman is Series 76 semi-finalist Jeff Clayton, organiser of several different tournaments. The previous chairmen were Siempre early 2016 and 2017. and Mark Murray late 2016.

Full standings for the year, details about events, a FAQs section for newcomers, and pictures from previous tournaments can be found at the FOCAL website with events list in the calendar.

Winners

Season Events Points leader Winner Runner-up Finals
2016 12 Jack Worsley Jack Worsley Giles Hutchings Report
2017 12 Stephen Read Rob Foster Jen Steadman Report
2018 13 James Robinson Jonathan Wynn Tom Cappleman Report
2019 14 Callum Todd Callum Todd Bradley Horrocks Report
2020–21 7 Jack Worsley