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Leo Smith

From Countdown
Leo Smith
Octochamp Statistics
Final positionSemi-finalist
Seeding3
Points total869
Conundrums solved6
Leo Smith in Series 82.

Leo Smith was an octochamp in Series 82 and a participant in Championship of Champions XVI. He was a Pest Controller from London.

Smith first appeared on 23 November 2020 against six-time winner and usually dominant player in the form of previous Series 61 contestant Martyn Simpson. Smith proved to be Simpson's toughest opponent, beating him in the first numbers round to take the lead. However, Simpson risked POLEWARD in round 7 to take the lead by one point, and later extended his lead in round 11 before Smith clawed back in round 12. Smith finally unseated Simpson on a crucial conundrum to win his first game. Smith continued a very solid run of performances, including spots of nine-letter words such as ORIENTALS and COLOURIZE, solving six conundrums and achieving seven centuries. Smith wrapped up with a total of 869 points to place third in the seed table.

Twelve days after completing his octochamp run, Smith began his finals campaign against number six-ranked Phil Hulme in the third quarter-final match. Both players exchanged the lead frequently while remaining within the crucial 10-point margin in a very tense fight. However, Smith's victory was eventually confirmed by the end of the final numbers round by nabbing seven points in a six-small gamble from Hulme. Smith then took on number 2 seed Sam Cappleman-Lynes in the second semi-final. Both players found REFASHION in the first letters round. Sam took a convincing lead, but Smith beat him in three letters rounds spotting PARBOIL, TWOCKED and DOPAMINE. However, it wasn't enough as Sam broke away and won the game with 124 points as Smith bowed out in his first defeat with 83 points, and finished with an overall score of 1,043 points in his series run.

Smith participated in Championship of Champions XVI in January 2023, playing against Florence Cappleman-Lynes, the wife of Sam, in the year's first game. Smith would ultimately be defeated 100 – 69 by Florence, although he did produce a strong beater with TOREADOR.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
7394 23/11/2020 P Martyn Simpson 95 – 104 Leo Smith Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Tim Rice Susie Dent 138
7395 24/11/2020 P Leo Smith 105 – 70 Jonnie Masterson Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Tim Rice Susie Dent 121
7396 25/11/2020 P Leo Smith 126 – 40 Steve Whatmore Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Samira Ahmed Susie Dent 146
7397 26/11/2020 P Leo Smith 114 – 81 Isabella Roper Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Samira Ahmed Susie Dent 134
7398 27/11/2020 P Leo Smith 107 – 51 Amaar Iqbal Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Samira Ahmed Susie Dent 154
7399 30/11/2020 P Leo Smith 102 – 61 Joe Timmins Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Samira Ahmed Susie Dent 124
7400 01/12/2020 P Leo Smith 115 – 83 Liam Coles Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Samira Ahmed Susie Dent 124
7401 02/12/2020 P Leo Smith 96 – 93 Nicola Newton Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Nina Wadia Susie Dent 125
7409 14/12/2020 QF Leo Smith 91 – 80 Phil Hulme Nick Hewer Rachel Riley John Inverdale Susie Dent 123
7412 17/12/2020 SF Sam Cappleman-Lynes 124 – 83 Leo Smith Nick Hewer Rachel Riley Levi Roots Susie Dent 157
7922 02/01/2023 CP Florence Cappleman-Lynes 100 – 69 Leo Smith Colin Murray Rachel Riley Richard Osman Susie Dent 125