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Difference between revisions of "List of Countdown records"

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* The highest score set by a challenger was '''[[episode 4806|134]]''' by [[Hamish Williamson]]. The highest score for a debutant was '''[[episode 4609|124]]''', set by [[Jonathan Coles]]. Williamson had already appeared once before in [[Series 40]], so the matter of who holds the record for highest ''debut'' score is somewhat controversial.
 
* The highest score set by a challenger was '''[[episode 4806|134]]''' by [[Hamish Williamson]]. The highest score for a debutant was '''[[episode 4609|124]]''', set by [[Jonathan Coles]]. Williamson had already appeared once before in [[Series 40]], so the matter of who holds the record for highest ''debut'' score is somewhat controversial.
  
−
* The highest ever total score over their eight preliminary games was '''946''', set by [[Jack Hurst]]. The only other players to score over 900 are [[Andrew Hulme]] who scored 930, Kirk Bevins who scored 925 points, Julian Fell who scored 924, and [[Craig Beevers]] who amassed 907. The next highest total is 892 by [[Chris_Davies_(Series_61)|Chris Davies]]. Hurst, Hulme, Fell, [[Eoin Monaghan]] and Beevers are the only players to have scored eight [[century|centuries]] in their eight games; see [[century]] for more details.
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* The highest ever total score over their eight preliminary games was '''946''', set by [[Jack Hurst]]. The only other players to score over 900 are [[Andrew Hulme]] who scored 930, Kirk Bevins who scored 925 points, Julian Fell who scored 924, and [[Craig Beevers]] who amassed 907. The next highest total is 892 by [[Chris Davies (Series 61)|Chris Davies]]. Hurst, Hulme, Fell, [[Eoin Monaghan]] and Beevers are the only players to have scored eight [[century|centuries]] in their eight games; see [[century]] for more details.
  
 
* The highest ever total over 11 games, the maximum possible in one series, was 1307 by Julian Fell, including the aforementioned scores of 146 and 138.
 
* The highest ever total over 11 games, the maximum possible in one series, was 1307 by Julian Fell, including the aforementioned scores of 146 and 138.
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* The most nines found by one contestant in one game is four; Julian Fell found {{word|SALMONIDS}}, {{word|DEPORTING}}, {{word|INGATHERS}} and {{word|DEFLATION}} in his [[Episode 3387|record-breaking game]].
 
* The most nines found by one contestant in one game is four; Julian Fell found {{word|SALMONIDS}}, {{word|DEPORTING}}, {{word|INGATHERS}} and {{word|DEFLATION}} in his [[Episode 3387|record-breaking game]].
  
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* The highest ever losing score was [[Matthew Shore]]'s '''[[episode 4121|117]]''' against Mark Tournoff in the [[Championship of Champions XII]]. The game was poised 117 - 114 going into the conundrum {{word|SOLILOQUY}} which Tournoff solved, leaving Shore as the loser with 117 points. A few other losing scores over 100 have been recorded: [[Terry Rattle]] lost with a score of 107 in [[Series 47]], which was later beaten by [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]]'s losing score of 113 - 111. Both Rattle and Williams lost to [[Chris Wills]].  Terry Rattle and [[Lesley Hines]] are the only two players ever to have lost on their debut whilst scoring over 100, Lesley getting '''[[Episode 4925|104]]''' in [[Series 61]].  
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* The highest ever losing score was [[Matthew Shore]]'s '''[[episode 4121|117]]''' against Mark Tournoff in the [[Championship of Champions XII]]. The game was poised {{score|117|114}} going into the conundrum {{word|SOLILOQUY}} which Tournoff solved, leaving Shore as the loser with 117 points. A few other losing scores over 100 have been recorded: [[Terry Rattle]] lost with a score of 107 in [[Series 47]], which was later beaten by [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]]'s losing score of {{score|113|111}}. Both Rattle and Williams lost to [[Chris Wills]].  Terry Rattle and [[Lesley Hines]] are the only two players ever to have lost on their debut whilst scoring over 100, Lesley getting '''[[Episode 4925|104]]''' in [[Series 61]].  
  
  
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* [[Kirk Bevins]] is so far the only player to get a maximum score in a 15 round game. He scored '''[[Episode 4770|126]]''' out of a possible 126 on 4 March, 2009.
 
* [[Kirk Bevins]] is so far the only player to get a maximum score in a 15 round game. He scored '''[[Episode 4770|126]]''' out of a possible 126 on 4 March, 2009.
  
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* The largest winning margin ever was in '''[[episode 3349]]''', where Julian Fell beat [[Carl McDermott]] by 109 points, 138-29, including three niners: {{word|VALORISED}}, {{word|REPULSION}} and {{word|ANTIPODES}}.
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* The largest winning margin ever was in '''[[episode 3349]]''', where Julian Fell beat [[Carl McDermott]] by 109 points, {{score|138|29}}, including three niners: {{word|VALORISED}}, {{word|REPULSION}} and {{word|ANTIPODES}}.
  
 
===Low scores===
 
===Low scores===
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* The lowest ever score was set by [[Hazel Wheeler]], who scored only '''[[episode 4529|13 points]]''' against [[David O'Donnell]]. See the [[list of 15-round scores under 30]].
 
* The lowest ever score was set by [[Hazel Wheeler]], who scored only '''[[episode 4529|13 points]]''' against [[David O'Donnell]]. See the [[list of 15-round scores under 30]].
  
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* The lowest scoring winning word was {{word|LAP}} by [[Jon O'Neill]] against [[Gary McEnaney]] in '''[[episode 3905]]'''. This was equalled by [[Shakeel Aamer]] who scored with {{word|BAP}} in '''[[episode 4992]]'''. (Notably, the selection for this round - {{word|FVBPIAOQI}} - had a max of only 3 points, believed to be the lowest-scoring recorded letters game selection of all time), by both contestants in [[Episode 2399]], mentioned by [[Richard Whiteley]] in the [[Gotcha]], and by [[Tim Marsh]], with the word {{word|CAT}} in [[Episode 4617]].  
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* The lowest scoring winning word was {{word|LAP}} by [[Jon O'Neill]] against [[Gary McEnaney]] in '''[[episode 3905]]'''. This was equalled by [[Shakeel Aamer]] who scored with {{word|BAP}} in '''[[episode 4992]]'''. (Notably, the selection for this round — {{word|FVBPIAOQI}} — had a max of only 3 points, believed to be the lowest-scoring recorded letters game selection of all time), by both contestants in [[Episode 2399]], mentioned by [[Richard Whiteley]] in the [[Gotcha]], and by [[Tim Marsh]], with the word {{word|CAT}} in [[Episode 4617]].  
  
 
* The lowest recorded maximum in a 15-round game is '''[[Episode 4330|105]]''', which included an impossible numbers game and a series of difficult letters rounds. The '''[[Episode 3404|Championship of Champions XI final]]''' had a maximum of 106, only one point more.
 
* The lowest recorded maximum in a 15-round game is '''[[Episode 4330|105]]''', which included an impossible numbers game and a series of difficult letters rounds. The '''[[Episode 3404|Championship of Champions XI final]]''' had a maximum of 106, only one point more.
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===High scores===
 
===High scores===
  
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* The highest ever score was '''83''', first achieved by [[Series|Series champion]] [[Stephen Balment]] in '''[[episode 546]]'''. This score was made on Stephen's debut, and so it is also the highest debut score of the 9 round era. The score was equalled by [[Allan Saldanha]] in [[Series 33]] against [[Darryl Francis]]. Saldanha won 83-24 in [[episode 1886]], a feat made even more amazing as he was competing against the [[Series 6]] champion.
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* The highest ever score was '''83''', first achieved by [[Series|Series champion]] [[Stephen Balment]] in '''[[episode 546]]'''. This score was made on Stephen's debut, and so it is also the highest debut score of the 9 round era. The score was equalled by [[Allan Saldanha]] in [[Series 33]] against [[Darryl Francis]]. Saldanha won {{score|83|24}} in [[episode 1886]], a feat made even more amazing as he was competing against the [[Series 6]] champion.
  
 
* The highest ever score by a [[contestant|champion]] was [[Harvey Freeman]]'s '''[[episode 460|82]]''', later equalled by [[Lucy Roberts]] in '''[[episode 2641]]'''. Neither of the scores of 83 was made while Balment or Saldanha were the current champion.
 
* The highest ever score by a [[contestant|champion]] was [[Harvey Freeman]]'s '''[[episode 460|82]]''', later equalled by [[Lucy Roberts]] in '''[[episode 2641]]'''. Neither of the scores of 83 was made while Balment or Saldanha were the current champion.
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* The highest ever eight game total was '''535''', achieved by [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]]. This beat Harvey Freeman's total of 523 in [[Series 10]]. The highest ever total over the maximum eleven possible games in one series was '''760''', also set by Harvey Freeman. This includes 10 [[9 round format|9 round]] games and a [[14 round format|14 round final]].
 
* The highest ever eight game total was '''535''', achieved by [[David Williams (Series 43)|David Williams]]. This beat Harvey Freeman's total of 523 in [[Series 10]]. The highest ever total over the maximum eleven possible games in one series was '''760''', also set by Harvey Freeman. This includes 10 [[9 round format|9 round]] games and a [[14 round format|14 round final]].
  
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* The highest losing score was '''[[episode 817|70]]'''. In the [[Championship of Champions IV]], [[Tony Vick]] beat [[Steve Williams]] by a score of 80-70. Williams was leading 60-70 after 8 rounds but Vick got the conundrum to set up a 70-70 tie. A second conundrum was used to separate them, and it was Vick that spotted {{word|IMPOUNDED}} to win with a score of 80.  In [[Series 4]], [[Robert Richland]] beat [[Stuart Schofield]] by a score of 75-70 in '''[[episode 152]]'''.
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* The highest losing score was '''[[episode 817|70]]'''. In the [[Championship of Champions IV]], [[Tony Vick]] beat [[Steve Williams]] by a score of {{score|80|70}}. Williams was leading {{score|60|70}} after 8 rounds but Vick got the conundrum to set up a {{score|70|70}} tie. A second conundrum was used to separate them, and it was Vick that spotted {{word|IMPOUNDED}} to win with a score of 80.  In [[Series 4]], [[Robert Richland]] beat [[Stuart Schofield]] by a score of {{score|75|70}} in '''[[episode 152]]'''.
  
 
* The highest known max score for a 9 round game is '''[[episode 3068|104]]'''. This included three niners, {{word|ASTEROIDS}}, {{word|RELATIVES}} (or {{word|LEVIRATES}}), and {{word|REVAMPING}}. The Richard Whiteley [[Gotcha]] episode actually had a max of 106, but this is not usually considered to count because the rounds were set up to include certain words.
 
* The highest known max score for a 9 round game is '''[[episode 3068|104]]'''. This included three niners, {{word|ASTEROIDS}}, {{word|RELATIVES}} (or {{word|LEVIRATES}}), and {{word|REVAMPING}}. The Richard Whiteley [[Gotcha]] episode actually had a max of 106, but this is not usually considered to count because the rounds were set up to include certain words.
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==14 rounds==
 
==14 rounds==
  
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* The highest ever score in a 14 round game was '''[[episode 601|115]]''' by Harvey Freeman in the [[Championship of Champions III]] final against [[Series 9]] winner [[David Trace]]. Trace was leading 107-105 going into the final conundrum, but couldn't get it and lost with 107 points. This is also the highest losing score in a 14 round game, and the third highest score. See [[List of 14-round scores over 100]] for more details.
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* The highest ever score in a 14 round game was '''[[episode 601|115]]''' by Harvey Freeman in the [[Championship of Champions III]] final against [[Series 9]] winner [[David Trace]]. Trace was leading {{score|107|105}} going into the final conundrum, but couldn't get it and lost with 107 points. This is also the highest losing score in a 14 round game, and the third highest score. See [[List of 14-round scores over 100]] for more details.
  
 
* Freeman also holds the record for most 14 rounds games won, winning the final of [[Series 10]], the final of the [[Championship of Champions III]] and the final of the [[Series 33|Supreme Championship]]. The only player to play four 14 round games was [[Allan Saldanha]], who played in the final of [[Series 15]], two specials against [[Tim Morrissey]] and [[Gareth Williams]], and the aforementioned Supreme Championship final against Harvey Freeman. He won the two specials and lost the two finals.
 
* Freeman also holds the record for most 14 rounds games won, winning the final of [[Series 10]], the final of the [[Championship of Champions III]] and the final of the [[Series 33|Supreme Championship]]. The only player to play four 14 round games was [[Allan Saldanha]], who played in the final of [[Series 15]], two specials against [[Tim Morrissey]] and [[Gareth Williams]], and the aforementioned Supreme Championship final against Harvey Freeman. He won the two specials and lost the two finals.
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==Other==
 
==Other==
  
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* Harvey Freeman holds the record for the most wins on Countdown with 19 wins from 19 games, or 20 if his [[Countdown Masters]] game is counted. Just behind him is Allan Saldanha with 18 wins from 21 games - the most of any player. He played 11 games in [[Series 15]], one game in the [[Championship of Champions IV]], two specials against [[Tim Morrissey]] and [[Gareth Williams]], a Masters game, and six games in the [[Series 33|Supreme Championship]]. The second longest winning streak belongs to [[Don Reid]] who won 16 games in a row - 11 games in [[Series 25]], three games in the [[Championship of Champions VII]] and two games in the [[Series 33|Supreme Championship]], before losing to fellow Series champion [[John Clarke (Series 11)|John Clarke]] on a [[conundrum|crucial conundrum]].
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* Harvey Freeman holds the record for the most wins on Countdown with 19 wins from 19 games, or 20 if his [[Countdown Masters]] game is counted. Just behind him is Allan Saldanha with 18 wins from 21 games — the most of any player. He played 11 games in [[Series 15]], one game in the [[Championship of Champions IV]], two specials against [[Tim Morrissey]] and [[Gareth Williams]], a Masters game, and six games in the [[Series 33|Supreme Championship]]. The second longest winning streak belongs to [[Don Reid]] who won 16 games in a row — 11 games in [[Series 25]], three games in the [[Championship of Champions VII]] and two games in the [[Series 33|Supreme Championship]], before losing to fellow Series champion [[John Clarke (Series 11)|John Clarke]] on a [[conundrum|crucial conundrum]].
  
 
* [[Chris Wills]] holds the record for the most Countdown appearances since the introduction of the 15 round format. In 17 appearances he's scored 1767 points; this is the highest ever total, though players who have played more games than Wills did so in the shorter format. For this reason, Wills also holds the record for the most airtime, with 765 minutes or 12 hours and 45 minutes. He averaged 106.81 points per game.
 
* [[Chris Wills]] holds the record for the most Countdown appearances since the introduction of the 15 round format. In 17 appearances he's scored 1767 points; this is the highest ever total, though players who have played more games than Wills did so in the shorter format. For this reason, Wills also holds the record for the most airtime, with 765 minutes or 12 hours and 45 minutes. He averaged 106.81 points per game.

Revision as of 18:01, 6 November 2010

The following is a list of Countdown records compiled using The Countdown Corral, The Countdown Page, Countdown Update UK and automated and human research from this wiki. Much of the list is divided up into records from the 15 round era, the 9 round era and the 14 round finals, since the considerable differences between these formats make it almost impossible to compare the games like for like.

15 rounds

High scores

  • The highest score set by a challenger was 134 by Hamish Williamson. The highest score for a debutant was 124, set by Jonathan Coles. Williamson had already appeared once before in Series 40, so the matter of who holds the record for highest debut score is somewhat controversial.
  • The highest ever total score over their eight preliminary games was 946, set by Jack Hurst. The only other players to score over 900 are Andrew Hulme who scored 930, Kirk Bevins who scored 925 points, Julian Fell who scored 924, and Craig Beevers who amassed 907. The next highest total is 892 by Chris Davies. Hurst, Hulme, Fell, Eoin Monaghan and Beevers are the only players to have scored eight centuries in their eight games; see century for more details.
  • The highest ever total over 11 games, the maximum possible in one series, was 1307 by Julian Fell, including the aforementioned scores of 146 and 138.
  • The highest possible score was available in Episode 3967, when five niners and a number of other favourable rounds made for a possible 173. Only one of the nine letter words was found by the contestants, neither of whom managed to score a century.
  • The most nines found by one contestant in one game is four; Julian Fell found SALMONIDS, DEPORTING, INGATHERS and DEFLATION in his record-breaking game.
  • The highest ever losing score was Matthew Shore's 117 against Mark Tournoff in the Championship of Champions XII. The game was poised 117 – 114 going into the conundrum SOLILOQUY which Tournoff solved, leaving Shore as the loser with 117 points. A few other losing scores over 100 have been recorded: Terry Rattle lost with a score of 107 in Series 47, which was later beaten by David Williams's losing score of 113 – 111. Both Rattle and Williams lost to Chris Wills. Terry Rattle and Lesley Hines are the only two players ever to have lost on their debut whilst scoring over 100, Lesley getting 104 in Series 61.


  • While the all-time record score is 146, Craig Beevers holds the record for the highest score with no nine letter words of 120. The highest with one nine is Jack Hurst's score of 133 and the highest with two is Chris Davies' 139. Julian Fell achieved the highest scores with three and four nines with his scores of 138 in episode 3349 and 146 in episode 3387 respectively. Nobody has ever found five nines in one game. If you ignore the nine-point bonus for nine-letter words altogether in order to combine these records, Jack Hurst's above score of 133 becomes 124, and is the record score under this system. Interestingly, Julian Fell's all-time record of 146 would only be worth 110.
  • Kirk Bevins is so far the only player to get a maximum score in a 15 round game. He scored 126 out of a possible 126 on 4 March, 2009.
  • The largest winning margin ever was in episode 3349, where Julian Fell beat Carl McDermott by 109 points, 138 – 29, including three niners: VALORISED, REPULSION and ANTIPODES.

Low scores

9 rounds

High scores

  • At least one contestant found two nine letter words in a nine round game. Jill Bright scored 81 in her second game. She got two nine letter words in rounds 1 and 2, but failed to solve the conundrum and could have beaten the highest ever score by 8 points. See the list of 9-round scores over 75.
  • The highest ever eight game total was 535, achieved by David Williams. This beat Harvey Freeman's total of 523 in Series 10. The highest ever total over the maximum eleven possible games in one series was 760, also set by Harvey Freeman. This includes 10 9 round games and a 14 round final.
  • The highest known max score for a 9 round game is 104. This included three niners, ASTEROIDS, RELATIVES (or LEVIRATES), and REVAMPING. The Richard Whiteley Gotcha episode actually had a max of 106, but this is not usually considered to count because the rounds were set up to include certain words.

Low scores

  • Lester Mak holds the record for the shortest winning word. He scored three points with RUN after his opponent had BRICE disallowed in Episode 2455.

14 rounds

Other

  • Chris Wills holds the record for the most Countdown appearances since the introduction of the 15 round format. In 17 appearances he's scored 1767 points; this is the highest ever total, though players who have played more games than Wills did so in the shorter format. For this reason, Wills also holds the record for the most airtime, with 765 minutes or 12 hours and 45 minutes. He averaged 106.81 points per game.
  • The longest word to come up in reverse order on the letters board was the niner DECANTERS in Episode 4523.
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