Episode S29 was a special episode of Countdown broadcast on 16 August 2010. It was the third game contested by Junaid Mubeen, the Series 59 champion, and Charlie Reams, runner-up to Mubeen in the series final (pictured) by a score of 88 – 84. The two players were drawn against each other in the second quarter-final of Championship of Champions XIII, broadcast six weeks to the day after the Series 59 final. Therein, neither contestant could solve the crucial conundrum LEGALSIRS and this time Reams prevailed by 88 points to 79. With their head-to-head wins therefore tied at one-all, Episode S29 was played as a decider.

Under the original 15 round format, the player in the challenger's chair chose how many large numbers would be available to use to reach the target for two numbers rounds, whereas the challenger only did so for one. To alleviate this advantage, arithmetician Rachel Riley chose the numbers throughout Episode S29. Furthermore, the standard large numbers – 25, 50, 75 and 100 – were swapped for 12, 37, 62 and 87, first used for a special episode to decide the overall Countdown champion of 2009.

In Episode S29, both Reams and Mubeen scored seven points in the first round, before the darren DOORMAT put Reams ahead in round 2. He extended his lead with SAVANTE in round 4, and took advantage when Mubeen had shooted ☓ disallowed in round 8. A perfect numbers solution reduced Mubeen's arrears in round 10, and at the second commercial break the players were separated by 10 points. Reams spotted ISOTOPIC in round 11 to go further in front, but Mubeen replied with INLANDER in round 12. In the final letters round, Reams offered VIZIERS to go 17 points ahead, but failed to declare in the final numbers round. Mubeen found a route to 651, two away from the target. This earnt seven points and set up a crucial conundrum – wherein a correct solution by Mubeen would force the game to sudden death. However, Reams unravelled KILLABAAA in half a second to win by 87 points to 67. (more...)

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• 2020: Ryan Styles beat Trish Lodge with scores of 100 – 56.
• 2019: Dinos Sfyris beat Jake Pacifico in a game that ended 98 – 56.
• 2018: Philip Aston beat Jenny Coote with a score of 113 – 30.
• 2017: Sam Holden beat Ian Donaldson, scoring 71 – 29.
• 2014: Andy Naylor beat Martin Thompson, by a score of 85 – 71.
• 2013: Conor Travers beat Jon O'Neill in the second 30th Birthday Championship semi-final, and was the show's 6th perfect 15-round game.
• 2012: Peter Lee beat Ryan Carlsen in a 96 – 77 game.
• 2011: Ned Pendleton beat Emmet Masterson with final score 92 – 54.
• 2008: Barry Smith beat Nikki Cooper with scores of 80 – 75.
• 2007: Jean Webby beat Serena Halpin in a game that ended 98 – 71.
• 2006: Kate May beat Sarah Devlin with a score of 85 – 67.
• 2005: John Mayhew beat Joe O'Brien, scoring 110 – 59.
• 2003: Peter Jeffery beat Gill Cook in a 80 – 63 game.
• 2002: Terry Matthewman beat Wendy Barker, by a score of 81 – 57.
• 2001: Ralph Lubkowski beat Ita Moynihan with scores of 43 – 39.
• 2000: Andy Brown beat Tony Kershaw in a game that ended 46 – 33.
• 1997: Andrew Newens beat Frank Smith with final score 44 – 20.
• 1996: David Acton beat John Shirreffs with a score of 62 – 21.
• 1995: Barry Hughes beat Mick Kirk, scoring 51 – 39.
• 1994: Richard Campbell beat Tony Sutton in a 62 – 32 game.
• 1992: Fiona Davies beat Daphne Chapple with scores of 44 – 13.
• 1991: Gillian Tickle beat Lynn Brown in a game that ended 63 – 36.
• 1990: Brian Speet beat Harry Bruford with final score 49 – 16.
• 1989: Lawrence Pearse beat Nadine Roebuck, by a score of 48 – 36.
• 1986: Roy Jackson beat David Derbyshire, scoring 50 – 26.
• 1985: Helen Grayson beat Neil Harris with a score of 60 – 17.

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