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Difference between revisions of "Paul Gallen"

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[[Image:Paul Gallen2.jpg|thumb|right|Paul]]
 
[[Image:Paul Gallen2.jpg|thumb|right|Paul]]
 
[[Image:Paul Gallen.jpg|thumb|right|Gallen]]
 
[[Image:Paul Gallen.jpg|thumb|right|Gallen]]
'''Paul Gallen''' was a finalist in [[Series 52]] and winner of [[Championships of Champions XII]]. He is widely  
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'''Paul Gallen''' was a finalist in [[Series 52]] and winner of [[Championship of Champions XII]]. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Countdown players of all time.
  
He first appeared aged 18 and scored 96 points in his first game, and went on to compile 846 points with a score of 121 and two scores of 117 in his first eight games. He scored 'only' 92 against [[Rita Willmott]] but came back above [[century|100]] with 108 points against [[John Hunt (Series 52)|John Hunt]]. The final was a tense affair. Gallen beat #3 seed [[Mark Tournoff]] with {{word|FIACRES}} and {{word|MITOGENS}} in the first four rounds, but Gallen failed to score on the first numbers, so the score was {{score|30|25}} in Gallen's favour after 5 rounds. Both players equalled each other in every round from them on, until Tournoff tried {{word|INTERNETS {{x}}}} which was only listed with a capital letter. Gallen had {{word|MIRIAD {{x}}}} disallowed in the next round, and after both players scored on the numbers, it was a crucial conundrum. Gallen buzzed in on three seconds but gave no answer and the rest of the time was allowed to Tournoff. Tournoff duly spotted {{word|PARTRIDGE}} and won the game dramatically {{score|92|89}}. Gallen's losing score of 89 is the highest recorded losing score in a [[15 round format|15 round]] series final to date.
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He first appeared aged 18 and scored 96 points in his first game, and went on to compile 846 points with a top score of 121 and two scores of 117 in his first eight games. He scored 'only' 92 against [[Rita Willmott]] but came back above [[century|100]] with 108 points against [[John Hunt (Series 52)|John Hunt]]. The final was a tense affair. Gallen beat #3 seed [[Mark Tournoff]] with {{word|FIACRES}} and {{word|MITOGENS}} in the first four rounds, but Gallen failed to score on the first numbers, so the score was {{score|30|25}} in Gallen's favour after 5 rounds. Both players equalled each other in every round from them on, until Tournoff tried {{word|INTERNETS {{x}}}} which was only listed with a capital letter. Gallen had {{word|MIRIAD {{x}}}} disallowed in the next round, and after both players scored on the numbers, it was a crucial conundrum. Gallen buzzed in on three seconds but gave no answer and the rest of the time was allowed to Tournoff. Tournoff duly spotted {{word|PARTRIDGE}} and won the game dramatically {{score|92|89}}. Gallen's losing score of 89 is the highest recorded losing score in a [[15 round format|15 round]] series final to date.
  
 
He was invited back to the [[Championship of Champions XII]] where he beat [[Series 50]] runner-up [[Eamonn Timmins]] by 45 points, including two nine-letter words. The quarter-final was against [[John Davies (Series 49)|John Davies]] who was unbeaten with 12 wins out of 12. The [[Series 49]] champion slipped up offering the invalid {{word|gratinees}} in the first round, whilst, Gallen had {{word|STINGAREE}}. The players scored equally in every round until Gallen could only find a five whilst Davies had {{word|CABBIE}}. This wasn't enough to force a crucial conundrum, and Gallen won {{score|118|96}}, in a game closer than the scoreline suggests. The semi-final was against [[Conor Travers]] who was also at the time unbeaten. As in the previous game, the players scored in every round apart from Travers who offered {{word|BOING}} for five when Gallen had a six. This meant another crucial conundrum {{word|PRESCHOOL}} which Gallen solved to beat another previously unbeaten player. In the final, to win the competition, Gallen would have to beat [[Mark Tournoff]] who was both an unbeaten champion and the only player ever to beat Gallen.  
 
He was invited back to the [[Championship of Champions XII]] where he beat [[Series 50]] runner-up [[Eamonn Timmins]] by 45 points, including two nine-letter words. The quarter-final was against [[John Davies (Series 49)|John Davies]] who was unbeaten with 12 wins out of 12. The [[Series 49]] champion slipped up offering the invalid {{word|gratinees}} in the first round, whilst, Gallen had {{word|STINGAREE}}. The players scored equally in every round until Gallen could only find a five whilst Davies had {{word|CABBIE}}. This wasn't enough to force a crucial conundrum, and Gallen won {{score|118|96}}, in a game closer than the scoreline suggests. The semi-final was against [[Conor Travers]] who was also at the time unbeaten. As in the previous game, the players scored in every round apart from Travers who offered {{word|BOING}} for five when Gallen had a six. This meant another crucial conundrum {{word|PRESCHOOL}} which Gallen solved to beat another previously unbeaten player. In the final, to win the competition, Gallen would have to beat [[Mark Tournoff]] who was both an unbeaten champion and the only player ever to beat Gallen.  
  
In the final, both players played an impressive game with all maximums for both players all of the first 11 rounds, including the impressive {{word|STARFISH}} in round 1. It was Gallen that took the lead in rounds 12 and 13 with {{word|TELECOM}} and {{word|DYSPNOEA}}. Again all Gallen had to do was score points on the final numbers game and he would avoid a crucial conundrum, but he duly got the numbers game wrong and let Tournoff in for a crucial conundrum. This time Gallen made no mistake, and took the conundrum {{word|PEPPERONI}} for himself and took the Championship of Champions title with him too. Both players have 14 wins from 15 games, their only defeats being against each other. Gallen now goes to Belfast University, studying Law, and is a keen competitor in the world of [[Scrabble]]. He is the 2012 National Scrabble Champion.
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In the final, both players played an impressive game with all maximums for both players all of the first 11 rounds, including the impressive {{word|STARFISH}} in round 1. It was Gallen that took the lead in rounds 12 and 13 with {{word|TELECOM}} and {{word|DYSPNOEA}}. Again all Gallen had to do was score points on the final numbers game and he would avoid a crucial conundrum, but he duly got the numbers game wrong and let Tournoff in for a crucial conundrum. This time Gallen made no mistake, and took the conundrum {{word|PEPPERONI}} for himself and took the Championship of Champions title with him too. Both players have 14 wins from 15 games, their only defeats being against each other. Gallen went to Belfast University, studying Law, and is a keen competitor in the world of [[Scrabble]]. He is the 2012 National Scrabble Champion and holds Grandmaster status.
 
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Revision as of 23:28, 13 April 2017

Paul
Gallen

Paul Gallen was a finalist in Series 52 and winner of Championship of Champions XII. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Countdown players of all time.

He first appeared aged 18 and scored 96 points in his first game, and went on to compile 846 points with a top score of 121 and two scores of 117 in his first eight games. He scored 'only' 92 against Rita Willmott but came back above 100 with 108 points against John Hunt. The final was a tense affair. Gallen beat #3 seed Mark Tournoff with FIACRES and MITOGENS in the first four rounds, but Gallen failed to score on the first numbers, so the score was 30 – 25 in Gallen's favour after 5 rounds. Both players equalled each other in every round from them on, until Tournoff tried INTERNETS ☓ which was only listed with a capital letter. Gallen had MIRIAD ☓ disallowed in the next round, and after both players scored on the numbers, it was a crucial conundrum. Gallen buzzed in on three seconds but gave no answer and the rest of the time was allowed to Tournoff. Tournoff duly spotted PARTRIDGE and won the game dramatically 92 – 89. Gallen's losing score of 89 is the highest recorded losing score in a 15 round series final to date.

He was invited back to the Championship of Champions XII where he beat Series 50 runner-up Eamonn Timmins by 45 points, including two nine-letter words. The quarter-final was against John Davies who was unbeaten with 12 wins out of 12. The Series 49 champion slipped up offering the invalid gratinees in the first round, whilst, Gallen had STINGAREE. The players scored equally in every round until Gallen could only find a five whilst Davies had CABBIE. This wasn't enough to force a crucial conundrum, and Gallen won 118 – 96, in a game closer than the scoreline suggests. The semi-final was against Conor Travers who was also at the time unbeaten. As in the previous game, the players scored in every round apart from Travers who offered BOING for five when Gallen had a six. This meant another crucial conundrum PRESCHOOL which Gallen solved to beat another previously unbeaten player. In the final, to win the competition, Gallen would have to beat Mark Tournoff who was both an unbeaten champion and the only player ever to beat Gallen.

In the final, both players played an impressive game with all maximums for both players all of the first 11 rounds, including the impressive STARFISH in round 1. It was Gallen that took the lead in rounds 12 and 13 with TELECOM and DYSPNOEA. Again all Gallen had to do was score points on the final numbers game and he would avoid a crucial conundrum, but he duly got the numbers game wrong and let Tournoff in for a crucial conundrum. This time Gallen made no mistake, and took the conundrum PEPPERONI for himself and took the Championship of Champions title with him too. Both players have 14 wins from 15 games, their only defeats being against each other. Gallen went to Belfast University, studying Law, and is a keen competitor in the world of Scrabble. He is the 2012 National Scrabble Champion and holds Grandmaster status.


Preceded by
Steve Graston
Series runner-up
Series 52
Followed by
John Brackstone
Preceded by
Graham Nash
Champion of Champions
Championship of Champions XII
Followed by
Steve Briers
Paul Gallen, the Scrabble player.

Episodes

# Date Type Contestant 1 Score Contestant 2 Presenters Guest Lex Max
3762 31/08/2004 P Roy Thearle 83 – 96 Paul Gallen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Susie Dent 124
3763 1/09/2004 P Paul Gallen 117 – 49 Harry Brunt Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Susie Dent 135
3764 2/09/2004 P Paul Gallen 103 – 77 Claire Marston Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Susie Dent 140
3765 3/09/2004 P Paul Gallen 103 – 82 Ray Jones Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Barry Norman Susie Dent 122
3766 6/09/2004 P Paul Gallen 117 – 35 Jean Tully Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Charles Collingwood Susie Dent 123
3767 7/09/2004 P Paul Gallen 106 – 57 Ed Pritchard Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Charles Collingwood Susie Dent 121
3768 8/09/2004 P Paul Gallen 83 – 39 Stephen Todd Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Charles Collingwood Susie Dent 117
3769 9/09/2004 P Paul Gallen 121 – 47 Mo Yusuf Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Charles Collingwood Susie Dent 128
3834 9/12/2004 QF Rita Willmott 61 – 92 Paul Gallen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Rick Wakeman Susie Dent 125
3838 15/12/2004 SF John Hunt 47 – 108 Paul Gallen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 130
3840 17/12/2004 GF Mark Tournoff 92 – 89 Paul Gallen Richard Whiteley Carol Vorderman Richard Digance Susie Dent 119
4119 6/06/2006 CP Paul Gallen 125 – 80 Eamonn Timmins Des Lynam Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 141
4122 9/06/2006 CQF Paul Gallen 118 – 96 John Davies Des Lynam Carol Vorderman Ann Widdecombe Susie Dent 127
4126 15/06/2006 CSF Paul Gallen 118 – 102 Conor Travers Des Lynam Carol Vorderman Kim Woodburn Susie Dent 120
4127 16/06/2006 CGF Paul Gallen 111 – 93 Mark Tournoff Des Lynam Carol Vorderman Kim Woodburn Susie Dent 118


Championship of Champions Winners

I : Mark Nyman | II : Clive Freedman | III : Harvey Freeman | IV : Nic Brown | V : Tim Morrissey | VI : Wayne Summers | VII : Don Reid | VIII : Chris Rogers | IX : Natascha Kearsey | X : Scott Mearns | XI : Graham Nash | XII : Paul Gallen | XIII : Steve Briers | XIV : Dylan Taylor | XV : Zarte Siempre | XVI : Ahmed Mohamed