Rounds: Here.
The final quarterfinal sees series 3 champion Jacob Davey take on Naween Fernando, the runner-up from series 1. Jacob had that memorable comeback win against Jeremy Schiftan, but he cannot afford to get in a similar situation this time -- Naween is just too good on the letters for that.
Richard mentions that Naween has found three full monties and solved seven conundrums while on the show, which is certainly indicative of the above. Jacob is going to need some help from the numbers, and unfortunately for him he is technically the higher seed so he only gets to choose once.
The game went pretty much as expected: Jacob started off on the back foot as Naween opened with a couple of good words, but Jacob's choice of a rat pack in the first numbers round paid off to get him back within striking distance. Naween stretched the lead in the next round, but his mistake in the second numbers round allowed Jacob to close again. Once more Naween found an excellent word to move into safe territory, and the final numbers round turned out to be trivial. That guaranteed Naween the victory, but he solved the conundrum in very quick time to round out the win, 58 to 35.
I was just short of top form today, and in the end I conceded a fraction too much. The numbers rounds gave me the expected advantage, but a couple of missed words meant that Naween was only five points behind me going into the conundrum. That was always going to be a problem, and although I solved the conundrum in quick time, Naween had just buzzed in as I managed to pause. That's my first loss of the Masters Series, and I am disappointed but not too surprised.
Showing posts with label Jacob Davey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jacob Davey. Show all posts
Saturday, 23 June 2012
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Ep 300 [GF]: Jacob Davey, Jeremy Schiftan (June 7, 2012; originally aired October 21, 2011)
Rounds: Here.
Disclaimer: I watched this episode when it first aired, and although I did not recall much of it I cannot rule out memory being a factor. Two rounds were firmly fixed in my memory; I don't feel guilty about claiming them since I found the optimal results on those rounds the first time that I watched this episode.
So we come to the grand final of series three, and -- spoiler alert -- it is one of the most remarkable games I've ever watched. So much so that when I was attending the filming of my episodes a couple of weeks later it was still being talked about by the cast and crew. If you've not seen the episode you may wish to skip the spoilery summary below and go straight to the round-by-round descriptions. It will still be here when you've finished.
As expected, there is not much to the pre-game chat, other than the contestants revealing how nervous they are. It is mentioned again that there have been 99 full monties found already, so the potential is for the show's hundredth full monty to be found in this grand final.
The game started off quietly enough, with sevens to settle into things. Jeremy gained an early lead in the second round, and extended it in the third when Jacob's choice of the balanced mix provided a very challenging target. The contestants found identical results in the next two letters rounds, and once again Jeremy took the points in the second numbers round. That put him a massive 27 points ahead at the second break and things looked very bleak for Jacob.
After the break, Jacob needed to outpoint Jeremy on his letters round to even have a chance. He saw the potential for a full monty from the first eight letters, played for it, and got it. Jeremy missed it, and that narrowed the margin to just 9 points. Jacob still needed to at least match Jeremy on the last numbers round, something he had so far failed to do. But this time the target proved too difficult for Jeremy, and Jacob did well to solve it and take a single point lead going into the conundrum. As expected from a grand final conundrum, it was a difficult one. But Jacob saw his way through to the answer before the halfway mark, completing a mammoth comeback for a 60 to 49 win.
Disclaimer: I watched this episode when it first aired, and although I did not recall much of it I cannot rule out memory being a factor. Two rounds were firmly fixed in my memory; I don't feel guilty about claiming them since I found the optimal results on those rounds the first time that I watched this episode.
So we come to the grand final of series three, and -- spoiler alert -- it is one of the most remarkable games I've ever watched. So much so that when I was attending the filming of my episodes a couple of weeks later it was still being talked about by the cast and crew. If you've not seen the episode you may wish to skip the spoilery summary below and go straight to the round-by-round descriptions. It will still be here when you've finished.
As expected, there is not much to the pre-game chat, other than the contestants revealing how nervous they are. It is mentioned again that there have been 99 full monties found already, so the potential is for the show's hundredth full monty to be found in this grand final.
The game started off quietly enough, with sevens to settle into things. Jeremy gained an early lead in the second round, and extended it in the third when Jacob's choice of the balanced mix provided a very challenging target. The contestants found identical results in the next two letters rounds, and once again Jeremy took the points in the second numbers round. That put him a massive 27 points ahead at the second break and things looked very bleak for Jacob.
After the break, Jacob needed to outpoint Jeremy on his letters round to even have a chance. He saw the potential for a full monty from the first eight letters, played for it, and got it. Jeremy missed it, and that narrowed the margin to just 9 points. Jacob still needed to at least match Jeremy on the last numbers round, something he had so far failed to do. But this time the target proved too difficult for Jeremy, and Jacob did well to solve it and take a single point lead going into the conundrum. As expected from a grand final conundrum, it was a difficult one. But Jacob saw his way through to the answer before the halfway mark, completing a mammoth comeback for a 60 to 49 win.
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Ep 298 [SF1]: Jacob Davey, Anthony Kendall (June 5, 2012; originally aired October 19, 2011)
Rounds: Here.
Disclaimer: I watched this episode when it first aired, and although I did not recall most of it I cannot rule out memory being a factor. In one instance (to be mentioned later) I remembered a result after the fact; it is an edge case for another reason, also to be mentioned later.
A few more snippets about the competitors are revealed. Jacob is a musical composer, and after his successful sixth episode he let out some of his emotional energy in a composition. At the rather less pleasant end of the spectrum, Anthony has had three knee reconstructions on his left knee, due to rugby and perhaps other sporting injuries.
The contestants were locked together for the first third, and if not for one risky play from Anthony would have been matched for the first seven rounds. However, those seven points conceded to Jacob were important, as Jacob outdid Anthony in the very tricky last numbers round to take an unassailable lead going into the conundrum. Jacob solved it in extremely quick time to take a heartily deserved win, 70 to 46.
I had some up and down in this game, and it was not a good time for it -- both contestants were in excellent form. I gained some advantage on the letters, but an extremely careless effort in the final numbers round saw me declare an invalid total and possibly become vulnerable again at the conundrum. I did solve it, but much slower than Jacob did, and for all I know slower than Anthony would have solved it also.
Disclaimer: I watched this episode when it first aired, and although I did not recall most of it I cannot rule out memory being a factor. In one instance (to be mentioned later) I remembered a result after the fact; it is an edge case for another reason, also to be mentioned later.
A few more snippets about the competitors are revealed. Jacob is a musical composer, and after his successful sixth episode he let out some of his emotional energy in a composition. At the rather less pleasant end of the spectrum, Anthony has had three knee reconstructions on his left knee, due to rugby and perhaps other sporting injuries.
The contestants were locked together for the first third, and if not for one risky play from Anthony would have been matched for the first seven rounds. However, those seven points conceded to Jacob were important, as Jacob outdid Anthony in the very tricky last numbers round to take an unassailable lead going into the conundrum. Jacob solved it in extremely quick time to take a heartily deserved win, 70 to 46.
I had some up and down in this game, and it was not a good time for it -- both contestants were in excellent form. I gained some advantage on the letters, but an extremely careless effort in the final numbers round saw me declare an invalid total and possibly become vulnerable again at the conundrum. I did solve it, but much slower than Jacob did, and for all I know slower than Anthony would have solved it also.
Thursday, 31 May 2012
Ep 294 [QF1]: Jacob Davey, Tina Rose (May 30, 2012; originally aired October 13, 2011)
Rounds: Here.
Disclaimer: I watched this episode when it first aired, and although I did not recall any of it I cannot rule out memory being a factor.
On to the series three finals! First up in the champion's seat is arts and science student Jacob Davey, the number one seed. He had a high game score of 72, and Richard notes that Jacob's average score was 58.8 over his six games, so his cumulative total was 353 points. Jacob turned 19 just a little before these finals.
In the challenger's position is fine art teacher Tina Rose, the number eight seed. During her time on the show she solved four conundrums in a row, and on her first showing she also had a 72-point game.
The game went back and forth, with Jacob taking a good early lead in the first third only to see Tina battle back in the second third. Tina emerged a single point ahead at the second break, but an invalid numbers round from her saw Jacob just safe going into the conundrum. Neither solved it, and Jacob took the first semifinal spot with a 44 to 32 victory.
I was two rounds off optimal again, for a pretty good game overall. One of those missed optimal answers was a full monty that eluded David's eagle eye, so I'm not too put out over that. I solved the conundrum in decent time to run out comfortably ahead, and a good start to this finals series for me.
Disclaimer: I watched this episode when it first aired, and although I did not recall any of it I cannot rule out memory being a factor.
On to the series three finals! First up in the champion's seat is arts and science student Jacob Davey, the number one seed. He had a high game score of 72, and Richard notes that Jacob's average score was 58.8 over his six games, so his cumulative total was 353 points. Jacob turned 19 just a little before these finals.
In the challenger's position is fine art teacher Tina Rose, the number eight seed. During her time on the show she solved four conundrums in a row, and on her first showing she also had a 72-point game.
The game went back and forth, with Jacob taking a good early lead in the first third only to see Tina battle back in the second third. Tina emerged a single point ahead at the second break, but an invalid numbers round from her saw Jacob just safe going into the conundrum. Neither solved it, and Jacob took the first semifinal spot with a 44 to 32 victory.
I was two rounds off optimal again, for a pretty good game overall. One of those missed optimal answers was a full monty that eluded David's eagle eye, so I'm not too put out over that. I solved the conundrum in decent time to run out comfortably ahead, and a good start to this finals series for me.
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