Ep 252: Martin Gabor, Matthew Matten (February 3, 2015; originally aired August 16, 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.


This is Martin's third night, and it is revealed that his ambition is to be a rugby league commentator.  Richard asks what Martin thinks his chances are, and Martin jokingly notes that Ray Warren is expected to retire in the next few years, and Martin will be available.  That's perhaps unfortunate timing for Martin -- by the time this show aired, but almost certainly after it was filmed, Ray Warren had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, which perhaps gives an unintended edge to the remarks.

Facing off against Martin is Matthew Matten, a lab technician and self-confessed LEGO nut.  At the moment he is working on building a model of Saint Basil's Cathedral.  Richard asks about the scale of this project, and Matthew explains that the proportions are going to be as though the minifigs were person-sized, so he expects it to end up around a metre to a metre-and-a-half tall.  That's quite the project!


Both contestants struggle somewhat on the numbers tonight, each making an invalid go of the first (very difficult) numbers round.  Honours on the remaining numbers rounds are mostly even but slightly tilted in Martin's favour, but it's the words that carry him safely to victory, as he finds some good eights to move well clear.  He rounds it off by solving the conundrum, sealing a 52 to 28 victory.

I also struggled a little, feeling off my game today.  I mentally froze in round 3 and only just got myself unstuck in time for an adequate result.  I missed a couple of longer words that I might have found on a better day, too.  Against that, I found a solution (two, in fact) that eluded Lily, and I solved the conundrum reasonably quickly to end up in the mid-sixties again for a safe win.

As usual, details after the jump.