(sponsored by Word Game Geeks)

Countdown returns to the capital city, with Phil Stanton making his hosting debut.
Taking place on the August Bank Holiday Saturday, why not make a weekend of it by attending Mind Sport Olympiad’s own Countdown event the following day, at a venue just up the road?
This year’s CO:LON is sponsored by Word Game Geeks; that’s the company name used by Countdown Series 63 Champion Jack Hurst to publish his very popular (and better than the official!) Countdown app for Android devices.
Download it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.jackhurst.countdown.production&pcampaignid=web_share

Date: Saturday 24th August 2024

Venue: “The Venue”, 1 st Floor, The O2 Centre, 255 Finchley Road, London NW3 6LU
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FHfWpP8YsStQBCRz8

Admission: £12
Pay by PayPal by clicking here (please remember to choose the “Friends and Family” option).

Hosted by: Phil Stanton

Doors open: 10:45 am, with the first-round draw taking place shortly after.
Gameplay starts at 11:15.

Games to be played: 8 (time-permitting) plus the Grand Final

Refreshments: Tea/Coffee/Biscuits will be provided.
There are 2 supermarkets and several restaurants within the O2 Centre itself and nearby.

Finishes by: 5:45 pm

Wheelchair accessible?: Yes

Parking onsite?: Yes, chargeable, in the O2 Centre car park.
Rates are £25 for 6 to 7 hours, £35 for 7 to 10 hours.
Travel by public transport is strongly encouraged, see below for details.

Format: 9-rounders, “Bristol” (classroom) style.
All competitors will be drawn into pairs, to play against each other.
Everyone will be playing their games from the same selection of letters, numbers and conundrums, all displayed on the big screen, running Countdowner Fiona Titcombe’s “RoboRiley” software, custom-designed specifically for these events.
Each game will have 9 rounds, like Countdown used to do in the old days:
3 Letters rounds, a Numbers round, 3 more Letters rounds, another Numbers round, and finally a Conundrum.
After each game, there will be another draw, where your opponent will then be someone who has performed similarly to you so far during the day, so don’t worry if you have a tough first game, as you’ll then get matched at opponents who are performing at a similar level to you for the rest of the day.
At the end of the day, the top two players will face off in the Grand Final.
Remember, the aim is to have fun! There will be plenty of prizes on offer that anyone could win.

Rough timetable for the day
Doors open: 10:45
Welcome/Round 1 Draw: 11:00
Game 1: 11:30
Game 2: 12:05
Game 3: 12:40
Lunch: 13:15
Game 4: 14:15
Game 5: 14:50
Game 6: 15:25
Game 7: 16:00
Game 8: 16:35
Final: 17:00
Prizegiving: 17:25

Post-event group meal plans: To be decided on nearer the time, keep an eye on the Facebook event page or C4Countdown discussion page for announcements in due course.

The Word Games Geeks Countdown Android app

Payment: Entry fee for the day will be £12 per person.
Entry fees are payable to Phil Stanton by Paypal.
Please remember to select the ‘Friends and Family’ option.
If you don’t have PayPal, please contact us at focalcountdown@gmail.com to arrange alternate
payment options.

Public transport:
Public transport is the recommended way of getting to the venue, which is easily accessible
from all major London rail terminals via the Jubilee, Metropolitan and Overground lines, as well
as several bus routes.

The O2 Centre, 255 Finchley Road, London NW3 6LU

Enquiries

Contact us at focalcountdown@gmail.com

Attending or organising a FOCAL event is subject to the FOCAL Code of Conduct.

Last updated 08/05/2024