Name: 2025 FOCAL Finals and Milton Keynes Open
Start: 2025-11-29T11:00:00+00:00
End: 2025-11-29T18:00:00+00:00
Location: Novotel (Milton Keynes)

2025 FOCAL Finals and Milton Keynes Open (Countdown in Milton Keynes 2025)
Presented by George Armstrong and Adam Beach, and proudly sponsored by Crest IT solutions: crest-it.co.uk
All to play for in two separate tournaments! Who will be our 2025 FOCAL champion?
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Date and approximate times
Saturday, 29th November 2025
• Doors open: 10:00
• First round draw: 11:00*
• Practice game: 11:00–11:10 (10m)
• Round 1: 11:10–11:50 (40m)
• Round 2: 11:50–12:30 (40m)
• Lunch: 12:30–13:30 (1hr)
• Round 3: 13:30–14:10 (40m)
• Round 4: 14:10–14:50 (40m)
• Round 5: 14:50–15:30 (40m)
• Round 6: 15:30–16:10 (40m)
• Round 7: 16:10–16:50 (40m)
• Championship grand final: 17:15–17:45 (30m)
• Prize presentation: 17:45–18:00 (15m)
*Please be aware that if you are late, you will be "Pruned" for each game that has already started at the time of your arrival.
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Overview
The event will be carried out in the "Bristol" style. This comprises big screen graphics at the front of the room, provided by Fiona Titcombe's ingenious RoboRiley software, with everyone playing along to the same letters selections. There will be 42 letters rounds played over the course of the heat games (6 per game); therefore, depending on the number of attendees present, everyone should get a turn at picking consonants and vowels for the room at some point.
For the numbers games, you'll get to pick which combination of large and small numbers you want, in turn and in your pairs, from our specially designed five-line display.
For the conundrum, these will be revealed on the screen for everyone in much the same way as on the TV show. We will explain at the start of the day how each part of the contest runs, and give everyone a practice game consisting of a letters game, a numbers game and a conundrum just before the first match.
Once the seven heat games have concluded and the scores have been collected, the two top-performing players in the finals will come head-to-head in the championship grand final to determine the champion of the 2025 FOCAL season.
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Admission
£12 per person. This can be paid directly to George's PayPal: paypal.me/GArmstrong97/12GBP. Remember to select the "family and friends" option. If you can't (or prefer not to) pay via PayPal, you can contact George to make alternative arrangements, where he will be happy to assist. For contact details, email [email protected].
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Lunch and breaks
There will be a lunch break after the second or third match. As with most co-events now, lunch will not be provided. There are plenty of amenities nearby, including a Tesco Express, Costa Coffee and McDonald's.
Please note that any refreshments purchased outside of the hotel are not to be consumed in the public areas of the hotel; only within our private conference suite.
There will be another short break during the afternoon while the exciting championship grand final match is set up, which will be a chance to recharge your glass before we get our showpiece underway.
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Transport
The event venue is less than 2 miles away from Milton Keynes Central station.
There are 120 car parking spaces at the hotel available on a first come, first served basis. Car parking is free but you must register your car at reception if parking on site.
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Accommodation
If you don't manage to bag a room at the Novotel, there are many low-cost hotel options available in central Milton Keynes, all within a couple of miles of the event venue.
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Additional information
If you have any questions or enquiries about Countdown in Milton Keynes 2025, please feel free to email [email protected].
Attending or organising a FOCAL event is subject to the FOCAL code of conduct.