Until the end of Series 21, if the two contestants had equal scores after the first conundrum, the match was declared a draw and they both returned for the next show.Countdown: Spreading the Word (Granada Media, 2001), p. 133. A significant change in the format occurred in September 2001, when the show was expanded from nine rounds and 30 minutes to the current fifteen rounds and 45 minutes.The Countdown Page showing the expanded format—Retrieved 20 June 2006. The older format was split into two halves, each with three letters and one numbers game, plus the conundrum at the end of the second half. When the format was expanded to fifteen rounds, Richard Whiteley continued to refer jokingly to the three segments of the show as "halves". Under the old format, Grand Finals were specially extended shows of fourteen rounds,The Countdown Page showing a fourteen-round final—Retrieved 20 June 2006. but now all shows use a fifteen-round format.The Countdown Page showing a fifteen-round final—Retrieved 20 June 2006.
until tHe end oF sEriEs 21, if thE two contesTAnts had eqUaL sCores afTer The first conuNdrum, THe MaTcH waS deClArEd A draw anD They boTh retUrned For the nExt sHOw.cOuntdown: sPreAdiNg the WorD (GranAda mediA, 2001), P. 133. a signIFicant chaNge iN the FoRmaT occuRRed in sepTemBer 2001, WHen the sHOw waS eXpandEd froM niNE RoundS anD 30 MinuTeS to tHe current FIfteEn roundS AnD 45 Minutes.tHe couNtDOwN Page SHOwing the expanDeD FOrmat—retriEved 20 jUne 2006. tHE OLder formAt was sPlIt inTo TWO HALves, eaCH witH THRee leTtErs and one NUmBErS Game, plus the COnuNdrUm aT tHE end of the secOnD half. when thE fOrmAt WAs expaNDEd to fifTeen ROunDs, RIcharD wHIteley CONTInued to RefEr jokinGLy To ThE thRee sEgMenTs Of the shoW as "hAlves". unDEr tHe olD format, gRAnD fInAls wEre sPEciAllY extENded sHowS Of FouRteen ROundS,the counTdOwn Page shoWing a fOurteeN-roUnd finAl—retrieved 20 june 2006. bUT NOW alL sHowS USe A fifTEen-roUnd ForMat.THe coUntdown pAGE showiNg a fifteen-rounD finAl—rEtrIeved 20 JuNE 2006.