If you’re still playing the mysterious numbers from Lost on the National Lottery every week, we have bad news for you. They’re not among the scientifically-proven digits that are guaranteed to win.

David Cushing and David Stewart, researchers at Manchester University, have devised the ultimate set of numbers to ensure players walk away with a win – but they don’t promise a profit. 

Their research focused on the flagship ‘Lotto’ game, in which players choose six numbers from 1 to 59 at £2 per ticket. Prizes, including Lucky Dip tickets, are won if matching two or more numbers – but to guarantee at least a pair, the study has found 27 specific tickets must be bought.

That’s £54.

Okay, so the system may not be a certain path to riches – and the duo are keen to stress they don’t recommend people gamble more or buy 27 tickets for every draw.

But how they got to the numbers is pretty cool – if mind-boggling.

The duo waded deep into the mathematical field of finite geometry, which involved plotting pairs or triplets of numbers between 1 and 59 across one of five geometric shapes.

The lines joining the numbers across the shapes were then used to generate groups of six – the number needed for a Lotto ticket – and together generated 27 different combinations.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk’s sister publication New Scientist, Mr Cushing said: ‘We’ve been thinking about this problem for a few months. I can’t really explain the thought process behind it. I was on a train to Manchester and saw this [shape] and that’s the best logical I can give.’

The 27 sets of numbers guaranteed to generate at least one win

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 
1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 

9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 
9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 
18, 19, 22, 23, 30, 31
18, 19, 24, 25, 28, 29
20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 
20, 21, 24, 25, 30, 31 
22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 
26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 

32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41 
32, 33, 36, 37, 44, 45 
32, 33, 38, 39, 42, 43
34, 35, 36, 37, 42, 43 
34, 35, 38, 39, 44, 45
36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 
40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 

46, 47, 48, 49, 54, 55
46, 47, 50, 51, 58, 59
46, 47, 52, 53, 56, 57
48, 49, 50, 51, 56, 57
48, 49, 52, 53, 58, 59
50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55
54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59

However, the numbers have so far yielded varying results. If played on June 21, they would have won £1,810. The same numbers on July 1 returned just three Lucky Dip tickets, none of which subsequently won.

In addition, the research shows there are two other combinations of 27 tickets that will guarantee a win – but again, the duo said they were not suggesting players gamble more. Instead, they were simply using old-fashioned methods to solve a very modern conundrum.

But if you do happen to be in a 26-person syndicate, be warned. Only those 27 ticket combinations guarantee a win. One less comes with no such promise.

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