Tuesday 29 March 2016

University Challenge 2015-16: Semi-Finals Preview

So, after 34 weeks (weeks off not being counted!) of ever tough quizzing, we've reached the semi-finals of this year's University Challenge. And what a series it's been: after a rather low key first round and a decent second round, things picked up in the QFs, with some of the best UC matches we've seen this decade. And after all this drama and plenty of excellent performances from winners and runners-up alike, we have our four finalist teams:
  • Peterhouse Cambridge (Thomas Langley, Oscar Powell, Hannah Woods and Julian Sutcliffe): Narrow winners over Glasgow in the first match of the series, before comfortably taking out St George's of London in the second round. Narrowly saw off strong challenges from fellow semi-finalists York and St John's to reach the semis undefeated. Their success thus far has been mostly down to buzzer work, as they have usually managed about half their bonuses, and they are also, oddly, the only semi-finalist side not to have yet broken 200.
  • Liverpool (Jenny McLoughlin, Jack Bennett, Robin Wainwright and Ed Bretherton): Comfortably defeated St Peter's of Oxford in the first round, before a closer win over Southampton in the second. Narrow wins over Newcastle and Imperial saw them book their place in the semis undefeated. Like Peterhouse, their success has been mostly on the buzzer, and their bonus rates have been middling.
  • York (Barto Joly de Lotbiniere, Sam Smith, David Landon Cole and Joseph McLoughlin): Surprised us all by trouncing Manchester in the first round, before doing likewise to Christ's of Cambridge in the second. A narrow loss to Peterhouse set them back somewhat, but easy victories over St Catharine's and Imperial saw them into the semi-finals. Strong on the buzzer and on the bonuses, getting over half right on each occasion.
  • St John's College Oxford (Alex Harries, Charlie Clegg, Angus Russell and Dan Sowood): Comfortably defeated Bristol and Queen's of Belfast in the early stages; narrowly snuck past St Catharine's in their first QF, narrowly lost their second to Peterhouse, but recovered by beating Newcastle last night. Decently strong on the buzzer, and about two thirds with the bonuses each time.
A very good semi-final line-up that. All four teams have deserved all their success, and deserve to be in the semi-final draw. And, for once, I am beaten; I have not the faintest idea of who is going to emerge from top from this lot.

I would imagine the draw will keep Peterhouse and Liverpool, the two unbeaten sides, apart. Therefore, I would imagine the draw will put Peterhouse against York again, and Liverpool against St John's. If that is the draw, some might say the former of those matches may be the title decider. But, the way things have gone this series, who knows?

After last year's furore over the all-male semi-final line-up, we do, pleasingly, have two women in this year's line-up, one of them being a captain no less. And, should the draw be the above, there's only one grand final that would see an all-male final, and, conversely, only one that would see a female on both sides.

Whatever happens in the final weeks of this series, hopefully the tension that has built up during the QFs won't peter out, and we will get the superb climax this series deserves. 

5 comments:

  1. Great articles as usual, and great commitment too, I know other people used to write on this but seem to have given up! (only 1 slight mistake, you said Liverpool beat Liverpool - It was Imperial of course!), also glad you mentioned which of 'those two universities' each college comes from this time, I still can't keep track even though we're this far!
    I'm surprised that nobody comments on here any more, I guess all the discussion has moved on to twitter, though 140 letters doesn't do justice! I recall many contestants commenting on here in years gone by. As for me, I'm just a regular viewer (since around 2012) but I like to come on here to see the statistics.

    I have a feeling it will be Liverpool v Peterhouse College Cambridge because I remember seeing 4th of April on both Bennett's and Powell's twitter but I/they could be wrong!

    I'm glad it isn't a 'rematch', to be honest, because most of the time, the rematch result is the same as the first time it happened, making it predictable and less interesting. Whilst this would be less likely if it was York v Cambridge, in years gone by it has been the case, last year Gonville Cambridge v Durham and irritatingly that Trinity Cambridge team vs Manchester the year before. Both repeats of QF matches, in the SFs.

    I think the only time there should be a replay is when it's 'unavoidable', i.e. the final. In this case, 2013, Manchester did beat UCL, the reverse of the QF match, but as said the above two examples outweigh this since they were 'avoidable' rematches and no second chances in the SF!

    Exciting times and keep it up with the commentary!

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    1. Thanks for your comment, and for pointing that error out. Sorted now!

      As far as rematches go, I agree that they should be avoided when avoidable, but after, from what I've heard, New College reacted badly to being drawn with UCL to avoid a SF rematch in 2013, I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to be a bit more lenient. Last two years have seen a SF rematch between two sides that played in the prelim QFs, and, should my suspicions be correct, we'll have one this year too.

      Thanks for your comment again!

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    2. After a bit of Twitter sleuthing, you are correct about Messrs Powell and Bennett and April 4th, so I suspect you are right about who's on Monday! Well spotted!

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    3. More twitter sleuthing ... You were right all along! It will be York vs Cambridge!

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    4. Hi. This is my first time posting on JOW (I've posted on LAM in the past) so please be gentle.
      Great article, but if you're right about the semi final draw, I fear we could be seeing yet another all male Final.

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