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.