Monday 10 April 2017

University Challenge 2016-17: Grand Final: Wolfson vs Balliol

Evening all. Well, here we are: the 46th University Challenge grand final! And a hotly anticipated one as well, even if the pre-match coverage has been a bit partisan towards one team, or rather, one player! A fourth Oxbridge final in a row, and whichever team won the title would thoroughly deserve their place in the annals of UC history.

Wolfson College Cambridge arrived here by beating SOAS, Jesus of Cambridge, their opponents tonight, Warwick and, in the semi-final, their friends at Emmanuel College Cambridge, their only slip-up so far a narrow defeat to Edinburgh. Hoping to make it four in a row for Cambridge were:
Justin Yang, from Vancouver, studying Public Health and Primary Care 
Ben Chaudhri, from Cockermouth in Cumbria, studying Natural Sciences 
Captain: Eric Monkman, from Oakville, Canada, studying Economics 
Paul Cosgrove, from Cookstown in Northern Ireland, studying Nuclear Energy

Balliol College Oxford's run to the final saw them beat Imperial of London, Robinson of Cambridge, Birmingham, Corpus Christi of Oxford and Edinburgh, their only blip in that run being the afore-mentioned defeat to their opponents tonight. Hoping to be the first Oxford winners for six years, and complete the double with the Men's Boat Race, were:
Freddie Potts, from Newcastle, studying History
Jacob Lloyd, from London, studying English
Captain: Joey Goldman, from London, studying Philosophy and Theology
Ben Pope, from Sydney, studying Astrophysics

Off we set again then, and Mr Pope got the ball rolling for the night, beating at least two of his colleagues to the buzzer with 'Paris'; the Oxford side set their stall firmly out for the night, taking all three bonuses. Mr Monkman took his first starter of the night, identifying characters from the Magic Flute; his side converted two bonuses on foreign reptiles. The Cambridge side then took the lead thanks to Mr Chaudhri, but bonuses on medieval Earls of Orkney got them nowhere. Another starter to Mr Monkman did though, as did one resultant bonus. The first picture round, on treaties and accords and the national boundaries they resulted in, went to Wolfson, who took two bonuses, which put them ahead 65-25.

Mr Pope stopped them dead in their tracks with a good quick buzz on the next starter; only one bonus on historical duels followed, but they had stopped their opponents just as they were threatening to pull away. Indeed, Mr Monkman then slipped up on the next starter, and the one after as well; Balliol picked up the points at the second time of asking, and two bonuses on cosmology gave them the lead. Mr Pope then gave them some breathing space as he took the next starter, and another two bonuses followed. At this stage, the sides were level in terms of correct starters, but Balliol's better bonus work meant they had the advantage.

The music round, or rather, the audio round, on Radio 4's Reith Lectures, went to Wolfson, who took a much needed full bonus set, which put them level on 80-each. A good quick buzz from that man Monkman gave them the lead again, and a good bonus set on Tudor executions, requiring any one of three successive years, saw them take two and narrowly miss the other. Both sides missed the next starter, a piece of chemical number arithmetic; Mr Monkman took the next, but just the one bonus followed. Yet another 'non-interruption', which I seriously hope TPTB are paying attention to the growing annoyance at, then cost Wolfson five, and allowed Balliol back into the game; they took two bonuses on flowering plants to cut the gap to ten points. What a great final this was turning out to be!

The second picture round, on modern reinterpretations of famous artworks, went to Balliol, who took just the one bonus, unluckily missing the others, which gave them a slender lead of 115-110 going into the home straight. Mr Goldman, who'd had a quiet first half of the show, now seemed to have finally found his range, as he took a third starter in a row, and a crucial full bonus set on physics gave them room to manoeuvre. Back came Wolfson, with Mr Monkman again doing the honours, but they dropped all the bonuses, which might just prove costly.

Mr Monkman then had a chance to cut the gap again, but he only managed to lose another five, and hand Mr Goldman the points and possession. Balliol took full advantage and put 50-point daylight between them and their opponents with another full bonus set. Back came Mr Monkman again, but Wolfson really needed the bonuses to fall for them to keep in touch; they duly obliged with a much needed full set, putting them one starter and full set behind. The next starter was dropped, but when Mr Goldman took the next one, that was most likely game over. Indeed, Balliol took another full set, on German cities, which confirmed them as the victors. And that was the gong; Balliol had done it, 190-140!

For the trophy presentation, for only the second time in the show's history, we left the studio, and went on location! To Gonville & Caius College Cambridge, where Paxo and the two teams were joined by Professor Stephen Hawking, who said a few words, before Paxo handed the trophy over to Balliol. As the credits rolled, the teams sipped down some celebratory drinks!

Overall, a great final, one the series deserved, and definitely one of the best of the decade as well! Unlucky Wolfson, but nothing to be ashamed of at all getting to the final, especially in what has been a very close competitive series, and thanks very much indeed for playing. Very very well done to Balliol though, who have been excellent from the off, and worthy additions to the champions list! Very well done indeed!

Mr Monkman was, once again, the best buzzer of the night, with seven, making him by far the best buzzer of the series, with 49 overall. Mr Goldman was Balliol's best of the night with five, giving him a final series total of 41. On the bonuses, Wolfson converted 14 out of 27 (with four damaging penalties), while Balliol managed 20 out of 27; that's where the match, and the title was won. But thanks again to both teams for giving us the great final this series deserved!

And that's it! We can all retire now for a well-earned rest! Well, yous all can; I still have the small matter of my usual post series review. It, along with the buzzer stats, will be popping up on here this week, so stay tuned!

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