OK, so here we are at the quarter-final stage of the most dramatic and unpredictable series of University Challenge for a long time. And not just because of the circumstances under which this series has been made. The second round has a a reputation as a brutal round due to its rather unfair sudden death format having a tendency to eliminate good teams seemingly too early, but this series, it has felt especially brutal, given that pretty much every team that were eliminated were a good team out too early.
And after all this, we have a very strong, and well balanced and spread out, quarter-final line-up; they are, in order of qualification and with their overall and aggregate scores:
- Imperial College London (495 over three matches, 165)
- Strathclyde (325 over two matches, 162.5)
- Warwick (445 over two matches, 222.5)
- Durham (345 over two matches, 172.5)
- Balliol College Oxford (350 over two matches, 175)
- King's College London (345 over two matches, 172.5)
- Magdalene College Cambridge (355 over two matches, 177.5)
- Birkbeck (500 over two matches, 250)
First, we have the two obvious favourites, Warwick and Birkbeck. Of the two, are the team I'd most fancy to reach the semis, given that both their performances thus far have been high scoring performances and wins, and also that both required them to come from behind after a slow start to run away with it. That shows resilience. Birkbeck have a higher score and aggregate thus far, but haven't really been tested yet, winning both their matches at a canter having led from the off. But if they can repeat their first and second round form in the QFs, they should reach the semis with ease.
Next, we have Imperial and Strathclyde. They fought each other in a high scoring first match, with Strathclyde winning before coming through a low scoring second round match. Imperial came through as well after a very close play-off and a rather one-sided second round match. Both could feasibly reach the semis depending on the draw; I'd personally say Imperial would be more likely, though given their rather major reliance on their captain Mr Kohn, if the starters don't fall for him...
Then we come to Balliol and Durham. Both teams went somewhat under the radar in their first matches before triumphing in high scoring second round matches against highly fancied teams who can consider themselves most unfortunate to go out when they did. Of the two, Durham I'd probably say would be the more consistant, and well balanced team, whereas Balliol came through a low scoring first match and a high scoring second match, and, in the latter, seemed rather reliant on their captain Mr O'Connor. But, again, both have a solid chance of reaching the semis.
And finally, we have Magdalene and King's. Both also went somewhat under the radar in the first round, both scoring 170 points, before triumphing in the second round over teams who they might've been considered underdogs against. They will also likely start the QFs as underdogs, but should definitely not be totally written off, Magdalene especially after that highly impressive second half performance in their second match.
In short, these teams are all contenders for the semis. Any combination of four could reach the semis and I wouldn't be surprised. They are all good teams in one way or another and all would be worthy semi-finalists.
It could, like the previous few series, just come down to who plays who when. If previous years are a guide, the first two matches of the round would be Balliol vs King's and Magdelene vs Birkbeck. But of course, what with the different filming schedule this series has had to take, that may well be different this year. An anonymous Wikipedia update nonetheless claims Magdalene vs Birkbeck will be the first match this coming Monday, but I haven't found anything to verify this yet.
It's also the most diverse group of quarter-finalist institutions in years, with just one team each from Oxford and Cambridge. This is the first time this has happened since... (peruses through the previous series listings)... the 1998-99 series won by the Open University (after being Birkbeck in the QFs no less!). It's also the fewest Oxbridge quarter-finalists since the 2006-07 season when there was just one, Wadham College Oxford.
In short, these are all good teams; any of them could reach the semis and I wouldn't be surprised. UC has taught us to expect the unexpected over the years and we should continue to do so as we go into one of the most open group stages in years. Best of (retrospective) luck all teams; hopefully a great set of matches!
Back on Monday, and I may be starting something extra on here as well in the foreseeable future. Until then, sayonara.
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