University Challenge 2023-24: Second Round Review and Quarter-Final Preview

OK, so, we've arrived at the first UC quarter-finals of the Amol Rajan era! I was hoping that the new era might mean a switch away from the inconsistant format, but it appears they've decided to carry on with this format for now at least. Maybe, once AR has had a couple more series to settle in, they'll have a rethink. Anyway, lets see if I can do this without making any stupid mistakes this time...

Out eight quarter-finalists, listed in order of qualification and with their overall and average scores, are:

• Trinity College Cambridge (625 over three matches, 208.33)
• Open (675 over three matches, 225)
• Christ Church Oxford (335 over two matches, 167.5)
• U.C.L. (415 over two matches, 207.5)
• Manchester (390 over two matches, 195)
• Birkbeck (375 over two matches, 187.5)
• Sheffield (420 over two matches, 210)
• Imperial (535 over two matches, 267.5)

So, those are the raw stats, as ever; now to read between the lines and determine the most likely quarter-finalists.

Well, lets start with Imperial, who, as the highest scoring unbeaten team and having beaten two very decent teams very competent opponents en route, will surely begin as huge favourites to progress.

Then we have the two repechage survivors, Trinity and Open. The former only lost the first round on a tie-breaker, but comfortably won their play-off and then narrowly won an utter stormer of a second round match. Open, meanwhile, were well beaten in the first round, but then won both their games since very easily indeed. I'd say both have a very solid chance of progression.

Manchester themselves, after that afore-mentioned first round win, soundly defeated Edinburgh, one of the second round favourites. So, two wins over two most impressive teams; that surely gives them a solid chance as well.

Sheffield looked very impressive with a high score in their first round match, but were much lower scoring in the second. If they can recapture the first round form, however, they definitely shouldn't be written off.

U.C.L. have won both their games well enough thus far without being spectacular in doing so (though they did beat the impressive Hertford team who beat Open in the first round). Birkbeck have won both their games very narrowly, but against good teams both teams. Both have a chance in the right circumstances, but are probably outsiders.

And, finally, Christ Church, the lowest scoring team left, albeit they defeated two good teams to get here. You'd probably say they're the least likely semi-finalists, but we said the same of Royal Holloway last series and look what happened there.

As usual, it'll probably be a question of who plays who when.

The BBC website reveals the first two preliminaries to be Manchester vs Birkbeck and Sheffield vs Imperial. Those both sounds like good matches, provided both teams play to their full potential in both fixtures; I'd probably go for Manchester and Imperial to win, but nothing should be taken for granted.

As for the teams involved, we have an Oxford team in the round for the first team since three series ago, albeit just the one. Cambridge has just the one two. London, meanwhile, has three, albeit only two are part of the federal university.

 

So, in short, I'd go, at a push, for Imperial, Manchester and the two repechage teams to go through, but nothing would surprise me. These are, as ever, all excellent teams, all of whom would be worthy semi-finalists. Best of luck to all of them; hopefully the round will continue the excellent form of the series so far!

Back on Monday with my usual write-up; so, see you then I guess.