Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 19: University Challenge R2M3, Only Connect Play-Off 2, Mastermind Heat 18

Hello again my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! Coming up tonight, some very dramatic contests indeed; well worth waiting for for viewers in Northern Ireland, where tonight's shows weren't shown due to football (rightly TBF) getting precedence, who've chosen to wait until they are shown on Wednesday rather than just use the iPlayer or watch English BBC2 on satellite like I suggested last week. Anyway, on with those dramatic contests, beginning with UC...

 

Southampton were winners over Bath back in the summer, a sharp contrast to the weather this week(!), where they racked up the highest score of the round as they won 255-70. They were the same foursome as that time:

Cormac Stephenson, from Stratford in London, studying Maths

Zain Mahmood, from Skipton in Yorkshire, studying Maths with Computer Science

Captain: Florence Williams, from Essex, studying Medicine

Ben Hermanns-Kermode, from Horsham, studying Chemistry

 

Imperial came through the repechage, narrowly losing to Churchill in the first round, but comfortably defeating SOAS 220-115 in their play-off to make it here tonight. They were also unchanged from their previous matches:

Rahim Dina, from the Seychelles, studying Ecology and Evolution

Eugenia Tong, from Hong Kong, studying Chemistry

Captain: Oscar O'Flanagan, from London, studying Atmospheric Physics

Justin Keung, from Hong Kong, studying Computing 

 

The match started well as the two sides took the first two starters and both took a full set of bonuses. Imperial took the next two to pull away, but Southampton bounced back with the first picture round, which they took one bonus on and were unfortunate not to get the other two, after which they'd cut the gap to 65-40. A second starter pulled the Saints closer, but Imperial reawoke and pulled away again to reach three figures first. Southampton did take the music round, which they, again, took one bonus on, which reduced their arrears to 100-65.

 

Another two starters to Imperial, and suddenly they looked in danger of running away with the contest. Southampton had other ideas, taking two starters of their own to reach three figures. They also took the second picture round, after which they were well back in the game, trailing 140-125. Another starter to the Saints, two bonuses and they suddenly had the lead. But back came Imperial and they immediately took it back with the next starter; just one bonus followed, but another two starters followed and it looked like they might have done enough. Or maybe not, as Southampton took the next starter to keep themselves in the game, and then a second in a row plus two bonuses took them back within ten! Another starter was begun... but was beaten by the gong! Imperial won 190-180.

 

A solid contest that just about sums up how unfair the round is, that a team as good as Southampton are out after a single defeat. Hard lines to them, but they can go away with their heads held high after two fine performances; thanks for playing! Well done Imperial though, another good showing against strong opponents, best of luck in the quarter-finals!

 

The stats: Ms Williams and Mr O'Flanagan were joint best buzzers of the night with five each for their respective teams. On the bonuses, Southampton managed 17 out of 30 (with the night's one penalty) and Imperial 18 out of 30, so it was those extra bonuses that won it for them.

 

Next week's match: Bristol vs Warwick, followed the week after by L.S.E. vs Manchester

 

Only Connect continued its play-off round with the Pear Trees, who lost to Oh No They Didn’t in their first match, but beat the Caraxians in their second, against the Whitley Baes, who did the exact same thing, but the other way round!

 

I claim the same point as the Trees on the mayors question and the same point as the Baes on the quiz answers question (although I may have been tempted to say ‘fictional University Challenge answers’ after three clues, which probably wouldn’t have counted!), while my Dad claims the same point as the Trees on the ‘foes of Rangers’ question; they led 4-2 at the end of that round. My Dad claims the same two points as the Trees on the music question in the second round; they led 6-3 after that.

 

The Baes went first on the Walls, and worked everything out steadily for a full ten. The Trees took a bit longer, but same result, a full ten, so as you were, they led 16-13 going into Missing Vowels. The Baes just about had the better of that though, and the game ended in a 20-each tie-breaker! Mr Erdal was first to answer ‘WHO DARES WINS’ to complete the comeback and win the game for the Baes! Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs, and thanks to the Trees for playing!

 

Mastermind was won by Carolyn Rowe, whose 25 points saw her win against Stuart Beard with 21, Finn Mawell with 17 and Bella Burgess with 11.

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; back to business as usual next week with everyone getting the shows at the same time, and not long now before the Christmas specials start as well, assuming there are any. Watch out for repeats of previous years' Xmas UC (with the previous chairman) on BBC4 soon. Anyway, back same time same place with my usual write-up next Monday, so, see yous then... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 18: University Challenge R2M2, Only Connect Play-Off 1, Mastermind Heat 17

Hello again my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! OC and Mastermind coming up later, but first, UC, and, for the first time in a few weeks, we knew for sure who would be playing tonight; in fact, we know for the next two weeks as well. Probably because its that time of year when TPTB start publishing the listings many weeks in advance in the run-up to Christmas. First repeats of previous years' Xmas UC being listed as well; not long before we get the fixture list for this year's UC and OC specials, assuming there are any. Anyway, on with tonight's show...

 

Sheffield took the scenic route here, as the previous chairman would've said, narrowly losing to Warwick in the first round, but beating New College 175-125 only two weeks ago. Back for a third time were the unchanged foursome of:

Rhys Lewis, from Haverfordwest, studying Maths

Abdelrahman Elsisi, from Alexandria, Egypt, studying Engineering

Captain: Jacob Price, from Hethersett in Norfolk, studying Astrophysics

Isobel Dobbie, from Haringey in London, studying English Literature

 

Strathclyde were comfortable winners over debutants Harper Adams in their first match, 205-45 the final score, but they were never really troubled, so it would be interesting to see how they fared against a stronger opponent. They were also the same quartet as before:

Matthew Johnston, from Dumfries and Galloway, studying Chemistry

Kate Lochrie, from Glasgow, studying Diplomacy and International Security

Captain: Jack Stirling, from Inverness, studying Chemical Engineering

Tom McHugh, from Glasgow, studying Mechanical Engineering

 

Sheffield started like a house on fire, taking the first three starters of the night and at least two bonuses from all three sets. They also took the first picture round; a full house on that meant they already led 90-0. Another starter and full house to the Steelers, and the chairman told Strathclyde there was plenty of time left. It didn't do them any good though, as Sheffield just continued to rack up the starters and, perhaps more importantly, plenty of bonuses too. Strathclyde finally got going with the music round; one bonus on that reduced their arrears to 160-15.

 

Strathclyde did take a second starter and sole bonus in the third quarter, but otherwise it was just more of the same as Sheffield continued to press ahead and soon reached and passed 200. After the second picture round, they led 225-25. And onwards and upwards they kept going, and soon they had the highest score of the series so far. Strathclyde did take a couple of late starters to ensure they wouldn't be joining the Sub-50 Club, which they wouldn't have deserved. Sheffield didn't quite make it to 300, but it hardly mattered really; at the gong, they won 290-60.

 

A one-sided, but still watchable contest. Very well done to Sheffield, a storming performance that, if they can maintain in the QFs, will make them very dangerous indeed; very best of luck to them there. Hard lines to Strathclyde, who we know from the first round are a perfectly good team, they were just simply outplayed this time; thanks to them for playing.

 

The stats: Mr Price was the best buzzer of the night with six starters, while Mr Stirling was, again, best for Strathclyde, with three. On the bonuses, Sheffield managed 26 out of 48 and Strathclyde 5 out of 12 (with the night's one penalty).

 

Next week's match: Southampton vs Imperial, followed the week after by Bristol vs Warwick

 

Only Connect began its play-offs with a classic avoidable rematch, with the 5ks and the Showstoppers meeting again after doing so in the first round; the Showstoppers won that match before losing their qualifier to the Metrophiles, while the 5ks recovered by beating the Grapevines.

 

My Mum claims the same point as the 5ks on the US state capitals question in the first round, I claim two points on the brothers of Garys and Labour Keirs questions, and my Dad claims the same two points as the Showstoppers on the blood donors question. The 5ks led 5-3 at the end of that. I claim the same two points as the 5ks on the fourth man question in the second round and the same three points as them on the Young Hearts Run Free question; they led 11-9 after that.

 

The Showstoppers went first on the Walls, but had a great deal of trouble and didn’t find any of the groups; they did get all the connections though, so four points. The 5ks, in contrast, got two groups quite quickly, then took their time to get the other two; they just about got all the connections as well for a full ten points, so they led 21-13 going into Missing Vowels. And they survived a good recovery from their opponents to win 25-19; well done them and best of luck in the QFs, and thanks to the Showstoppers for playing!

 

Next week’s match: the Pear Trees vs the Whitley Baes

 

Mastermind was, for the second week in a row, won comfortably by a gentleman called Paul, Paul Smith this time, whose 23 points saw him easily finish ahead of Catherine Firth with 19, Jonathan Wright (who looks familiar, but not sure where from) with 17 and Farrah Sheikh with 13.

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; advanced warning for any Northern Irish readers that next week's quizzes are on on Wednesday there due to, as I predicted, football getting priority again (not that that matters, as those who genuinely care will likely either use satellite to watch English BBC2 or use the iPlayer). Anyway, despite this, I'll be doing my write-ups same time same place as usual next week; so see yous then...

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 17: University Challenge R2M1, Only Connect Qualification Match 4, Mastermind Heat 16

Good evening again my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday. Coming up, my least favourite round of UC begins with a match that just about sums up why its my least favourite, plus OC and Mastermind continue as well. But first, a quick query: yesterday, TheUCReview asked me on Twitter X what the record for most penalties in a single UC game is; the record for this blog's lifetime is the Wolfson-SOAS first round match from 2016-17 (which, next year, will be ten years old, which just feels wrong!), which saw nine. If anyone knows of a match from before this blog began with more, do let us know either in the comments below or on the afore-mentioned site. Anyway, on with tonight's show...

 

Magdalen College Oxford played their first match quite recently, beating Robinson of Cambridge only three weeks ago, surely one of the shortest non-repechage returns of recent times, and doing so well, 245-105. The ante-post favourites for tonight were unchanged from before:

Aidan Woo, from Sydney, studying History and Politics

Lily Costa-Ferreira, from South West London, studying Human Sciences

Captain: Benjamin Sharkey, from Harrow, studying History

Sasha Walker, from Ely, studying Computer Science  

 

Darwin College Cambridge are also playing a second Oxbridge derby of the series; their first, against Green Templeton of Oxford, was much closer and lower scoring, as they won it on the last question of the game, 135-130. They were also unchanged from first time around:

Lewis Strachan, from North Lanarkshire, studying Parasite Biology

Ruth Ni Mhuircheartaigh, from Cork, studying Education

Captain: Louis Cameron, from London, studying English

Jonathan White, from Buckinghamshire, studying Geography

 

Darwin brushed off the pre-match betting as they took the first two starters and ever bonus bar one. Magdalen did get off the mark with the third starter, but only took one bonus. After the first picture round, Darwin led 60-15. The Cambridge side continued to dominate on the buzzer; they were a bit hit and miss on the bonuses, but it didn't matter at this stage. Magdalen did get a couple of starters as well, but were similarly hot and cold. After the music round, Darwin led 100-50.

 

The Oxonians pulled back some ground in the third quarter, as Darwin incurred a couple of penalties and they took a couple of starters, but just one bonus from each set kept them adrift. Darwin bounced back with the second picture round, after which they led 125-80. And when Magdalen lost five on the next starter and Darwin picked it up, the game was close to over; just one bonus followed, but another starter and two bonuses confirmed it. Magdalen did manage a final later starter, but no bonuses meant they undeservedly failed to reach three figures. At the gong, Darwin won 190-80.

 

A good start to the second round despite its one-sidedness. Well done to Darwin, an improved performance from their first and a worthy victory, best of luck to them in the quarter-finals! Hard lines to Magdalen, who can consider themselves unlucky to be out already after one unlucky draw and defeat; thanks to them for playing, an enjoyable team to watch.

 

The stats: Mr Cameron was, again, the best buzzer of the night with five starters, while Ms Walker was best for Magdalen with three. On the bonuses, Magdalen managed 6 out of 18 (with two penalties) and Darwin 17 out of 36 (with three penalties).

 

Next week's match: again, don't know, but anything I find out I'll post on X

 

Only Connect’s final qualification match saw the returns of the Doctors Matthews, who beat the Keyboard Worriers on a tie-break in their first match, and the Sorcerers, who defeated the Jive Bunnies without the need of one in theirs.

 

My Dad claims two points on the music question in the first round, and my Mum claims three on the tonnes question; the Sorcerers led 4-3 at the end of that round. I claim the same three points as the Doctors on the Pokeballs question in the second round and the same two points as the Sorcerers on the Olympic host cities question; the latter led 11-6 after that.

 

The Sorcerers went first on the Walls, and got one connection, but then hit a brick wall with the rest; they got three connections though, so four points. The Doctors swooped and took a full house for a full ten, which meant they now led 16-15 going into Missing Vowels. They fared better on that to complete the comeback and win 23-17. Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs, and best of luck to the Sorcerers in the play-offs.

 

Next week’s match: the first such play-off, a classic OC avoidable rematch, between the 5ks and the Showstoppers

 

Mastermind was won very easily by Paul Richardson, OC alumnus, whose 25 points saw him comfortably win ahead of Sophie Williamson with 17 and Elizabeth Howard and Atyab Rashid, UC alumnus, with 15 each.

 

And that's another week in the bag! Thanks as ever for reading and, if you haven't already, I'd very much recommend you check out Punt & Dennis: Route Masters which I talked about last week, a very good show, I'm hooked on it already after listening to just two episodes! Anyway, back again, same time same place next week with my usual write-ups, so, see yous then I guess...