Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 27: University Challenge Preliminary Quarter-Final 3, Only Connect Grand Final

Good evening my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! But not just any normal one, as it's Only Connect Grand Final day! A summary of that coming up later today. But first, a bit of bad news, as, despite the last new Celebrity Mastermind being shown tonight (except in Wales, where it's on on Wednesday), the regular series isn't resuming next Monday; instead they're showing a repeat of the first one of the celeb series! I suspect this is probably something to do with the Winter Olympics starting soon. It will mean the regular series will have been off air for nearly two months when it does finally resume, which just doesn't sit right in my eyes. Maybe it's time for Mastermind to leave Quizzy Monday and go back to a seperate slot again. Anyway, let's get on with tonight, beginning with UC...

 

Darwin College Cambridge defeated Green Templeton of Oxford by just five points in a low scoring first round match, but pulled off the upset of the second when they comfortably defeated the fancied Magdalen of Oxford team 190-80. They were the same foursome as those previous two times:

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

 

Sheffield lost to fellow quarter-finalists Warwick in the first round, but exceeded the expectations of an alumnus who commented on LAM by winning their play-off, against New College of Oxford, before soundly trouncing Strathclyde 290-60 in the second round. They were also the same quarter as their three previous games:

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

 

Sheffield took the first two starters and two bonuses from both the resulting sets. Both sides then lost five, before Darwin got themselves on the board properly, taking one of their first bonuses. The first picture round went to Sheffield, who took all three bonuses, which gave them a lead of 60-10. Darwin's captain Mr Cameron, their MVP in their earlier matches, then took two starters in a row, but just one bonus followed each time again. Sheffield, in contrast, took all three bonuses of their next set. They also took the music round, after which their lead stood at 100-40.

 

Another two starters, and Sheffield's lead was now nearly 100 points. But a penalty allowed Darwin back into the game, though they took no bonuses. They also took the second picture round, and did take two bonuses from that, which cut the gap to 130-70. Another penalty to Sheffield, another two starters to Darwin, and suddenly they weren't that far behind; the bonuses were letting them down again though, just one from those six. Sheffield reawoke and gave themselves more room to breathe, but Darwin reached three figures and finally got some bonuses to their liking, two taking. But when Sheffield took the next starter and all three bonuses, that was game over. Another subsequent penalty didn't matter. At the gong, Sheffield won 155-115.

 

A low-ish scoring game, but a decent enough contest, more of one that it looked like being at one stage. Well done Sheffield, another solid enough performance, best of luck to them in the qualification matches! Hard lines to Darwin, but they played well enough again, especially to recover so decently in the second half; best of luck to them in the eliminators!

 

The stats: Mr Cameron was, again, the best buzzer of the night, with six, while Mr Price was best for Sheffield with four. On the bonuses, Darwin managed 8 out of 24 (with one penalty) and Sheffield 17 out of 27 (with four penalties), so, just like last week, it was the bonuses that won it.

 

Next week's match: Imperial vs Warwick in the final preliminary QF

 

Only Connect’s twenty first Grand Final was contested by the Pitchers, Alexia Jarvis, Jonathan Gibson and captain Paddy Pamment, who got here by beating the Benchwarmers, the Worker Bees twice and the Sorcerers, and the 5ks, Fiona Titcombe, Thomas Carey and captain James Haughton, who lost their first match to the Showstoppers, but have since beaten the Grapevines, the Showstoppers in a rematch, Oh No They Didn’t and the Metrophiles to make it here.

 

I don’t think we got any of the questions in the first round, though my Mum did know the fact about the Grateful Dead and the Lithuanian Olympic basketball team; the Pitchers led 6-3 after that. (Also, has anyone else noticed how bad the teams have been at picking the music question in the first round this series? I’m pretty sure it’s been left til last or nearly last in most of the game this series) I do claim the same two points as the 5ks on the Tory Cabinet members question in the second round; the Pitchers led 10-7 at the end of that round.

 

The Pitchers went first on the Walls, and took their time to work out all four groups; they knew all the connections as well, so a full ten. The 5ks also took their time and worked out all four groups; they also got all four connections, another full ten, so as you were, the Pitchers led 20-17 going into Missing Vowels. And it was the Pitchers who maintained the three point lead they’d had since the first round in that and won the game, and the series, 24-21! Very well done them, most worthy winners (and I think that makes Mr Gibson only the second person to win both OC and Mastermind after Ian Bayley, but do correct me if that’s wrong); thanks to them and the 5ks, who’d have been worthy winners too, for taking part in this series! And thanks to all involved on another enjoyable series!

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; looks like it's going to be just UC to cover next week, unless something else comes up I'd like to talk about as well. Speaking of which, I'm considering starting talking about other, non-quiz related things on this blog again at some point later this year. I did experiment with that a little bit back in this blog's earliest days IIRC, but I'm thinking it might be something I might want to try again on here at some point. So, if you'd be interested in seeing me write about other things on here, do let me know. Anyway, I'll be back same time same place next week with my usual, rather shorter than usual, write-up, so, see yous then I guess... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 26: University Challenge Preliminary Quarter-Final 2, Only Connect Third Place Play-Off

Hello my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! The penultimate with the classic 2010s line-up of UC and OC, the latter of which ends next week. Just in time for Mastermind to return to regular shows as well, fittingly; unsure whether we'll be getting OC repeats in between it and UC like two years ago or some different programme like that chess show last year. Or neither. Anyway, on with tonight's festivities, beginning with UC...

 

U.C.L. got here with two solid performances and wins, firstly a close win over SOAS in a high scoring first round match, and then a more comfortable 190-85 win over Lincoln in the second round before Christmas. They were unchanged from those two games:

Zak Lakota-Baldwin, from London, studying Science and Technology Studies

Alice Lee, from Kendal, studying Russian and Post-Soviet Politics

Captain: Michael Doherty, from Derry, studying Optical Communications

Manny Campion-Dye, from Bath, studying Philosophy

 

Merton College Oxford also got here with two comfortable wins and good performances, firstly beating Durham in the first round, and then, just two weeks ago, they beat Churchill of Cambridge 180-115 to get here tonight. They were also the same quartet as both previous matches:

Ciaran Duncan, from High Wycombe, studying English Literature

Eveline Ong, from Singapore, studying Maths and Philosophy

Captain: Elliot Cosnett, from Hatton in Warwickshire, studying History

Verity Fleetwood-Law, from Amersham, studying English and French

 

The match got off to a very strange start, and both sides lost five on the first two starters, allowing the opposition to pick up and take all three bonuses, before Merton then impressively made it nine bonuses out of nine for the night. They also took the first picture round, but the run ended there as they took none of the bonuses; nonetheless, they led 55-20. Two starters in a row allowed U.C.L. to pull level, only for Merton to pull away again. But a penalty followed by the Londoners taking the next starter saw the lead change hands again. The music round went to Merton though, meaning they'd taken the lead back, 80-70.

 

The match then became very nip and tuck indeed, and U.C.L. retook the lead with the next starter, Merton drew level with the next, only for U.C.L. to take the next to pull away again! The second picture round went to Merton, and one bonus gave them the lead back, 110-105. One starter later, the Londoners led again; one starter after that, it was Merton back in front! Finally Merton made it two starters in a row, and a full house of bonuses put them within sight of the win. But back came U.C.L., two starters in a row, one bonus from both sets, and they were level again! Next starter would probably win it; Mr Cosnett took it for Merton... and that was the gong! Merton won 160-150!

 

A great contest between two very good, well matched teams; very well played both! Well done Merton, and best of luck in the qualifying matches! Hard lines to U.C.L., but they're most definitely not out yet; best of luck to them in the eliminators!

 

The stats: Mr Cosnett was, again, the best buzzer of the night, with five, while Mr Doherty was best for U.C.L. with three. On the bonuses, U.C.L. managed 13 out of 27 (with one penalty) and Merton 15 out of 27 (with three penalties), so it really was just two extra bonuses that won it for them.

 

Next week's match: Darwin vs Sheffield, followed, we can safely presume, by Imperial vs Warwick the week after

 

Only Connect’s always eagerly anticipated third place play-off was contested by the Metrophiles, who defeated the Grapevines, the Showstoppers and the Whitley Baes before losing to the 5ks in their semi-final, and the Worker Bees, who’s run so far saw them beat the Scanners, the Benchwarmers and the Doctors Matthews, but lose to the Pitchers twice.

 

I don’t think we get any questions close to right in the first round; the teams were tied 4-all at the end of it. I claim two points on the ABC question in the second round (albeit I got the third clue wrong) and three on the rainbow mnemonic question; the Metrophiles led 9-6 after that.

 

The Metrophiles went first on the Walls, and found two groups, but not the other two in their three goes; they did get the connections for the two groups they got, so four points. The Bees found one connection, but didn’t get any others in the allotted time; they did get two of the connections, so three points, which meant they trailed 13-9 going into Missing Vowels.

 

Next week's match: the final! Between the Pitchers and the 5ks; best of (retrospective) luck to both, hopefully a good end to the series! 

 

Quick mention to tonight’s Celebrity Mastermind; I don’t normally cover that, but I have to give mention to a three-way tie! Three contenders finished on 14 points and no passes! I don’t believe we’ve ever had something like that on the regular series; do let us know if you know of such an occasion.

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; next week, it's the OC final! I wouldn't say this has been the best series of OC I've covered on the blog, but it's been a perfectly acceptable one; hopefully, again, it'll get the strong ending it deserves. And then, the week after, regular Mastermind will be back; whether I'll do fuller reviews of it again to make up for no OC, I haven't decided yet, we'll see how I feel when the time comes. Anyway, be back same time same place next week with my usual write-ups, so, see yous then... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 25: University Challenge Preliminary Quarter-Final 1, Only Connect Semi-Final 2

Good evening my friends, and welcome to the second Quizzy Monday of 2026! Once again, we're on a truncated line-up because Mastermind is still on celeb editions, and will probably be so for the next two weeks as well, so, as that's when OC ends, means we probably won't get another line-up of all new regular editions of all three shows again this season. So, let's make the most of having new UC and OC while we do then, shall we? Let's start with tonight's UC, and the first QF...

 

Manchester reached the QFs via narrow wins over New College of Oxford in the first round, and L.S.E. in the second, largely thanks to their captain's excellent performances on the buzzer, 18 so far, the most of the 36 players in the QFs. They were unchanged from those two previous matches:

Ray Power, from Bangkok, studying Film and English Literature

Kirsty Dickson, from Morley Green in Cheshire, studying Medicine

Captain: Kai Madgwick, from Fowey in Cornwall, studying AI and Astrophysics

Rob Faulkner, from Norwich, studying Physics with Astrophysics

 

Edinburgh have gone somewhat under the radar so far, their first round win over Newcastle being overshadowed (for me anyway) by the unseasonably strong wind we had here that day, before beating Trinity of Cambridge in the second round; both solid wins and performances, but not as noticeable as some of the other quarter-finalists. They were also the same quartet as the first two times around:

Parthav Easwar, from Portland, Oregon, studying Sustainable Lands and Cities

Johnny Richards, from Los Angeles, studying Ancient DNA

Captain: Alice Leonard, from Portsmouth, studying Environment, Culture and Society

Rayhana Amjad, from Dublin and Glasgow, studying Computer Science

 

Edinburgh got off to the stronger start, Ms Amjad and Mr Richards taking the first four starters of the game between the two of them as the Scots side raced into an early lead. Manchester got off the mark with the first picture round, and duly took all three bonuses, which cut the gap to 70-25. It proved a brief blip though, as Edinburgh resumed their dominance, and their lead just kept increasing until they suddenly had a 100-point lead. Manchester got going again with the music round, which they took one bonus from, but their deficit now stood at 135-35.

 

Manchester finally got some momentum together as their impressive captain Mr Madgwick took a further two starters in a row and soon they had nearly halved the deficit. But a penalty halted this run, and Edinburgh duly reawoke and pulled further ahead again. They also took the second picture round, after which they led 175-60. It was now a question of how far both teams could go; Edinburgh took another couple of starters, but they didn't get any of the bonuses, not that it really mattered. Manchester did get another starter to reach a more respectable score, but didn't make it to three figures. At the gong, Edinburgh won 195-80.

 

A low(ish) scoring start to the QFs, but played in good spirits by two decent teams. Well done Edinburgh, another solid performance and win; best of luck to them in the qualifying matches! Hard lines to Manchester, but they're not out of it yet, especially if their captain picks their earlier form back up in the eliminators; best of luck to them then!

 

The stats: Mr Richards was the best buzzer of the night with seven, while Mr Madgwick was best, again, for Manchester with five (all five of their starters in fact), taking their series total so far to 23. On the bonuses, Manchester managed 8 out of 15 (with two penalties) and Edinburgh 15 out of 36.

 

Next week's match: don't know yet, but I would have to guess U.C.L. vs Merton

 

Only Connect’s second semi-final was a rematch between the Pitchers, who got here unbeaten with wins over the Benchwarmers, their opponents tonight and the Sorcerers, and the Worker Bees, who defeated the Scanners, the Benchwarmers and the Doctors Matthews alongside their loss to their opponents tonight.

 

My Mum and I claim two points on the women who married two brothers question; the Pitchers led 5-2 at the end of that first round. I don’t think we got any questions fully right in the second round, but I was pleased to spot the cricket question was something to do with cricket; the Pitchers led 12-2 after that.

 

The Bees went first on the Walls in need of a good result, and did indeed get one, working out all four groups and all four connections, for a full ten. The Pitchers also worked out all four groups, in roughly the same amount of time, but only got three connections; seven points, which meant their lead had narrowed to 19-12 going into Missing Vowels. And they maintained and improved on that lead there to win the game 27-14. Well done them, and best of luck in the final! And best of luck to the Bees in the third place play-off next week!

 

Next week's match: the Metrophiles vs the Worker Bees in that third place play-off

 

And that's it for another week! You know, as much as I disapprove of Mastermind still being on celeb editions, it's actually good that I'm not writing as much at the moment after a rather exhausting last few weeks of last year, and first couple of this year as well as it happens. But that's another story, and possibly another blog at some point later this year. Anyway, thanks as ever for reading; back same time same place next Monday with my usual write-ups, so, see yous then I guess...