Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 22: University Challenge R2M6, Only Connect Quarter-Final 1, Mastermind Heat 21

Good evening my friends, and welcome to the penultimate Quizzy Monday of 2025! Yes, I know we will have two full Mondays of quizzes on the 22nd and 29th, but only OC will be the regular series, so I don't plan to publish a full write-up those weeks; just my usual Xmas UC write-ups at the end of both weeks, and probably a summary of the two regular OCs on the 29th. Like UC, Mastermind will also be having two full weeks of specials; hopefully no more intruding into the first weeks of the New Year again this time. Anyway, on with tonight's shows, and a fine night of quizzing, beginning with UC...

 

Trinity College Cambridge defeated Linacre of Oxford in their first match, dominating the first half before their opponents recovered well in the second, eventually winning 210-115. They were the same unchanged foursome as that first time:

Piers Marchant, from Sunbury-on-Thames, studying History

Alessandro D'Attanasio, from London, studying Physics

Captain: Yusuf Khand, from Liverpool, studying Physics

Lily Kearney, from Backwell near Bristol, studying Systems Biology

 

Edinburgh defeated Newcastle in their first match, which I'll always remember as it was on the night of Storm Floris, also leading throughout and ultimately seeing it home 200-105. They were also the same unchanged quartet as that fateful night:

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

 

The two sides started evenly with a starter and two bonuses each, before Trinity pulled away with two starters in a row, including the first picture starter; after the first picture round, they thus led 50-20. The sides then swapped starters, only for Trinity to also incur two penalties, which allowed Edinburgh to pull level. But one of their own allowed Trinity back into the lead and they took all three bonuses to boot. Edinburgh bounced back with the music round though, after which the teams were now level again, 75-each.

 

Suddenly, it was the Scots side who had the momentum, and three starters in a row and every bonus bar two meant they'd suddenly pulled away into a strong lead. Trinity recovered with the second picture round though, which reduced their arrears to 145-85. A second starter in a row and a timely full set of bonuses pulled the Cambridge side into three figures, and a penalty to Edinburgh led to a third in a row that allowed them to pull back to within ten points. Back came Edinburgh though with a starter and two bonuses; Trinity responded with a very quick buzz on the next starter, but no bonuses followed. And when Edinburgh took the next starter and another two bonuses, that was probably them home and dry. Trinity did take the final starter, but missed the one bonus there was time for. At the gong, Edinburgh won 180-150.

 

A good contest between two very well matched teams, ultimately it was Edinburgh's better performance on the bonus that won them the game. Well done them, and best of luck in the group stage! Hard lines to Trinity, but they didn't disgrace themselves; thanks to them for playing.

 

The stats: Mr Marchant was the best buzzer of the night with seven starters, while Mr Richards was best for Edinburgh with six. On the bonuses, Trinity managed 13 out of 28 (with three penalties) and Edinburgh 20 out of 27 (with two penalties).

 

Next week's match: Lincoln vs U.C.L., and then we break for Christmas

 

Only Connect began its quarter-final stage with the 5ks, who lost their first match to Showstoppers before beating the Grapevines and then turning the tables as they met the Showstoppers again and this time won, and Oh No They Didn’t, who came straight through to this match by beating the Pear Trees and the Whitley Baes.

 

My Mum claims the same point as the 5ks on the Hell freezing over question and we all claim the same point as them on the musicals question; they led 4-2 after that round. I don’t think we got anything in the second round, but the 5ks claimed a very rare FIVE POINTS on a question about braille; they thus led 9-6 at the end of that.

 

ONTD went first on the Walls, and used nearly all their time to get all four groups; they only got two connections though, so six points. The 5ks also got all four groups, but not all the connections, three they got; seven points, which nonetheless upped their lead to 16-12 going into Missing Vowels. They fared quite a bit better in that, and won the game 23-15. Well done them, and best of luck in the semi-finals! And thanks to ONTD for playing, a fun team.

 

Next week's match: the Metrophiles vs the Whitley Baes 

 

Mastermind was narrowly won by Alan Hotchkiss, whose 19 points saw him just edge the game ahead of Emma Reeves, who led after the SS round, but had an unlucky late ran on the GK round and finished one point short on 18. Ffion Rowlands and William Tams (UC alumnus) also competed, finishing with 7 and 16 respectively.

 

And that's it, we're done for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; as I said before, next week is the last full Monday of regular shows this year before UC and Mastermind break for their Christmas specials. OC will also be having some festive specials, albeit back to just the four this year, plus two regular episodes and a few repeats ensures we'll have ten days of all three quizzes on this festive fortnight! Anyway, back as usual next week with my last write-up of the year, so, see yous then... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 21: University Challenge R2M5, Only Connect Play-Off 4, Mastermind Heat 20

Hello again my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! Back to a feeling of normality this week after the odd feeling of last Monday, after a much more conventional week; enjoy it while we can as there won't be many more of them for a while as winter and Christmas both approach. I believe the fixtures for this year's Xmas UC and OC are both out, but I've yet to get around to checking them out; will do so tomorrow. Anyway, on with business as usual tonight, beginning with UC...

 

Manchester were narrow winners in their first match over New College Oxford, surviving a late fightback from their opponents to win 170-150 on the final starter of the game. They were the same foursome as before:

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

 

The London School of Economics beat Trinity Hall Cambridge in a higher scoring first round contest; in contrast, they pulled away late on and won 215-135. They were also the same quartet as the first time around:

Ryan Sharpe, from Oakville, Ontario, studying History and Philosophy

Cormac Beirne, from Ireland and Canada, studying the History of International Relations

Captain: Andy Huff, from Houston, Texas, studying International Social and Public Policy

Catherine Tan, from Lexington, Massachusetts, studying Anthropology and International Relations

 

We begin on a very slightly controversial note as two L.S.E. players answered the first starter at the same time; as one of them was the player who'd been announced, the chairman let them have it. He did not, however, let them off with a hesitation after buzzing on the second starter, allowing Manchester into the game. It proved a blip to L.S.E.'s dominance of the first quarter; after the first picture round, they led 45-25. Another L.S.E. penalty allowed Manchester to pull back within ten, but one to the Mancunians handed the Londoners the advantage and they reached three figures first. Manchester did take the music round, which they too one bonus on, which helped them cut the gap to 100-55.

 

This proved the start of a strong recovery from Manchester, as their virtuoso captain Mr Madgwick went on a run on the buzzer and, a few starters later, they'd suddenly taken the lead! They also took the second picture round, after which they now led 120-100. L.S.E. suddenly reawoke though, and took a couple of starters to move back into the lead. But a penalty pegged them back; Manchester didn't take advantage, but their captain took the next starter to pull them level again. A couple of penalties pushed them back, but Mr Faulkner took the next starter and one bonus gave them the lead again. And when Mr Madgwick took the final starter, that was game over; at the gong, Manchester won 160-135.

 

An absorbing contest between two very even teams, but Manchester were worthy winners in the end. Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs! Hard lines to L.S.E., another team who can consider themselves unfortunate to be out already; thanks to them for playing, a good team.

 

The stats: Mr Madgwick was, again, the best buzzer of the night with, again, NINE(!) starters, already giving them a total of 18 over two games, while Mr Huff was best for L.S.E. with four. On the bonuses, Manchester managed 15 out of 28 and L.S.E. 14 out of 24, and both sides incurred three penalties.

 

Next week's match: Trinity Cambridge vs Edinburgh, followed by Lincoln vs U.C.L. the week after, and then we break for Christmas.

 

Only Connect’s final play-off match was contested by the Benchwarmers, who were beaten by the Pitchers in their first match, but beat the Scanners in their second, and the Workers Bees, who, once again, did the exact same things in the opposite rounds!

 

I don’t think my household claimed any points in the first round; the Benchwarmers led 6-2 at the end of it. We did work out the languages sequence in the second round at around the same time as the Benchwarmers, but not sure if we’d have thought of an answer in time; I definitely claim FIVE POINTS on the Liz Truss question. The Benchwarmers led 12-6 after that.

 

The Benchwarmers went first on the Walls, and took quite a while to find one group, before getting timed out; they did get two of the connections though, so three points. The Bees, in contrast, took their time and worked out all the groups for a full ten, while meant they now led 16-15 going into Missing Vowels. And they just about hung on to their lead there to complete the comeback and win 20-19! Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs, and thanks to the Benchwarmers for playing.

 

Next week’s match: the first quarter-final, between the 5ks and Oh No They Didn’t

 

Mastermind was won by Teddy Fogel, who was level on 10 each with Meg Stapleton after the SS round, but fared a touch better on GK to win with 19 points to her 17; Tom McAndrew and Meena Heath also took part, finishing with 11 and 15 respectively.

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; only two more regular weeks to go before we break for Christmas, though, depending on whether some regular editions creep in during the festive fortnight, as has happened before, I may still keep this blog series going, we'll have to wait and see. All will become clear when I finally check the listings tomorrow. Anyway, back next week, same time same place, with my usual normal write-up, so, see yous then I guess... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 20: University Challenge R2M4, Only Connect Play-Off 3, Mastermind Heat 19

Hello again my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! After what's been a most strange week indeed, going from the utter hysteria of Tuesday night (WOOHOO SCOTLAND!) back to boring old business as usual for the rest of the week, not to mention the snow we had up here, was a bit of a drop-off that I suspect impacted me more than I thought it would. But here's one bit of business as usual that you can always count on to perk you up! Coming up, OC and Mastermind, but we begin with UC as usual...

 

Bristol defeated Cardiff in their first match, leading steadily throughout but never really pulling that far ahead, they eventually won 180-115. They were the same unchanged foursome as before:

Lewis Jenkins, from Swansea, studying Maths

Lois Connolly, from Brighton, studying Liberal Arts

Captain: Hugo Goodwill, from Surrey, studing Aerospace Engineering

Nathaniel Joyce, from Southampton, studying Biology

 

Warwick defeated Sheffield in the first match of the series, trailing almost throughout before a spectacular late recovery saw them defeat the now-quarter-finalists 210-170. Hoping to join the Steelers were the also-unchanged quartet of:

Josh Howarth, from St Albans, studying History

Antoni Kluzowski, from Chingford in London, studying English Literature and History

Captain: Chris Levesley, from Derby, studying Maths

Lucy Dennett, from South West London, studying Politics and International Studies

 

Bristol started stronger with the first two starters of the game, but only half the resulting bonuses; Warwick took the third starter and matched that tally in a single bonus set. Bristol responded in king with the first picture round though, after which they led 60-25. The Avonsiders maintained a steady lead during the second period, but Warwick kept themselves well within distance; after the music round, Bristol led 95-75.

 

A starter and single bonus pulled Warwick within five, but a penalty allowed Bristol to pull away again. But a reversal of those fortunes saw Warwick pull back to within ten points and, after the second picture round, they had taken a narrow lead, 115-110. Bristol were unfortunate not to get the next starter, but a penalty on the next allowed Warwick to pull further ahead. Bristol kept themselves in it with the next starter, but Warwick took the next to pull further away again, and a second in a row put them within sight of victory. Bristol, again, kept themselves in it with a starter and sole bonus, but when Warwick took the next, that was game over; a blank on the bonuses didn't matter. At the gong, Warwick won 180-145.

 

A good contest that, once again, makes me sad that one of these teams has to go out at this stage. Well done Warwick, another good victory over good opponents; best of luck to them in the QFs! Hard lines to Bristol, but they gave a good account of themselves; thanks to them for playing!

 

The stats: Messrs Jenkins and Levesley were the joint best buzzers of the night with five starters each for their respective teams. On the bonuses, Bristol managed 16 out of 24 (with three penalties) and Warwick 17 out of 33 (with one penalty) and, for the first time this round, all eight players got at least one starter correct.

 

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

 

Only Connect’s penultimate play-off saw the returns of the Keyboard Worriers, who lost to the Doctors Matthews but then defeated the Jive Bunnies, and the Sorcerers, who did exactly the same things in their first two matches but the other way around!

 

My Dad and I jointly claim one point on the music question, the retail brands question and the places on the Moon question in the first round; the Worriers led 2-1 after that round. I claim two points on the football days question in the second round; the Sorcerers led 5-3 at the end of that.

 

The Sorcerers went first on the Walls, and worked out all the groups steadily, but missed one of the connections, so seven points. The Worriers took a bit longer, but it was the same result, all the connections, just three groups, another seven points, so, as you were, they trailed 12-10 going into Missing Vowels. They did just a bit better in that and the game ended in a 17-each tie! A second tie in a row and a second for the Worriers. And, just like the first time, they lost out, Emily B getting “ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END” to win the Sorcerers! Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs! And thanks to the Worriers for playing!

 

Mastermind was very close indeed, with only two points separating all four contenders; Ross Taylor just about edged the game with 19 points, ahead of Julie Aris with 18 and Sam Schoen and Ryan Lewendon with 17 each.

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; hopefully this coming week will be a lot more settled than last week was, but, the way things are at the moment, who knows? Anyway, what shouldn't change is my usual Monday night routine; back same time same place next week with my usual write-up, so, see yous then...