University Challenge 2013-14: Grand Final: Trinity vs Somerville

Well guys, this is it. After 36 weeks of fine quizzing, we've made it to the Grand Final of University Challenge. Over the weekend, I happened upon an article in the Independent online remarking on how unfortunate that the final is all-male and Oxbridge; unfortunate, yes, but these things happen occasionally. And, as Dave Clark said on LAM the other day, you have to say the best two teams in the series have made it. Whoever won would deserve it.

Trinity College Cambridge came through to this stage undefeated, defeating Christ Church Oxford, Peterhouse Cambridge, Manchester, SOAS, and Manchester again, scoring at least 240 points every time. They were the same four we've had all series: 
Matthew Ridley, from Northumberland, studying Economics 
Filip Drnovšek Zorko, from Slovenia, studying Natural Sciences 
Captain: Ralph Morley, from Ashford in Kent, studying Classics 
Richard Freeland, from Cowbridge in Glamorgan, studying Maths

Somerville College Oxford also made it here undefeated, having beaten Pembroke College Cambridge, York, Clare College Cambridge, our old friends Southampton and SOAS as well, their lowest score this far being 190 points. They were the same four as the quarter-finals and semi-final: 
Sam Walker, from Stafford, studying Physics   
Zac Vermeer, from Sydney, studying Law   
Captain: Michael Davies, from Blackburn, studying PPE   
Chris Beer, from Blyborough in Lincolnshire, studying English Literature

So, both got here undefeated, both having beaten good teams all the way through. Very little between the two teams, with only Trinity's overall higher scoring being the difference. I couldn't call it.

Off we set then, and it was the hitherto impressive Chris Beer who struck first and took Somerville into an early lead; a full set of bonuses showed they meant business. Richard Freeland promptly got Trinity off the mark, but they found the bonuses a bit trickier, only getting one. They soon made up for that though with another starter and a full set. The Cambridge side also took the first picture round, on stamps depicting Jane Austen scenes; this gave them a lead of 60-25.

In shot Zac Vermeer, also impressive in the early rounds, and a second full set of bonuses meant Somerville sat just ten points adrift. Ralph Morley promptly extended Trinity's lead with the next starter, but the side had no luck with the bonuses. At this stage, Trinity had the better of the buzzers, but Somerville had not yet got a bonus wrong, thus keeping the gap tight. The teams exchanged slip-ups, with Somerville eventually getting a starter, but just one from a rather complex bonus set on planetary arithmetic.

The music round followed, on popular choices of listeners of Desert Island Discs, and this allowed Trinity to extend their advantage to 105-60. But Somerville weren't going to let them run away, as they showed when Zac Vermeer took the next starter, and the side took a third full set of bonuses. JOW and LAM contributor Filip 'opaltiger' Drnovšek Zorko, who'd been quiet thus far, was a bit unlucky to slip-up on the next starter, but his colleague Mr Morley made up for it with the next starter. But Chris Beer shot in again on the next starter, and both teams were now into three figures. What a final so far!

Neither side identified Nikola Tesla for the second picture starter, but our man Filip took the next, giving Trinity the picture bonuses, on scientists who gave their names to SI units. Trinity's now lead stood at 160-110; the way Somerville had been converting bonuses all night, two starters may have been enough to catch up. They did get those two starters (including an amusing one on subjects linked by 'The Master', which Mr Beer may have only got due to the Doctor Who clue!), but they could only manage one of the bonuses that came with them.

Ralph Morley took the next starter, which gave Trinity more breathing space, and this was the moment Trinity switched on their back-burners once more, and began to win the buzzer race more convincingly. When our man Filip took a starter to break the side through 200, you began to think they'd done it; and when Filip took another starter, that was it. Our man took his third starter in a row, and just as they were answering the first bonus, the gong went.

Trinity had won the match, and the series, 240-135. Somerville offered applause for the winners, before Jeanette Winterson stepped in, and handed the trophy over the winners. (Was it me, or did she say the trophy looked like something out of the Hobbit?!) As the credits rolled, as is traditional, Somerville walked over to shake hands with Trinity.

Many congratulations Filip and co! You played superbly from the off, and maintained that good form all the way through. A very well deserved victory! Well done to Somerville too, who also gave a very good account of themselves, and have been brilliant this series. Thank you too to Paxo, and to everyone who partook in, what has been, a great series. I hope to look over it in greater detail at some point this week.

The stats: that late surge saw our man Filip take the title of best buzzer of the night, with five starters, which means he is the side's best buzzer of the series with 29 overall. Zac Vermeer was Somerville's best with four; he and Mr Beer are the side's joint best buzzers of the series with 23 each. On the bonuses, Trinity converted a respectable 22 out of 40 (with two penalties), while Somerville managed an equally good 14 out of 21 (with one penalty).

So, that ends what has been a terrific series of University Challenge; I'll be posting a highlights summary later this week. Let's hope the next is just as good. Until then, I'll be covering the new series of Only Connect that starts next week, and there's also a new series of the Third Degree, which began today. We'll see where things go from here.