University Challenge 2015-16: Semi-Finals Preview

So, after 34 weeks (weeks off not being counted!) of ever tough quizzing, we've reached the semi-finals of this year's University Challenge. And what a series it's been: after a rather low key first round and a decent second round, things picked up in the QFs, with some of the best UC matches we've seen this decade. And after all this drama and plenty of excellent performances from winners and runners-up alike, we have our four finalist teams:

• Peterhouse Cambridge (Thomas Langley, Oscar Powell, Hannah Woods and Julian Sutcliffe): Narrow winners over Glasgow in the first match of the series, before comfortably taking out St George's of London in the second round. Narrowly saw off strong challenges from fellow semi-finalists York and St John's to reach the semis undefeated. Their success thus far has been mostly down to buzzer work, as they have usually managed about half their bonuses, and they are also, oddly, the only semi-finalist side not to have yet broken 200.
• Liverpool (Jenny McLoughlin, Jack Bennett, Robin Wainwright and Ed Bretherton): Comfortably defeated St Peter's of Oxford in the first round, before a closer win over Southampton in the second. Narrow wins over Newcastle and Imperial saw them book their place in the semis undefeated. Like Peterhouse, their success has been mostly on the buzzer, and their bonus rates have been middling.
• York (Barto Joly de Lotbiniere, Sam Smith, David Landon Cole and Joseph McLoughlin): Surprised us all by trouncing Manchester in the first round, before doing likewise to Christ's of Cambridge in the second. A narrow loss to Peterhouse set them back somewhat, but easy victories over St Catharine's and Imperial saw them into the semi-finals. Strong on the buzzer and on the bonuses, getting over half right on each occasion.
• St John's College Oxford (Alex Harries, Charlie Clegg, Angus Russell and Dan Sowood): Comfortably defeated Bristol and Queen's of Belfast in the early stages; narrowly snuck past St Catharine's in their first QF, narrowly lost their second to Peterhouse, but recovered by beating Newcastle last night. Decently strong on the buzzer, and about two thirds with the bonuses each time.

A very good semi-final line-up that. All four teams have deserved all their success, and deserve to be in the semi-final draw. And, for once, I am beaten; I have not the faintest idea of who is going to emerge from top from this lot.

I would imagine the draw will keep Peterhouse and Liverpool, the two unbeaten sides, apart. Therefore, I would imagine the draw will put Peterhouse against York again, and Liverpool against St John's. If that is the draw, some might say the former of those matches may be the title decider. But, the way things have gone this series, who knows?

After last year's furore over the all-male semi-final line-up, we do, pleasingly, have two women in this year's line-up, one of them being a captain no less. And, should the draw be the above, there's only one grand final that would see an all-male final, and, conversely, only one that would see a female on both sides.

Whatever happens in the final weeks of this series, hopefully the tension that has built up during the QFs won't peter out, and we will get the superb climax this series deserves. 

University Challenge 2015-16: Play-Off Quarter-Final 2: St John's vs Newcastle

Evening all. Well, we've finally reached the end of the QF stage of the contest; whoever won tonight would take the final place in the semis, and also decide who fought who in them. Both teams had done very well to get this far, and both would deserve to go through.

St John's imperiously defeated Bristol and Queen's of Belfast in the knockout rounds; they just scraped past St Catharine's in their first QF, but were narrowly taken down by Peterhouse in their second. Hoping to make amends for that were the unchanged quartet of:
Alex Harries, from South Wales, studying History
Charlie Clegg, from Glasgow, studying Theology
Captain: Angus Russell, from Mill Hill in North London, studying History and Russian
Dan Sowood, from Uxbridge in Middlesex, studying Chemistry

Newcastle got through the early stages via victories over Kent and Glasgow, before narrowly losing out to Liverpool in their first QF; they made up for that though with a comfortable win over Nuffield in their second. They too were the same four as those prior occasions:
Alexander Kirkman, from Guildford, studying Biomedical Sciences
Nicholas Smith, from Chorley in Lancashire, studying Medicine
Captain: Tony Richardson, from County Durham, studying International Politics
Kate Bennett, from Chichester, studying Film Theory and Practice

Off we set again then, and 'twas St John's who got off the mark first courtesy of Mr Clegg, and they stamped their feet firmly down on proceedings by immediately taking a full bonus set. The second starter also went to the Oxonians, but just one bonus followed this time; an amusing moment saw Mr Russell mistakenly nominate Mr Harries, who in turn nominated Mr Clegg! Newcastle got off the mark courtesy of Mr Smith, and they took two bonuses on scientific terms. A second starter from Mr Clegg and full bonus set went to St John's. The first picture round, on historical figures whose hearts are buried separately and maps showing where, went to Newcastle, who took two bonuses, which cut the deficit to 65-40.

Mr Richardson took a second starter in a row for Newcastle, but a tricky literary set only provided one bonus. Neither side took the next starter, Mr Clegg took the next, but a very tricky bonus set on infinite series (me neither) got them nowhere. A second starter in a row to Mr Clegg, however, saw them impressively take a full bonus set on rivers who names are formed using two two letter words allowed in Scrabble.

The music round, on pieces by students of the Leipzig Conservatoire, went to St John's, who took two bonuses, which upped their lead to 120-55. Both sides narrowly missed the next starter, a piece of snooker arithmetic (34? 35? No it's 33!). Another starter was dropped, before Mr Russell took the next starter, and two bonuses followed. Mr Smith won the race to say 'I love you' to Paxo for the next starter(!), and the Tynesiders took one bonus on modern art. A very quick buzz from Mr Clegg added to the Oxford side's score, and one bonus followed.

The second picture round, on paintings depicting Shakespearean scenes, went to St John's, who took one bonus, which nonetheless increased their lead to 170-70. But not for long, as Mr Smith took the next starter, and his side took one bonus on emotive words ending ERY. A second starter and single bonus in a row went to the Tynesiders, taking them into triple figures and just about keeping alive hopes of a fightback.

But a slip-up handed possession back to St John's, and two bonuses pretty much confirmed they couldn't be caught. A question on theology appropriately went to theology student Mr Clegg, and two bonuses followed again. Newcastle returned into triple figures by taking the next starter, and went out with a bang by taking a full set of bonuses. At the gong, St John's won 210-120.

Another excellent match of the high standard we've come to see this series. Unlucky Newcastle, but a very respectable effort, and thank you very much indeed for playing this series. Very well done to St John's though; another strong showing against good opponents, and very best of luck in the semis!

Mr Clegg was the best buzzer of the night, with seven to his name; Mr Smith was best for Newcastle win four, though Mr Richardson was the side's best for the series as a whole, with 24 overall. On the bonuses, St John's converted a decent 20 out of 33, while Newcastle managed an also respectable 11 out of 21 (with one penalty).

Next week's match: the first semi-final! A Peterhouse-York rematch is my best guess, given that Peterhouse have already played both sides who lost a QF en route, but we shall see.

University Challenge 2015-16: Play-Off Quarter-Final 1: York vs Imperial

Evening all. Well, surely it's no coincidence that this most unpredictable series of University Challenge has coincided with the most unpredictable Premier League season in years! To summarise, two teams who began the QFs as moderate outsiders are safely through, and at least one of the two teams who began them as favourites wouldn't make the semis, as they played each other tonight. Winners go through, runners-up go home.

York easily defeated Manchester (the Team Every... oh, forget it) in their first match and Christ's of Cambridge in their second; they narrowly lost to Peterhouse in their first QF, but recovered with a win over St Catharine's in their second. They were unchanged from those outings:
Barto Joly de Lotbiniere, from London, studying History
Sam Smith, from Guernsey, studying Chemistry
Captain: David Landon Cole, from Yeovil, studying Politics
Joseph McLoughlin, from Oldham, studying Chemistry

Imperial trounced Reading and Sidney Sussex of Cambridge in the early stages; they comfortably won out over Nuffield in their first QF, but their second saw them narrowly defeated by Liverpool. They too were the same four we've got used to over the past months:
Ben Fernando, from Birmingham, studying Physics
Ashwin Braude, from North London, studying Physics
Captain: James Bezer, from Manchester, studying Physics
Onur Teymur, from North London, studying Mathematical Statistics

Off we set again then, and Mr Joly de Lotbiniere took the first starter of the night, and York put their intentions firmly down by taking a full set of bonuses on the works of Mr G. Orwell. Mr Bezer slipped up and lost five on the next starter, allowing York to take a second starter and full bonus set in a row. A third starter and full bonus set for York meant Imperial already looked in deep trouble; what they didn't need was another slip-up. And then another penalty took Imperial down to (-15); only (AFAIK) the second Paxo-era team to fall that far back, the other being the infamous New Hall Cambridge team from late '97. Thankfully, Mr Teymur finally got one right for the London side, and two bonuses took them back into positives. The first picture round, on non-German European cities and their old German names, went to York, who swept up yet again, and thus lead 100-5.

Mr Fernando cut some of that gap with the next starter, and Imperial, again, took two bonuses on the work of economist George Akerlof. Mr Bezer made up for his earlier misdemeanors by taking a second starter in a row for the London side, and, again, two bonuses, on acids, followed. York maintained their impressive bonus work when Mr Smith's taking of the next starter was accompanied by a clean sweep on African countries. This remarkable consistency continued: Imperial took two bonuses on a set on birds, while York swept up a set on Herefordshire churches. Excellent work by both sides; totally indicative of the standard at this late stage.

The music round, on classical pieces their composers hated, went to Imperial, who went one better than so far and took all three bonuses, cutting the deficit to 150-90. York's bonus form also ended, as they only took one bonus from a set of quotes from Hamlet. Imperial only managed one from their next set too. Mr Fernando took another starter for Imperial, and just the one bonus followed from that set too.

The second picture round, on portraits of Bible translators and the languages they translated it into, went to York, who took two, which increased their lead to 185-120. It increased again when Mr McLoughlin took the next starter, but just the one bonus followed this time. Mr Fernando kept Imperial's hopes of a late comeback alive by taking the next starter, and the side took two bonuses on electronics.

But Mr Smith took another starter for York, and the side took a full bonus set on geology. And when Mr Smith very impressively took the next starter, two bonuses gave them a 100+ lead, and that was game over for Imperial. A third starter in a row for Mr Smith was only accompanied by one bonus, but it didn't matter too much at this point. The match petered out with two dropped starters, one of which lost Imperial another five. At the gong, York won 260-135.

Another excellent match well played by both sides, even though it finished up rather one-sided. Unlucky Imperial, who never quite recovered from that rough start, but did very well when they did get in, and have been superb throughout this series, so well done to them and thanks for playing! Very well done to York though; another excellent performance against strong opponents, and very very best of luck in the semis!

Mr Smith was, just, the best buzzer of the night with six, while Mr Fernando was best for Imperial with three; Mr Bezer was, just, Imperial's best buzzer of the series overall, with 24 to Mr Fernando's 23. On the bonuses, York converted a fantastic 28 out of 36, while Imperial managed an also decent 15 out of 24 (with four penalties); excellent work by both sides there.

Next week's match: St John's vs Newcastle in the final QF. We're nearly there now, people!

University Challenge 2015-16: Elimination Quarter-Final 2: Nuffield vs Newcastle

Evening all. Well, after the somewhat slow start to this series, things have really picked up in the QF stage, with some absolutely cracking matches so far in the process (no Apprentice reference intended!). Tonight's match, on paper, looked like another good close one, with two teams with similar passages through the early rounds, but pretty different QF progress.

Nuffield defeated Queen Mary of London in the first round, and then Warwick in the second, but were soundly defeated by Imperial in their first QF, beaten by a late sprint from the opposition. They were the same four who played those three matches:
Spencer Smith, from Holland, Michigan, studying Economics
Alexander Sayer Gard-Murray, from Los Angeles, studying Politics
Captain: Mathias Ormestad Frendem, from Oslo, studying International Relations
Daniel Kaliski, from Cape Town, studying Economics

Newcastle took out Kent in their first match, and then defeated Glasgow in the second, but were narrowly defeated by Liverpool in their first QF outing, narrowly being pipped late on. They too were unchanged from their prior outings:
Alexander Kirkman, from Guildford, studying Biomedical Sciences
Nick Smith, from Chorley in Lancashire, studying Medicine
Captain: Tony Richardson, from County Durham, studying International Politics
Kate Bennett, from Chichester, studying Film Theory and Practice

Off we set again then, and Mr Richardson took the first starter for Newcastle, and a full set of bonuses accompanied it. Nuffield tried to reply, but slipped and lost five, allowing Mr Richardson to take a second starter and another full bonus set followed as well. A third starter fell the Tynesiders' way, but just the one bonus followed this time. A second slip-up dropped Nuffield to (-10), but Mr Ormestad Frendem recouped their losses, and they took two bonuses from their first set. The first picture round, on the opening lines of novels written in their native French (including Proust's 'A La recherche de Temps Perdu'), went to Nuffield, who swept the board, cutting the gap to 65-30.

A third starter in a row went to the Oxford side, with Paxo harshly mocking Mr Ormestad Frendem's apparently thinking the questions too easy(!), two bonuses, and the gap was down to 15. Mr Smith of Newcastle steadied his side's ship, taking a starter, but just one bonus from a tricky set of glaciology followed. An almost equally as tricky set accompanied Newcastle's next starter, and nothing came of it this time.

The music round, on film scores by Bernard Herrmann for non-Hitchcock films, went to Newcastle, who took one bonus, which increased their lead to 105-50. A timely intervention from Mr N. Smith upped that lead, as did a full set of bonuses on minor characters in Shakespeare. (I got Measure for Measure, the old chestnut of that being the only play by Will S. set in Vienna) Mr Ormestad Frendem took a much needed starter for his side, and all four Oxonians took a much needed full bonus set on Africa countries. A second starter and full bonus set in a row went to Nuffield, and set up a tense final stretch.

The second picture round, on opera houses, went to Newcastle, who took took just the one bonus, which nonetheless upped their lead to 145-100. Mr N. Smith took Newcastle further into the lead, but the side got nothing from a set of bonuses on the painter Velasquez (though they did give us our comedy moment of the night!). It was only appropriate, however, that a starter on the Angel of the North went to the Tynesiders! They took a full bonus set on Quakers, giving Nuffield a tall order going into the final minutes.

Neither side took the next starter, though both came close, but when Mr Kirkman took the next starter, plus one bonus, Newcastle were 95 ahead, and most likely home and dry. Mr Gard-Murray took another starter for Nuffield, but just the one bonus on battles confirmed they weren't going to catch up. Neither side took the penultimate starter, the final one went to Mr Richardson, and that was it. At the gong, Newcastle won 205-115.

Another good enjoyable match, despite it not being as close as some of recent weeks. Unlucky Nuffield, who never quite recovered and caught up from that slow start, but nothing to be ashamed of throughout this series, and thanks very much for playing. Well done to Newcastle though; another good performance, plus their highest score yet, and very best of luck in your play-off!

Our man Mr Richardson was the best buzzer of the night, with eight (taking his series total so far to 22), while Mr Ormestad Frendem was Nuffield's best with five (making him his side's best buzzer this series with 14). On the bonuses, Nuffield converted an very good 13 out of 18 (with two early penalties), while Newcastle managed a decent 17 out of 33.

Next week's match: nothing confirmed yet from what I've seen, but York vs Imperial if my and UKGS's best guess.

Only Connect returned tonight for its Sport Relief special, which I will watch tomorrow night, though maybe not comment on on here, given I didn't do the Children in Need special. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to Challenge to check out The Chase Australia.

University Challenge 2015-16: Qualification Quarter-Final 2: Imperial vs Liverpool

Evening all. OK, so you've heard me criticising the show's QF format in recent years, saying its time for something a bit different. It is time maybe I lightened up, and not tried to be too serious, so that is what I shall try and do from now. Also, we've had some cracking games so far in the QFs this series, and tonight's, hopefully, would carry that on, as two excellent teams played to join Peterhouse in the semis.

Imperial have run riot through the competition so far, trouncing Reading and Sidney Sussex of Cambridge in the early rounds, before running away with their first QF against Nuffield in the final minutes. They were unchanged from those previous matches:
Ben Fernando, from Birmingham, studying Physics
Ashwin Braude, from North London, studying Physics
Captain: James Bezer, from Manchester, studying Physics
Onur Teymur, from North London, studying Mathematical Statistics

Liverpool have quietly but calmly made steady progress thus far, with victories over St Peter's of Oxford and Southampton early on, before narrowly beating Newcastle in their first QF. They too were unchanged from those prior encounters:
Jenny McLoughlin, from Leeds, studying Biological and Medical Sciences
Jack Bennett, from Lancaster, studying Law
Captain: Robin Wainwright, from the Wirral, studying Biological Sciences
Ed Bretherton, from Bampton in Devon, studying Medicine

Off we set again then, and Imperial shot off the mark, with Mr Bezer taking the first starter, and all three bonuses on the city of Halicarnassus. Liverpool slipped up on the next starter, but their opponents didn't pick it up; Imperial then returned the favour by dropping five themselves, and Liverpool did take the points. They took two bonuses, and a second starter in a row gave them the lead. But Imperial quickly reclaimed the lead with a starter and a bonus. The first picture round, on flags of states that are not officially independent in their own right (i.e. not acceptable on Pointless!), went to Liverpool, who took all the bonuses, and back the lead 50-40.

Imperial drew level with the next starter, and swept the board on a set of bonuses on, ironically, the Big Bang Theory! (Why is that not surprising?!) Liverpool took back the lead thanks to a starter from Mr Bennett and a full bonus set of their own. Imperial then fell victim to one of those borderline interruptions, but Liverpool couldn't capitalise; the London side did take the next starter, but drew a blank on the bonuses. Another penalty dropped Imperial back, and allowed Liverpool to take the points, but got nothing from a rather complicated bonus set.

The music round, on excerpts from dances of the baroque suite, went to Liverpool, who took two bonuses, and thus won the battle to reach triple figures first, leading 105-65. A quick buzz took Imperial back into the match, but just one bonus on the Prohibition act followed. A good starter asked for the letter common to surnames of the first three PMs of this century (R: BlaiR, BRown and CameRon), and was taken by our man Mr Bennett, but no bonuses on economic works followed for his side. Another slip-up from Imperial handed more points to the Merseysiders, but more complicated bonuses proved, again, no use. Imperial did take another starter, and a full bonus set on garlic showed they were still very much in the match.

The second picture starter was narrowly missed by both sides; a slip-up from Liverpool gave Imperial the picture bonuses, on stills from films and paintings by artists that inspired their design. They took one bonus, which was enough to cut the gap to 115-120. A starter for Mr Bezer gave them the lead, and two bonuses on sudden literary success followed. But Imperial then dropped another five, allowing Liverpool in the back door, and a full bonus set on Japanese mammals followed.

A second starter in a row went Liverpool's way; just one bonus on pairs of years followed, but when Mr Wainwright took the next starter, that was game over. Just one bonus followed again, but it didn't matter by now, and Mr Bennett took the final starter just to make sure. At the gong, Liverpool won 185-130.

Another excellent close match between two good teams both worthy of the semis. Unlucky Imperial, but a fair effort nonetheless, and very best of luck in your play-off. Very well done Liverpool though; another excellent showing against strong opponents, and very very best of luck to yous in the semis!

Our man Mr Bennett was the best buzzer of the night, with seven (taking his series total thus far up to 23), while Mr Bezer was best for Imperial with three (taking his to 22). On the bonuses, Imperial converted an OK 15 out of 24 (with a not so OK five penalties), while Liverpool managed an also decent 15 out of 33 (with two penalties); so three extra starters plus not as many penalties was what won them the match.

Next week's match: Nuffield vs Newcastle