University Challenge 2017-18: Qualification Quarter-Final 2: Merton vs Edinburgh

Evening all. Into the home straight now, just six more matches after tonight. In fact, if this were a regular elimination format, this would have been the grand final this week.As we get to the business end of the tournament, this is also the final match where the runners-up will be coming back, presumably against Bristol in the first play-off. Winners would join St John's in the semis.

Merton College Oxford have very comfortably strolled through the series thus far, beating King's of Londonin the first round, the Oxford Brookes in the second, and the very decent Fitzwilliam team 270-125 in the prelims. Hoping to carry this on tonight were the unchanged foursome of:
Edward Thomas, from Kent, studying Ancient and Modern History  
Alexander Peplow, from Amersham in Buckinghamshire, studying Medieval Studies  
Captain: Leonie Woodland, from Cambridge, studying Physics  
Akira Wiberg, from Sweden and Japan, studying Molecular and Cellular Medicine

Edinburgh, by contrast, have won their three games thus far by close margins, beating fellow quarter-finalists Ulster by five in the first round, the decent U.C.L. also by five in the second, and in their first quarter-final a late sprint saw them beat Emmanuel 125-110. Hoping to pull something of a Wigan off tonight were the also unchanged four of:
John Heaton-Armstrong, from Edinburgh, studying Russian and History 
Stanley Wang, from Edinburgh, studying Speech and Language Processing 
Captain: Innis Carson, from Glasgow, studying Chemistry 
Philippa Stone, from Oxford, studying Biology

Off we set again then, and controversy on the very first starter: all we heard was "Who is the only person to have won both an Academy Award and a Nobel Prize?" before Mr Peplow promptly came in with 'George Bernard Shaw'; he was marked correct, but the Twittersphere points out that Bob Dylan has also done that particular double! Tut tut question setters! Merton set their stall out with a full bonus set, and when Mr Wiberg took a second prompt starter in a row, were already looking on match-winning form. Just one bonus came this time though. Merton then lost five, but Edinburgh couldn't pick up; then vice versa, and Merton did pick up, taking all three bonuses to boot. The first picture round, on flags of administrative sub-divisions that would be in the top 20 largest countries if independent, went to Edinburgh, who took a full house, cutting their deficit to 60-20.

Another very quick buzz from Mr Peplow that I somehow foresaw him making(!) increased that lead, but no bonuses on British film makers came with it. US philosophers proved more to the Oxonians' liking, taking a full set, before Mr Peplow came in quickly again on the next starter, but no bonuses on astronomy came this time. Mr Carson came in well on the next starter, identifying Irn Bru as the product that lost an 'O' and changed an 'EW' to a 'U' in 1946! Female authors who wrote under a male penname provided the Scots side with one correct answer.

The music round, on classical pieces evoking witchcraft, went to Merton, with Edinburgh dropping five in the process; a rare full music bonus set gave the Oxonians a lead of 135-30. Already it looked like they had the game sewed up, and as if to prove that idea, Ms Woodland took the next starter, and a good old school UC bonus set, on pairs of place names where the last letters of the first and the first of the second are the same, such as Lublin and Lincoln, gave them a full house. Mr Peplow then showed he's been watching his early Simpsons by identifying 'stoicism' for the next starter, and one bonus on scientific terms beginning 'allo' went with it.

The second picture round, on illustrations of scenes from the Ring Cycle, went to Edinburgh, who took two bonuses, leaving the score at 175-50. A second starter in a row went the Scots side's way, and dogs in art provided them with two correct answers, including another Simpsons classic, 'Dogs Playing Poker'.

What looked like a technical interruption but which was actually fair enough on rewatch then cost Edinburgh five, and allowed Merton to take the points, with 'Gibbon' getting a mention for the umpteenth time this series, and a full house put them up to 200 for the fourth time this series. Mr Carson appeared to take an educated guess of 'Nelson's Column' for the next starter, but was correct, and his side took two bonuses. Ms Woodland took the final starter, but her side missed both the bonuses there was time for. At the gong, Merton won 210-85.

Another pretty good match despite being rather one-sided. Unlucky Edinburgh, but no shame in that performance at all, best of luck in the play-offs. Very well done Merton though, on another barnstorming performance, and you'd have to say they are now hot favourites for the title; very best of luck in the semis!

The stats: Mr Peplow and Ms Woodland were the best buzzers of the night with four each, while Mr Carson was Edinburgh's top buzzer with three. On the bonuses, Merton converted a good 21 out of 32 (with one penalty), while Edinburgh managed an also good 10 out of 15 (with three penalties), so it was another match won convincingly on the buzzer.

Next week's match: Fitzwilliam vs Emmanuel. Then, I'd guess, Bristol vs Edinburgh, followed by Newcastle vs next week's winner.

Only Connect somewhat closer tonight, but no spoilers, I'll save it for my blog later in the week.