University Challenge 2017-18: Grand Final: St John's vs Merton

Evening all. What an odd day I've had: had very little sleep last night, and the strange feelings carried on at work this morning, though various other incidents there didn't help. My Mum suggested I might be distracted in anticipation of tonight; I dismissed that theory, but, as the evening drew on, I realised she was right. This has been, by far, the hardest grand final I've ever had to call, either on LAM or on here; these are two seriously good teams, and either would make very worthy champions. So, let's do this...

St John's College Cambridge got here undefeated, with victories over St Andrews, Corpus Christi of Cambridge, Ulster, Newcastle and Edinburgh, with only the game against the Tynesiders coming close to close. Hoping to reclaim the title for Cambridge were:
John-Clark Levin, from Ojai, California, studying Politics and International Studies   
Rosie McKeown, from Kingston-upon-Thames, studying French and German 
Captain: James Devine-Stoneman, from Southall in London, studying Superconducting Spintronics
Matt Hazell, from Ringwood in Hampshire, studying Veterinary Medicine

Merton College Oxford are also unbeaten thus far, having seen off King's of London, Oxford Brookes, Fitzwilliam of Cambridge, Edinburgh and Newcastle, all by very comfortable margins. Hoping to make it two in a row for Oxford for the first time in a while were:
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

Off we set again then, and Mr Peplow was first out of the traps with 'Lord Reith', and his side set out their stall with two bonuses on 'effability'. Ms Woodland increased that advantage identifying 'dil' (the dog) as the herb featuring in the names of various defined words; another two bonuses, on the Shipping Forecast, and they were already looking in ominous form. The Merton captain took a second starter in a row, but just one bonus, a tough set on probabilities, followed this time. The first picture round, on word clouds of works of critical theory, allowed St John's to get off the mark; none of the bonuses, followed though, leaving them trailing 55-10.

Mr Levin gave St John's a second starter in a row, but, again, the Cambridge side drew a blank on the bonuses. A penalty from Merton then handed Ms McKeown a second starter of the night, and their first bonuses of the night, on the works of Anna Komnene, reduced their arrears further, and the show rattled on a brisk pace.

The music round, on recordings from the last night of the 2013 proms, conducted by Marin Alsop, went to St John's, with Merton dropping another five following a swerve on a replacement starter; only one bonus was taken, but the Cambridge side now had the lead, 55-45. And it increased when Ms McKeown took the next starter, and one bonus followed. St John's seemed to be starting to better the buzzer race, but weren't really making the most of the bonuses, thus keeping Merton in the game. Another penalty didn't help their cause though, giving Ms McKeown a fourth correct starter in a row; a full bonus set meant it was now their game to lose, you'd image. Mr Wiberg woke Merton up with a much needed starter, and they kept themselves well in the game with two bonuses on Chinese literature.

The second picture round, on 20th century artworks depicting motherhood, went to St John's, who took two bonuses, and now led 115-60. It was then their turn to drop five though, and Mr Wiberg did the honours for Merton; two bonuses, on the work of Willa Cather, meant they were still very much in this final heading into the home straight.

Ms McKeown then declared 'John Clare' however, giving her side more room to breath; just one bonus followed, but you fancied if they could keep up the buzzing that had got them this far, they'd likely be home and dry. Indeed, Ms McKeown took the next starter too, and you fancied, with such little time left, that was game over. Two bonuses seemed to confirm thus. Merton were going down fighting however, Ms Woodland taking 'lumen' for the next starter, and two bonuses on Boutros Boutros-Ghali deservedly took them into triple figures. And that was the gong: St John's won the game, and the series, 145-100!

The trophy was thus handed over to the winners by the composer Judith Weir, the current Master of the Queen's Music, before the traditional over-credits handshakes.

Not quite on a par with the drama of last year's final, but still a fine end to another fine series. Unlucky Merton, but no shame in coming second after doing so well in this series, thanks very much indeed for playing for us. Very very well done to St John's though, deserved champions, and a worthy addition to the champions list; very well done indeed!

The stats: Ms Woodland was Merton's best buzzer of the night with three to her name, though Mr Peplow was their best for the series as a whole, with 27; Ms McKeown, though, was the best buzzer both of the night, with seven, and the series, with a grand total of 32. (Full stats will be made available later in the week) On the bonuses, St John's converted 12 out of 27 (with one penalty), while Merton managed 11 out of 18 (with three penalties), so, as has quite often been the case this series, it was the buzzers that won the game.

And that's it for another series! Thanks very much to all readers for their ever useful correspondence! Stay tuned for my usual end of series look backs later in the week. And, of course, we still have work to do with Only Connect.