University Challenge 2018-19: Qualification Quarter-Final 1: Durham vs Edinburgh

Evening all. So, we've arrived at the business end of the quarter-final process; after tonight's match, we'd know the first of our semi-finalists. One team started the process as favourites, the others are dark horses, so a good contest was hopefully in the offering. A bit of a contest in my parents' household too: my Mum's alma mater vs my Dad's alma mater!

Durham breezed through their first match against Strathclyde, breaking all sorts of records in a 360-55 win, before dispatching Keble of Oxford only slightly less imperiously in the second round by 200-100, and then winning a good contest in their first quarter-final against Glasgow by 170-110. Hoping to continue this form and reach the semis for the fifth time under Paxo were: 
Sian Round, from the Wirral, studying English  
Cameron Yule, from Harrow in London, studying English  
Captain: Matthew Toynbee, from South Derbyshire, studying Maths  
Ben Murray, from Davenham in Cheshire, studying Chemistry

Edinburgh comfortably saw off Sidney Sussex of Cambridge in their first match by 210-75, before edging a great second round match against U.C.L. 180-160, and then, in the Tuesday match of two weeks ago, they beat Manchester in their first quarter-final by 170-130. Also hoping to continue in this vein and reach their third semis in a row were: 
Matt Booth, from Bristol, studying Maths  
Marco Malusa, from Italy, studying Economics and Politics  
Captain: Max Fitz-James, from Burgundy, studying Cell Biology  
Robbie Campbell Hewson, from Edinburgh, studying Maths

Off we set again then, and Mr Fitz-James, his side's MVP this far, opened the scoring by recognising the chapters of Hawking's 'A Brief History of Time'; two bonuses on limestone accompanied. A very prompt buzz from Mr Toynbee set Durham off in quick pursuit, and a bonus set on knots ("I can not knot." "Not knot?!" "Who's there?" "Pooh!" "Pooh who?") also provided two correct answers. A slip-up from Edinburgh gave the Wearsiders the lead, and they pressed home the advantage with a pickup and another pair of bonuses, from a classic UC set on French cities spelled using chemical symbols. Mr Murray gave a third starter to Durham, and the bonuses provided, yep, another two correct. The first picture round, on diagrams showing the relationships between characters in plays, saw that record end, as Durham drew a blank with the bonuses; but they still led 70-15.

Mr Murray was unlucky to lose five on the next starter, forgetting he'd been asked for a four word phrase rather than a single word; Mr Fitz-James took the points, and the Scots side took yet another pair of bonuses, unlucky to miss the other. Mr Yule correctly identified William Haslett, who seems to have been popping up a lot lately, for the next starter, and his side pressed home the first full set of the night. Mr Toynbee took the Wearsiders into triple figures with the next starters, but, in a reversal of fortune, no bonuses followed (pretty sure Martha Lane Fox has appeared in this series already too).

The Buggles' 'Video Killed the Radio Star' provided the music starter; Mr Fitz-James shot wide with 'Aqua', and Paxo was very harsh to disallow Mr Murray's offer of 'The Bugles', given that he's accepted that in a previous episode when a team were unsure of the correct pronunciation. The bonuses, on Oscar winning composers in bands, went to Edinburgh, who took two correct again, reducing the gap to 100-55. Mr Yule won the race to the buzzer to offer 'Gustave Dore' for the next starter, but just the one bonus went with it this time. Another five points then fell aside from Edinburgh's score, but Durham didn't capitalise; Mr Yule took the next starter though, and the side pushed forward with a full house of bonuses. Mr Campbell Hewson reawoke his side with 'Trieste', and fictional composers gave his side just a single bonus this time.

The first picture round, on women who had obituaries published in the New York Times' 'Overlooked' series, went to Edinburgh, who took another sole bonuses, which left the gap at 140-80. Still just about closeable, but when Mr Yule took his latest starter, and one bonus followed, the Scots side's task became a lot more of an ask.

They gave it a shot, Mr Booth taking the next starter, but only a single bonus on oxymorons in Shakespeare meant they were pretty much out of it now. Mr Fitz-James deservedly took them into triple figures, and another sole bonus, on English locales known as 'The Isle of (something)', gave them another single bonus. Mr Murray took the last starter of the game, but his side took neither of the bonuses there was time for. At the gong, Durham won 165-110.

Another good contest well played by two very good teams, well done both. Unlucky Edinburgh, but still a fair effort, very best of luck in the play-offs. Well done Durham though, deserved semi-finalists, and very very best of luck in them!

The stats: Mr Yule was, narrowly, the best buzzer of the night, with five starters to Mr Fitz-James' four. On the bonuses, Durham converted 14 out of 30 (with one penalty), while Edinburgh managed 10 out of 21 (with two penalties).

Next week's match: Glasgow vs Manchester in the first eliminator match.

Only Connect had its penultimate group stage match tonight, with, as we figured, another withdrawal, and a clear-up to the confusion the first caused. Review on Wednesday I hope.