University Challenge 2019-20: First Round Review

OK, so, we've finally reached the end of the first round of this year's contest, and even though it's taken the exact same time to do so as last series, plus the two breaks, it feels longer. Maybe its because the two breaks came right in the middle of the round rather than right at the start and right at the end of it, like last year.

Anyway, we're here now, so, here are our fourteen first round winners, in order of qualification, and with their scores and margins of victory:

• Glasgow (230, 135)
• Corpus Christi College Cambridge (195, 55)
• Magdalen College Oxford (170, 20)
• Birmingham (125, 5)
• St John's College Oxford (115, 75)
• Edinburgh (165, 75)
• Manchester (185, 40)
• Trinity College Cambridge (200, 55)
• Courtauld Institute of Art (145, 55)
• Southampton (175, 80)
• Huddersfield (145, 20)
• Wolfson College Oxford (170, won on tie-breaker)
• Imperial College London (255, 185)
• Lady Margaret Hall Oxford (150, 5)

Those are the raw figures; time to do the usual and look past them at the actual performances...

Well, it wasn't a terribly high scoring first round; only three scores past 200, and Glasgow's opening night score of 230 was the highest until Imperial stormed to 255 last week. Those two plus Trinity would probably start as favourites to progress, provided they stay away from each other, and provided they can match that level of performance against stronger, proven teams.

Them aside, the field is pretty tight, with seven teams within 45 points of each other who could realistically make it. And even then, I definitely wouldn't rule out any of the four low scoring teams out either, though, in practice, I strongly suspect they'd sturggle, especially against one of the afore mentioned three.

If I were to single any of that 150-195 bunch out, I'd probably single of Wolfson and Magdalen, both of whose opponents reached the play-offs, and Corpus Christi, whose just missed out. But, as I say, it's an open close field. And that's before we factor in the teams who could possibly come through the play-offs.

Our four play-off teams are:

• Sheffield (170, lost on tie-breaker)
• York (170, 20)
• And two of the three teams on 145, Durham (55), Jesus College Oxford (40) and Downing College Cambridge (5)

Which two we of course don't know yet. Paxo informed us at the end of Monday's show, it would be the two teams who had needed the fewest questions to reach their total, and myself and UCStats on Twitter have spent the two days since trying to work out which two that'd be.

I would say Durham would definitely be one of them, having reached their score via one fewer starter, seven compared to the eight Jesus and Downing needed. And as those two are on the same, and had, to all intents and purposes, the same bonus rate too, telling them apart becomes rather tricky.

I said on Monday I would guess Downing would go through having only heard one fewer bonus than Jesus did; UCStats, meanwhile, has calculated the exact number of questions both teams faced (both starters and bonuses) and has determined that Jesus heard fewer and would go through. It's a very tough call to make, but whichever teams gets the place will deserve it.

Based on the standard 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd play-off draw we've had for many years now, I'd guess Sheffield will play Jesus or Downing on Monday, then York will play Durham the week after. But, with just 25 points separating the five of them, whichever two matches we get would be way too close to call IMO; these are four good teams.

Whatever happens, all we can hope for, as we always do, is that the play-offs and second round continue to give us more of the same as, of better than, what we've had so far; best of luck to all the teams involved!

I'll talk a bit about Only Connect as well, given that it has finished its first round as well. It's been a good series so far, with some good close matches and some decent performances. Having seen the draw for the first two eliminator matches though, I do wish they would jiggle up the draw for the second phase matches rather than just pairing up the winners and losers of successive matches. I understand it's done for convenience purposes, two first round matches and their resultant eliminator and qualifier matches are filmed on the same day(?), but I'd rather have proper seedings for these matches. But at least all teams get at least two games, which I think everyone agrees is only a good thing.

That's it for now, back on Monday with my usual UC write-up; see you then, I guess.

University Challenge 2019-20: Round 1: Match 14: Lady Margaret Hall vs Downing

Evening all. So, here we are at the end of a first round that has been solid without hitting spectacular that often. The task for the two teams competing tonight: win, or, failing that, lose with 150 or more to definitely return in the play-offs, otherwise, Durham and Jesus of Oxford would both go through to join Sheffield and York.

Lady Margaret Hall Oxford was founded in 1878 and was formerly a women's only college, with males being allowed in in 1979; alumni include the late PM of Pakistan Benezir Bhutto, the comedian Josie Long, the foodie Nigella Lawson, the politicians Michael Gove and Dominic Raab and the legend that is Bobby Seagull. The college last sent a student team in the first series of the '80s; thus, the first Paxo era team were:
Matthew Le Croissette, from Reading, studying Medicine
Mary Lobo, from Woodcote near Reading, studying Law with German Law
Captain: Isaac Brown, from Sheffield, studying French and Linguistics
Rowan Janjuah, from London, studying Classics

Downing College Cambridge was founded in 1800 with the inheritance of the man who built the eponymous London street. Alumni include the humourists John Cleese and Andy Hamilton, the illustrator Quentin Blake, the insurance salesman Michael Winner and my grandfather. The college sent a team last year, who were unlucky to draw and lose to Jason Golfinos' Darwin in the second round. This year's team were:
Bovey Zheng, from Reading, studying Chemistry
Naivasha Pratt-Jarvis, studying Law
Captain: Robert Jackson, from Nottingham studying Modern Contemporary Literature
Prannoy Chaudhuri-Vayalambrone, from Ipswich, studying Neuroscience

Off we set again then, and Ms Pratt-Jarvis opened the scoring for the night with 'Beatrix Potter'; two bonuses on librarians got the Cambridge side off to a steady start. Mr Brown set his side off in quick pursuit, but the Oxonians could only manage one of their first bonus set. Mr Jackson recognised a (rather generous) description of Lady Macbeth for the next starter, and Downing duly took a full set of bonuses. The first picture round, on Spanish foodstuffs as defined in a Spanish dictionary, went to Lady Margaret Hall, who responded with a full set of their own, which took the scores to 45-40.

Mr Jackson duly increased Downing's lead again with 'Das Kapital'; ironically, in the ensuing bonuses, they missed a correct answer of 'Karl Marx'! They took one of the other two though. Mr Chuadhuri-Vayalambrone took a second starter in a row for the Cambridge side though, and 16th century rulers proved more to their liking, a full set. In came Mr Janjuah for Lady Margaret Hall though, and they took one bonus from the obligatory set on the work of Charles Dickens. Another starter went to Mr Janjuah, but nothing came from the bonuses this time.

The music starter saw Paxo hit the ceiling when the teams misidentified the soundtrack of Carol Reed's The Third Man as being from The Godfather and Ratatouille! The music bonuses, on leitmotif in film soundtracks, eventually went to Lady Margaret Hall, and they took the one they needed to level the scores at 85-each. Two starters were then dropped before Mr Le Croisette made sure all four Oxonians had contributed a correct starter; two correct bonuses took them intro triple figures first. Mr Zheng then ensured all eight players had answered a starter rightly; just one bonus on magazine editor Tina Brown followed.

The second picture round, on details of birds in paintings, went to Lady Margaret Hall, who took two correct bonuses to take their lead to 125-100. It increased again when Downing lost five on the next starter, and Mr Brown took a second starter in a row; a full bonus set on the late Stephen Hawking gave them the 150 they needed to come back whatever, and put them within one starter of victory.

Back came Downing thanks to Mr Zheng though; bonuses on winners of the Copa Libertadores gave them one correct bonus as they knew Pele to have spent most of his career at Santos (where he did not, contrary to popular belief, help temporarily stop a civil war in Nigeria). Mr Chaudhuri-Vayalambrone then gave the Cambridge side a second starter in a row, and two bonuses meant they could still just about do it if they were quick. No-one buzzed on the next starter; we got some on the next, but neither were correct. Mr Jackson took the next though to pull within ten; they took the first bonus... and that was the gong! Lady Margaret Hall won 150-145.

A good match to end the first round. Well done Lady Margaret Hall and best of luck in the next round! Unlucky Downing, but a respectable performance, and you may yet return in the play-offs. Tied with Durham and Jesus, Paxo says the two who come back will be those who 'needed to hear the fewest questions'; in which case, I'd guess Durham, who needed one less starter, and Downing, whose last bonus set was incomplete, will be the two, but we'll see.

The stats: Mr Brown was the best buzzer of the night with four, while Mr Jackson was best for Downing with three. On the bonuses, Lady Margaret Hall converted 14 out of 24, while Downing also managed 14 out of 23, but with one penalty; that's how close it was.

Next week's match: the first play-off; I'd guess Sheffield will be one of the teams, we await to see who they play though.

Only Connect was also close tonight, ending its first match with the Orwellians and the Junipers, among whom were former UC winner Dorjana Sirola. The Orwellians won though, 23-20, but both teams did well and deserve to play again.

University Challenge 2019-20: Round 1: Match 13: Imperial vs Brasenose

Evening all. Here we are at the penultimate second round match, and Paxo's intro has spared me from recapping the play-off situation tonight! Suffice to say, I'm a bit hyper tonight after the incredible FA Cup draw this evening that saw non-league Chichester City getting a bye to the second round! And speaking of football, one Twitterer described tonight's UC as an old school match-up, the equivalent of Wanderers vs Royal Engineers! Let's do it then...

Imperial College was founded in 1907 and was part of the University of London until it declared independence 100 years later, and is solely devoted to the sciences; alumni include writer HG Wells, the re-rediscoverer of penicillin Sir Alexander Fleming and the four-minute mile runner Sir Roger Bannister. The college won UC in 1995-96 and 2000-01, but its last appearance was a first round exit two series ago; this year's foursome were:
Richard Brooks, from Stockton-on-Tees, studying Mechanical Engineering
Brandon, from Jamaica, Queens in New York City, studying Computing
Captain: Caleb Rich, from Lewisham, studying Controlled Quantum Dynamics
Connor McMeel, from Dublin, studying Computer Science

Brasenose College Oxford is somewhat older, founded in 1509; it's long list of alumni include the cricketer Sir Colin Cowdrey, the writer Sir John Mortimer, the actor Sir Michael Palin and the former PM Mr David Cameron. It's last UC visit was also a first round defeat, a heavy one, to Durham back in 2014-15; this year's quartet were:
Alan Haugh, from Farmington, Connecticut, studying PPE
Maude Mullan, from North London, studying Classics
Captain: Ollie Hanson, from Wolverhampton, studying Maths
Tucker Drew, from Detroit, studying Philosophy and Linguistics

Off we set again then, and a very quick buzz from Mr Haugh opened the scoring for the night, and the Oxford side took two bonuses on the Levant countries. A penalty then allowed Mr McMeel to open the scoring for Imperial, the giveaway clue being the country England beat in the second round of the World Cup last year. No bonuses went to the Londoners, but Mr Rich then gave them the lead with the next starter, and, in a reversal of fortune, a full set of bonuses, a classic UC set on words spelt the same but pronounced differently, followed. The first picture round, on major cities built on islands, went to Imperial, who took two bonuses, taking their lead to 55-15.

A penalty then knocked five off that lead, but all Brasenose could do in response was provoke a sneer from Paxo! The mononymous Brandon, a regular on quiz shows in America I gather, soon got Imperial going in the right direction again, and a pair of bonuses accompanied it. Mr Rich identified the economist Thomas Pikkety for the next starter, and a set of bonuses on Barbie dolls gave them a full set of bonuses, and, with it, a strong lead. Brandon then took Imperial into triple figures as he took the next starter, and a full set of bonuses meant they suddenly had a 100+ point lead, and things were looking ominous for Brasenose.

The music round, on pieces later adapted for the dancer Martha Graham, went to Imperial; one bonus meant they now led 135-15. A quick buzz from Ms Mullan reawoke Brasenose though, but the just the one bonus on physics followed. A second starter in a row then went to the Oxonians though, and two bonuses on cats in art ensured they wouldn't be joining the Sub-50 club. Brandon then put a stop to their recovery however as he took the next starter; one bonus followed, the same one I got.

The second picture round, on works in the Kelvingrove Gallery, went to Brasenose; two bonuses followed, which took the scores to 145-70. They'd have to go for it if they were to stand a chance, but Imperial's lead only went up again when Mr McMeel took the next starter; no bonuses followed however.

But when Brandon took the next starter very quickly, that was game over; a pair of bonuses on the work of Neil Gaiman confirmed this. And their lead and score were only getting bigger, as that man Brandon identified the Irtyh river for the next starter; bonuses on the Nordic games gave them a full house, taking them within sight of 200. Another starter took them over it; just one bonus followed, but by now, it was immaterial. Another starter went to Mr Rich, and another sole bonus; the next went to Brandon, and another single bonus gave them the largest score of the series thus far. There was time for one more starter and bonus, and that was the gong; Imperial won 255-70.

A very strong match indeed, even if a one-sided one. Unlucky Brasenose, a perfectly good team who'd certainly have beaten another team, but a good account of yourselves, thanks for playing. Very well done Imperial though, definitely a team to watch in the next round; very best of luck in it!

The stats: Brandon was the best buzzer of the night, with seven, while Ms Mullan was best for Brasenose with two. On the bonuses, Imperial converted 23 out of 43 (with two penalties), while Brasenose managed 7 out of 12 (with one penalty).

Next week's match: Lady Margaret Hall Oxford vs Downing College Cambridge

Only Connect was also high quality tonight, between the Journeymen, including UC alumni Chris Ducklin and Thomas Grinyer, and the Turophiles, captained by Fifteen-to-One finalist Jascha Elliott. The latter team won 27-24 after a close match, and both teams fully deserve a second match.

University Challenge 2019-20: Round 1: Match 12: Wolfson vs Sheffield

Evening all. Here we go again with the antepenultimate match of the first round, with both sides needing a score of 150 or more to come back win or lose. So far, York are safely through with 150. Another debutant team tonight, taking on an institution that has regularly sent teams over the years, including on the third ever Paxo contest, a bit of which I was watching just the other night!

Wolfson College Oxford is a postgraduate college founded 1965 by the same man who founded the Cambridge college of the same name. Like its namesake, its list of noted alumni is relatively short given its age; it includes thus far the genticist Dame Kay Davies and the founder of Linkedin Reid Hoffman. It's first ever UC team were:
Mike Perrin, from East Anglia (via Japan), studying Maritime Archaeology
Mary Caple, from Victoria, Canada, studying Art History
Captain: Claire Jones, from Houston, Texas, studying Global and Imperial History
Ryan Walker, from Stone in Staffordshire, studying Clinical Medicine

Sheffield University is a bit older, founded in 1905 and one of the original redbricks. Its noted alumni list is a lot more plentiful, including the aviator Amy Johnson, the retired politician Lord David Blunkett, comedians Eddie Izzard and Tim Key, and my Uncle Tom! It's last UC appearance was a first round exit three series ago; this year's team were:
Alistair Lyle, from Chiswick in London, studying Metalogy
Sam Kelly, from Seaford in East Sussex, studying English Literature
Captain: Jonathan Newhouse, from Skipton in Yorkshire, studying Cognitive Science
Daisy Fry, from Kent, studying Politics

Off we set again then, and Mr Walker opened the night by spotting a list of things depicted on the back of collectable 50ps, something me and my colleagues at work express great interest in looking out for! British museums gave Wolfson one correct bonus to start with. Mr Newhouse opened his side's account with 'Van Gogh', and they did somewhat better, taking a full set of bonuses. Another starter to the Sheffield captain, and another full set of bonuses duly followed, a pretty solid statement of intent from the Steel City team. Mr Newhouse then made it a hat-trick of starters, and a bonus set on Asterix characters (pity my Mum wasn't watching, she'd have got all those!) gave them a third full house. The first picture round, on religious emblems, went to Wolfson, who took two bonuses this time, which cut their deficit to 75-35.

Sheffield duly increased it again though, as Mr Lyle correctly offered 'nurdle'; a good old school bonus set on words differing by a 'G' at the start, saw their impeccable bonus record end, with just two this time. Ms Jones reawoke the Oxford side by identifying the river Oder, and, again, two bonuses accompanied it. Ms Caple gave the Oxonians a second starter in a row, but a bonus set on the artist Dame Paula Rego didn't give them any further points.

Mr Perrin was first in to identify Mozart's Don Giovanni; the music bonuses, on list songs, gave Wolfson two correct answers, which put them just ten behind, 95-85. Ms Fry duly woke Sheffield up again though, but they took just one bonus on 16th/17th century quotations. Ms Jones came back in with what looked like an educated guess of 'plagiarism' for the next starter, and was right to do so; a full bonus set put the sides on level pegging. In swooped Mr Lyle to give Sheffield the lead again, and two bonuses re-established their advantage. A second starter in a row to Sheffield, and one bonus gave them the score they needed to return whatever; they took the other two bonuses too for good measure.

The second picture round, on regulars at New York's Cafe Society, went to Wolfson, who took two bonuses, taking the scores to 155-130, and setting up a tense finish. Mr Walker duly took the next starter, and one bonus gave them the score they needed to push Merton out of the repechage and ensure a return whatever.

Ms Jones then took the next starter to put them on level pegging, but they couldn't get the one bonus they needed to take the lead (I had two of them). A second starter in a row to the Wolfson captain did put them in front though, one bonus followed. Back came Sheffield thanks to Mr Lyle, one bonus was taken... and that was the gong! A 170-each tie!

So, standard tie procedure, first to answer correctly wins. Asked which of the wonders of the Ancient World was a representation of 'Helios', Mr Perrin buzzed in first with 'Rhodes', then, after a pause, clarified with 'The Colossus of Rhodes'; Paxo decided that was good enough, as both sides would be returning anyway. (Not sure I can agree with that, as they are going in different directions, but what's done is done). Anyway, Wolfson won the match.

A very good match indeed between two good teams, well done both. Unlucky Sheffield, but you're deservedly coming back in the play-offs, so best of luck there! Well done Wolfson though, and best of luck in the second round!

The stats: Ms Jones was the best buzzer of the night with six starters, while Mr Newhouse was best for Sheffield with four. On the bonuses, Wolfson converted 14 out of 30, while Sheffield managed a very good 18 out of 24.

Next week's match: Imperial College London vs Brasenose College Oxford

Only Connect saw the debuts of the Endeavours and the Outliers, all three of the latter having represented Warwick on UC in the past. It was their opponents who triumphed tonight though, 27-14.

University Challenge 2019-20: Round 1: Match 11: Open vs Huddersfield

Evening all. We're back after another week off, but don't get too comfortable, as I have a feeling they'll be another sooner rather than later (Autumnwatch is likely not far off). For now, though, it's back to business as usual as far as Quizzy Mondays are concerned, and tonight we'd start learning the play-off teams for UC. For the two competing tonight, 155 or more would bring them back win or lose.

The Open University recently celebrated its 50th birthday, having been founded by the Wilson government in 1969; noted alumni include actresses Sheila Hancock and Julie Christie, comedy legend Sir Lenny Henry and the former Scotland boss Craig Brown, while former PM Gordon Brown has taught for it, as has an old friend of my parents. It has won UC twice, 1984 and 1998-99, though it has rarely appeared since the latter win, most recently in 2016-17. This year's foursome were:
David Holmes, from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, studying PPE
Liz Haywood, from Lancing in West Sussex, studying English Literature and Language
Captain: Bill Woodbridge, from Woodbridge in Suffolk, studying Maths
Michela O'Brien, from Hampshire (originally Milan), studying Humanities with Art History and Classical Studies

Huddersfield University traces its origins to the Young Men's Mental Improvement Society of 1841; it eventually became a polytechnic, and then a university in 1992. Alumni include BBC presenter Sally Nugent, comedy performer Adil Ray and Tory peer Baroness Williams. Making its UC debut tonight, its first ever team were:
Sean Fisher, from Huddersfield, studying History
Rebecca Wilson, from Leeds, studying Chemistry
Captain: Andy Cook, from Walsall, studying History
Aaron Cahill, from Norwich, studying Drama

Off we set again then, and Mr Cook quickly provided Huddersfield's first ever UC correct answer with 'splice', and their first ever UC bonus set, on satire, provided them with two correct answers. Mr Woodbridge quickly took his side off in pursuit, identifying Attlee as the PM sought as soon as Paxo said the trigger words 'Churchill' and 'deputy'; Open fared a tad poorer with their first bonuses, just the one. Mr Cahill tripled his side's lead with 'Vancouver', but the side got nothing from the resulting bonuses. The first picture round, on carbon dioxide phase diagrams, went to Open, who took the one bonus they needed to level the scores, 30-each.

Mr Cook gave his side the lead back by identifying Donna Strickland as the first woman in 55 years to win the Nobel Prize for Physics; the Terriers duly took two bonus. Open then lost five on the next starter, allowing Mr Cook to pull his side even further ahead; again, a pair of bonuses followed. The bit firmly between his teeth, the Huddersfield captain took a third starter in a row with 'poetry'; just the one bonus, on nightingales, followed this time. Mr Woodbridge got his side going again, and bonuses on the deaths of saints gave them two correct answers.

The music round, on 1994 Britpop singles, went to Open, who took a full set and closed the gap to 85-70. It increased when Mr Woodbridge dropped five on the next five, and Mr Cook duly claimed the points; words made by adding to the names of a shipping forecast area was a classic UC bonus set, but Huddersfield got nothing from it. Mr Woodbridge took back the lost points by identifying a list of albums by Joni Mitchell; one bonus followed. A second starter in a row put Open within five, and one bonus on rivers with three letter names put the teams on level pegging.

The second picture round, on endangered animals preserved by DEFRA's biodiversity action plan, went to Huddersfield, who took one bonus via, what looked like, an educated guess, taking their lead to 110-95. Still either team's game, but Mr Cook kept the game in his side's hands by taking the next starter; one bonus followed.

Back came Open though thanks to Mr Holmes' answer of 'idiocracy'; bonuses on events that occurred the same years as Olympic games, with the host city required, gave them two bonuses and took them within five. Mr Woodbridge put his side on level pegging with 'bile', but the side couldn't manage the one bonus needed to give them the lead. Next starter might just win it, and Mr Cook swept in to give the Terriers back the lead; two bonuses followed, but one more starter would make it safe. The next starter was dropped though, and the one after, and the one after that was gonged out. Huddersfield won 145-125.

Another low scoring match, but a close and enjoyable one, thanks very much both teams. Unlucky Open, but a respectable performance, thanks very much for playing. Well done Huddersfield though, and best of luck in the next round!

The stats: Mr Cook was comfortably the best buzzer of the night with eight starters, while Mr Woodbridge was best for Open with five. On the bonuses, Open converted 11 out of 24 (with two penalties), while Huddersfield managed 11 out of 27, so it was a game won on the buzzer in more ways than one.

Next week's match: Wolfson College Oxford vs Sheffield

Only Connect returned as well, as the Eggchasers played the 007s; a good, close, high scoring contest followed, with the latter winning 26-23, and both teams totally deserve a second match.