University Challenge 2020-21: Round 2: Match 8: Open vs Birkbeck

Good evening friends, and welcome back to regular University Challenge! I'll admit, after seeing Paxo with his smart haircut for the past two weeks, I was a tad caught out to see him back in his 'lockdown' hair tonight! We resume the series tonight with the final two second round teams reappearing, from way back in the summer too; winners would take the final place in the QFs, alongside Imperial, Strathclyde, Warwick, Durham, Balliol, King's and Magdalene.

The Open University first appeared back in July, when they led throughout and ultimately defeated Linacre of Oxford, who survived to the play-offs, 210-140. They were the same four as that time around: 

Beverley Randle, from Bristol, studying the Roman Empire 

David Lamb, from Stockport, studying Philosophy with Psychology 

Captain: Gill Taylor, studying Riddlesden in Yorkshire, studying Engineering 

Chris Macklin, from Manchester, studying Law

 

Birkbeck last graced our screens two weeks later in mid August, where they utterly dominated Reading, racking up the highest score of the first round as they triumphed 295-50. They were also unchanged from then: 

Jonathan Taylor, from London, studying Environment and Sustainability

Nicky Clarke, from Leicestershire, studying Early Modern History

Captain: Jonathan Williams, from London, studying Classics

Joshua Mutio, from St Helens, studying PPE

 

So off we set for the first time this year, and Mr Mutio shot in like a flash to identify 1963as the Martin Luther King's 'I Have A Dream' speech occurred; two bonuses were taken, before Mr Taylor took the second starter, the bonuses for which, on fictional islands, also had two correct. Mr Williams had the third, and they went one better with a bonus set on astronomy, a full set. The first picture round, on lists of dying words of Shakespeare characters, also went to the Londoners; two correct already gave them a lead of 85-0.

 

And the lead just kept getting bigger, as Mr Taylor took the next starter, and two bonuses on sporting achievements took them into three figures already. Open finally managed to get a buzz in on the next starter, but only lost five; Birkbeck didn't pick up, but Mr Mutio took the next, giving them a classic UC bonus set on pairs of words with just one letter changed, another two were taken. Open finally got some proper points on the board thanks to Ms Taylor, but got nothing from the bonuses. Back to Birkbeck, who took a starter and sole bonus on physics. The music round, on songs of the Second World War, went to Open; a full set followed, prompting some rather unfair ageist comments from the host(!), taking the scores to 140-30.

 

Back to Birkbeck possession went with Ms Clarke taking the points this time, and another sole bonus on travel writers was taken. I surprised myself by correctly getting 'Guppy' for the next starter, as did  Mr Taylor, and another sole bonus was taken. Mr Lamb claimed some points back for Open, and they also took just one bonus. Mr Williams then ensured all four Birkbeck players had contributed at least two starters to their score; two bonuses were taken this time, as was the second picture round, on musicians from the Golden Age of jazz, after which the Londoners led 205-45.

 

The next starter saw Mr Lamb avoid falling into the same trap Homer Simpson did of saying 'Hitler' instead of 'Bismarck' for the capital of North Dakota! Bonuses on cricket gave Open one correct answer. This ensured they wouldn't be joining the Sub-50 club; Ms Taylor took the next starter, and, though not bonuses followed, they were managing to go out on a good run. Mr Lamb took another starter and a sole bonus was taken. Mr Lamb also took the final starter, but the gong went during the bonuses; Birkbeck won 205-95.

A good match to start the new year on. Another fine performance from Birkbeck, deserved quarter-finalists, and Open deserved that late run to respectability as well; well done to both teams, and best of luck Birkbeck in the quarter-finals!

The stats: Mr Lamb was the best buzzer of the night with five starters, while Mr Taylor was best for Birkbeck with four. On the bonuses, Open managed 6 out of 19 (with the night's one penalty) and Birkbeck 19 out of 33.

Next week's match: the first quarter-final! Don't know who's playing yet, but will retweet anything I find as per usual. And I'll hopefully do my usual QF preview later in the week.

Only Connect finished its qualifier matches with the Apres Skiers vs the Polyhymnians. The  former led 4-0 after a first round where their opponents were unfortunate to nearly miss all their questions, and then 9-3 after the second round. Both teams struggled on the Walls, leaving the Skiers leading 14-6 going into Missing Vowels, and they maintained in an evenly matched round to win 19-12.

 

Mastermind, meanwhile, was won by David Workman, who I’m pretty sure has been on Brain of Britain and/or Counterpoint, among others, before; his final score of 22 being well clear of the other three contenders. Steven Mayes, a UC alumnus from a few series back, also participated.