University Challenge 2021-22: Grand Final: Imperial vs Reading

Good evening friends, and welcome to yet another University Challenge final! After a series that Paxo acknowledged in his intro (and outro) to have been made in trying circumstances, we have arrived at a hotly anticipated final, between two excellent teams, either of whom would've been deserving winners.

Imperial got here undefeated, beating St John's, Exeter, King's, their opponents tonight and Emmanuel to do so. Hoping to become the third team to win a fourth series of the show were: 

Max Zeng, from Singapore, studying Biochemistry

Fatima Sheriff, from Hitchin in Hertforshire, studying Science Communication

Captain: Michael Mays, from Montrose, studying Computational Fluid Dynamics

Gilbert Jackson, from Bury St Edmunds, studying Chemistry

 

Reading defeated Strathclyde, Dundee, Birmingham, St John's as well and Edinburgh to reach this stage, and played well in that defeat to their opponents tonight. Going for a first ever title were: 

Sylvian Jesudoss, from Thanjuvar, India, studying Marketing

Margaret Ounsley, from Reading, studying Poor Law History

Captain: Michael Hutchinson, from Andover, graduated with a PGCE

Kira Bishop, from Slough, studying Maths and Psychology

 

So, off we set for the final time this series, and it was first blood to Imperial as Mr Zeng identified Thucydides; two bonuses on poetry were taken. Reading quickly followed them off the mark though as Mr Hutchinson, as he has done so often before this series, played a captain's innings for them; the Biscuitmen went one better with their bonuses on musical modes, a full set gave them the lead. I knew the next starter's answer to be 'point' once 'Euclid' and 'that which has no part' was mentioned; Mr Mays knew it too, but just one bonus went with it. Not to worry; the first picture round, on wetlands designated to be of international importance, was a bread and butter 25 points for Mr Zeng, which took Imperial's lead to 65-25.

And the lead was just increasing as Mr Jackson and Ms Sheriff took the next two starters between them; just one bonus was taken from the first set however, and the second, on terms used in drag performance, didn't give them any further points (Ms Sheriff: "We're just too nice for this!"). Back came Reading as Mr Hutchinson once again did the honours, and they, in contrast, took a second full set of bonuses, suggesting they certainly weren't out of this game. The music starter was then dropped; the bonuses, on arias from Nixon in China, went to Imperial, who took a single bonus, which increased their lead to 105-45.

Mr Hutchinson then took a third starter of the night for Reading however; just one bonus followed, but Ms Ounsley then gave the Royals a second successive starter for the first time of the night. No bonuses followed, but Mr Hutchinson then took a third in a row, and two bonuses on Prussia meant they had closed the gap to just 15 points. And when Ms Ounsley took the next starter, and one bonus on Islamic scholars was taken, the teams were on level pegging! The second picture starter was then missed by both teams, but Mr Hutchinson took the next to give his team the lead! The bonuses, on works by Yinka Shonibare and their inspirations, gave them just the one correct answer, but they now had a crucial lead of 120-105.

It was now a straight sprint for the finish. The next asked which mountain range Pen y Fan was the highest point of, a question that was met with the infamous response of 'Snowdonia' on UC many years ago! Mr Zeng made no mistake however, and his side took two bonuses on space probes that took them, just back into the lead. Neither side knew sundew plants for the next starter. Mr Hutchinson did the right thing and took an educated flyer on the next starter, but was wrong and lost five; Imperial didn't get it either, but it mattered not, as that was the gong! Imperial won the final, and the series, 125-115!

So, to the socially distant trophy presentation. Professor Sir Andre Geim stepped forward and said a few words praising both teams, before Mr Mays stepped forwards and collected the trophy.

An excellent final, between two excellent teams, both of whom played very well and would've deserved to win. Many congratulations to Imperial, who join Magdalen of Oxford and Manchester on four UC titles, and well done to Reading as well, who played a blinder as well and would've been worthy winners as well. Well played both teams, a good final!

The stats: Mr Hutchinson was the best buzzer of the night with five, and of the series as a whole with a final total of 45, while Mr Zeng was best for Imperial with three, giving him a final total of 32. On the bonuses, Imperial managed 11 out of 21, and, in fact, so too did Reading, but with two penalties. That's where the game was won. But, again, well played both teams, a good close final either would've deserved to win!

So, that's it for another series! Many thanks to all the teams involved, and, as Paxo said in his outro, to everyone behind the scenes who made the extra effort to get this show made in the trying circumstances; thanks very much indeed, and hopefully the next series can be/has been put together in better conditions. My usual end of series review and starter stats coming up later in the week.

Mastermind’s sixth and final semi-final was won by Patrick Buckingham, who won it with easily the best GK round of the night to double his specialist score of 13 to a final winning total of 26, with OC winner Richard Aubrey second on 20; Marianne McKillop led after the first round, but had a most unlucky GK round and thus finished joint third with 18 points, matched by fourth contender Gary McKenzie. I’ll be reviewing next week’s final in full, I hope.