University Challenge 2022-23: Play-Off Quarter-Final 1: Durham vs U.C.L.

Good evening friends, and welcome back, a day later than usual, to JOW! Yes, UC was on later than usual yesterday, but at least it was worth it for the exciting Mastermind final; quick summary of that coming up later, or head over to LAM for a more thorough review. This is going to be a streamlined review tonight; shame, as it was a very good contest between two great teams. Winners would go through to the semi-finals, runners-up could count themselves unlucky to be going out now.

Durham began the QFs as big favourites after beating Bristol, now in the semis, in the first round and thumping Bangor in the second, but maybe not so much now after a closer win over Southampton in their first QF and a low scoring loss to Royal Holloway in their second. They were unchanged from those four previous games:

Harry Scully, from Welwyn Garden City, studying Physics and Chemistry

Chloe Margaux, from Haringey in London, studying Sociology

Captain: Alex Radcliffe, from Edinburgh, studying Maths

Bea Bennett, from Icomb in Gloucestershire, studying English

 

U.C.L. were also many's favourites to reach the semis after close but impressive wins over Sheffield and Newcastle and a comfortable win over Jesus in their first QF, but, again, maybe not so much after a loss to Bristol in their second. They were also the same four as before:

Rachel Collier, from West London, studying the History of Ancient Greek

Michael Fleetwood-Walker, from the West Midlands, studying Urban Studies

Captain: James Salmon, from Bristol, studying Planetary Science

Louis Collier, from London, studying Maths and Physics

 

So, off we set once again, and it was Mr Collier who took the first starter of the night for U.C.L., and Mr Scully who took the second for Durham; both sides took one bonus from their opening sets. U.C.L. then pushed ahead with two successive starters and pairs of bonuses, including the first picture round, on areas where the dominant language has no official status, after which they led 55-15. A second starter to Durham yielded just one correct bonus; in contrast, another to U.C.L. gave them two correct, which opened their lead further. Durham did take the music round, on operas based on literary works, but another sole bonus meant they still trailed 95-45.

Another starter to Durham, another sole bonus, and it looked like it just wasn't going to be their night, especially when U.C.L. took a starter and full house to increase their lead to 70 points. Durham did take the second picture round, on paintings of previously unnamed black models; again, just one bonus follow, leaving them trailing 130-75. A penalty to U.C.L. gave Durham a chance, which they took, but another sole bonus, followed by another starter to U.C.L., looked like it had won it for them. But Durham took two starters in a row and, though the bonuses agin weren't to their liking, just one out of six, they weren't far behind. And when Mr Fleetwood-Walker was unluckily beaten by a swerve, Mr Radcliffe lept in, and the bonuses finally fell for Durham, a full set giving them the lead. And when Mr Scully took the next starter, and two bonuses went with it, that was game over. Mr Salmon did take the last for U.C.L., but, despite their attempts to rush through the bonuses, there wouldn't have been time to catch up. At the gong, Durham won a dramatic match 160-145.

A fine contest between two excellent teams, shame one of them had to lose now. Well done to Durham, worthy semi-finalists; best of luck to them there! Hard lines to U.C.L., who were just pipped at the post and would've been worthy winners too; thanks very much for playing!

The stats: Mr Scully was the best buzzer of the night with five, while Mr Salmon was best for U.C.L. with four, finishing the series their best buzzer with 21 over five matches. On the bonuses, Durham managed 12 out of 30 and U.C.L. 13 out of 26 (with two penalties).

No match next week due to snooker coverage. We, hopefully, resume in two weeks' time with Southampton vs Newnham. Advanced warning: unless we get any double bills in the coming weeks, the final will be on May the 29th, which means I'll be away that week and so my review will be delayed again. I'll try and keep you posted.

The Mastermind final was a great, very close affair. Michael McPartland was probably the ante-post favourite, but ended up joint last after the SS round alongside James Davidson with 9 each, with Ben Spicer on 10, Stephen Finn on 12, James Beeby on 14 and Stuart Field just ahead on 15.

Michael went first on GK, and put in a great round to his credit which upped his score to 24, which James D., Ben and Stephen were unable to surpass on their rounds, finishing with 22, 22 and 20 respectively.

James B. managed to just better Michael's score by just a point, leaving Stuart a target of 25 to beat. And beat it he did; 28 his final score, and he is the new Mastermind champion! Very well done him, and well done everyone else for an enjoyable final!

 

And thanks to Clive M. and TPTB for another enjoyable series, though I do agree with Dave C. that a tweak to the rules to allow the highest scoring runners-up places in the semis again should at least be considered for the next series.

University Challenge 2022-23: Elimination Quarter-Final 2: Newnham vs Jesus

Good evening again friends, and welcome back to JOW! Now, next week, it's the Mastermind final; that's at 8pm as usual and runs for an hour. So, next week, UC will be at the later than usual time of 9pm; that's too late for me, so next week's blog will be on Tuesday night instead. Now that that bit of advanced notice is out of the way, on with tonight's show, as two Cambridge teams competed to stay in the contest and play Southampton in two matches time.

Newnham College lost to Courtauld in the first round, recovered well with wins over Sheffield and Cardiff, but lost to Bristol 205-110 in their preliminary match. They were unchanged from those previous games:

Bethan Holloway-Strong, from Surrey and Australia, studying English

Hannah Bowen, from Gateshead, studying German, Russian and Polish

Captain: Roma Ellis, from Nottingham, studying Philosophy 

Chén Zhiyu, from Suzhou in China, studying the History of Science

 

Jesus College beat two Oxford teams, St Catharine's and University College, to reach the QFs unbeaten, but that run ended at the hands of U.C.L. 185-115 in the preliminaries. They were also the same quartet as before:

Josh Kaye, from North West London, studying Maths

Juliet Tindall, from Birmingham, studying Spanish and Portuguese

Captain: Hamish MacGregor, from Cambridge, studying Cancer Genetic Epidemiology

Sumit Aggarwal, from London, studying Engineering

 

So, off we set once again then, and Ms Ellis quickly got the scoring going for the night by identifying 'Adams' as the surname needed just moments after I did; the first bonuses, on Copenhagen, gave Newnham two correct answers. Mr Aggarwal quickly set Jesus off as well, but they managed just one bonus from their first set. Newnham, in contrast, took a second starter and followed it up with a full bonus set on Japan. The first picture round, on flags of minor members of the Nordic Council, also went to Newnham; another full bonus took their lead to 70-15.

Neither team identified the FA Vase for the next starter (I did), but another starter to Newnham's impressive captain furthered Newnham's lead, though just one bonus followed this time. Mr Aggarwal gave Jesus a second starter of the game, and they followed it up with a full bonus set on philosophy. But another starter to Ms Ellis and a full bonus set, a classic UC one on pairs of words differing only in an initial A becoming an E, furthered their advantage. The music round, on platinum award winning musicals, also went to Newnham; another full bonus set increased their lead to 135-40.

And it kept getting bigger, as Ms Bowen took the next starter, which was followed by two bonuses, one of which looked like a flat out guess (just goes to show it's always worth saying something). Finally, Jesus got some more points on the board via Ms Tindall, which they followed by one bonus on popes. But another quick buzz from the impressive Newnham captain quickly put her side back in the ascendancy; just one bonus followed, but their lead was surely impregnable now. A penalty to Jesus seemed to confirm this; Mr Aggarwal did quickly recoup the points though, and one bonus followed. The second picture round, on stills from concert films, went to Newnham; one bonus took the scores to 185-65.

All over bar the shouting, but could Jesus at least reach the respectability of three figures? Mr MacGregor put them closer by taking the next starter, which was followed by a single bonus on chemical reactions. But Newnham were going for 200, and another starter from Ms Ellis and a single bonus saw them achieve that goal. Another starter and single bonus only served to push them further past that score. Jesus did go out on a flourish as Mr Aggarwal took the final two starters of the game, with three bonuses taking them into three figures. At the gong, Newnham won 215-115.

A fun game, despite its one sidedness; it's a testament to the team this series that the numerous one-sided games have still been enjoyable. Well done to Newnham, their best performance yet, and, if they can maintain that form, they'll be in the semis no problem; best of luck to them next time! Hard lines to Jesus, who were simply outplayed, but they went out on a respectable effort after a good showing all series; thanks for playing!

The stats: Ms Ellis was easily the best buzzer of the night with EIGHT(!) starters, while Mr Aggarwal was best for Jesus with an also good five, meaning he ends the series their best buzzer with 15 starters over four games. On the bonuses, Newnham managed a very good 21 out of 33 and Jesus 10 out of 21 (with the night's one penalty).

Next week's match: Durham vs U.C.L.. Remember, 9pm next week; blog of it will be on Tuesday (the 25th)

Mastermind’s final semi-final was won by Ben Spicer, who led by one point after the SS round, and two after GK to win with 23 points, with Ann Mayner second, Joe Andrew third with 20 and Alex Shilton competing the line-up with 16.

University Challenge 2022-23: Qualification Quarter-Final 2: Bristol vs U.C.L.

Good evening again friends, and welcome back to Quizzy Mondays! After a week where, ironically after what I said last week, I've made the switch back to Radio 2 and Ten to the Top, mainly because my Dad, not having taken to new Popmaster on GHR, has done so as well. Admittedly, we didn't listen to either today, but we will be tomorrow. Anyway, on with tonight's procedings, and normally, at this time of year, UC would be either done or be about to finish, but not this year, as we're still at the second stage of the QFs; winners tonight would go through to the semis.

Bristol lost to Durham in the first round, but have recovered well since with wins over Oriel of Oxford, Queen's of Belfast and, in their preliminary QF, Newnham by 205-110. They were unchanged from those previous games:

Sam Kehler, from Wolverhampton, studying Medicine

Jacob McLaughlin, from Gloucester, studying Economics and Maths

Captain: Tess Richardson, from Reading, studying Chemistry

Alejandro Ortega, from Chalfont St Peter, studying Physics and Philosophy

 

U.C.L. were narrow winners over Sheffield (on a tie-breaker) and Newcastle (by ten points) in the first two rounds, but had an easier win over Jesus in their preliminary, winning 185-115. They were also the same quartet as before:

Rachel Collier, from West London, studying the History of Ancient Greek

Michael Fleetwood-Walker, from the West Midlands, studying Urban Studies

Captain: James Salmon, from Bristol, studying Planetary Science

Louis Collier, from London, studying Maths and Physics

 

So, off we set once again then, and Mr McLaughlin, Bristol's MVP in the earlier shows, was first off the mark for the night with 'Jay Z', which was followed up by two bonuses. Mr Salmon, his side's MVP earlier on, tried to do the same thing on the second starter, but was wrong and lost five; Ms Richardson made no mistake with 'Beech' (the tree, not Don), and the Avonsiders took full advantage with a full bonus set. The Bristol captain took the third starter as well, but, in a reversal of fortunes, no bonuses on constellations were taken. They did also take the first picture round though, on dramatis personae displayed along class lines; a single bonus took their lead to 70-(-5).

It was their turn to lost five on the next starter though; U.C.L. didn't pick up, but Mr Collier finally got them some positive points on the next starter, and bonuses on history, in which, ironically after what I said earlier, they were allowed to be 'ONE YEAR OUT!', gave them two correct bonuses. Back came Bristol with Mr Kehler's answer of 'Cyrene', which was followed by a single bonus on proteins, but also by another loss of five on the next starter; this time, Mr Fleetwood-Walker did take the points for U.C.L., which they followed up with another two bonuses, on ghosts in Shakespeare. The music round, on artists who regularly feature on the annual Pazz and Jop poll, went to Bristol; one correct bonus took their lead to 90-35.

And up it went as Mr McLaughlin took the next starter, asking for three rhyming words (which happened a lot back when I first started watching regularly, but not so much nowadays); just one bonus followed, but another penalty from U.C.L. increased the lead again further. And when Mr McLaughlin took the next starter, and a full set of bonuses on economical and scientific terms, Bristol suddenly led by 100 points. That was until Ms Collier identified 'altitude and latitude' for the next starter, which was followed by a single bonus, and then a second starter and sole bonus to the Londoners in a row. The second picture round, on European Holocaust memorials, went to Bristol though, and a full set of bonuses reopened their lead to 155-60.

And when Mr Kehler took the next starter, and yet another full bonus set, on pharmacology, went to the Avonsiders, that was game over. U.C.L. did take another starter, and two bonuses on philosophy, only to lose half the bonus points to another penalty. Mr McLaughlin identified 'Booth' as the surname of, among others, the founder of the Salvation Army for the next starter, but one bonus meant they fell just short of 200. Another U.C.L. penalty handed them a tap-in to do so on the last starter of the game though, though they didn't get either of the bonuses there was time for. At the gong, Bristol won 205-70.

Another rather one sided contest, but, again, the two teams involved made it still a watchable one. Very well done to Bristol, another strong performance, on the buzzer especially, and, having done it against one of the other strongest teams of the series, they might now be the current favourites for the title; very best of luck to them in the semis! Hard lines to U.C.L., but we know they're a better team than this and they did the right thing in carrying on buzzing in; best of luck to them in the play-offs!

The stats: Mr McLaughlin was the best buzzer of the night with five, while Mr Fleetwood-Walker was best for U.C.L. with two. On the bonuses, Bristol managed 19 out of 35 (with two penalties) and U.C.L. 8 out of 15 (with four penalties).

Next week's match: Newnham vs Jesus

Mastermind’s penultimate semi-final was very close indeed, with George Scratcherd and Stuart Field both finishing with 23 points, but the latter just edging it with one pass to Mr Scratcherd’s four. William Andrews came just behind with 22, while Ben Whitworth completed the line-up with 18.

University Challenge 2022-23: Elimination Quarter-Final 1: Southampton vs Robert Gordon

Good evening friends, and welcome back to Quizzy Mondays. On a big day for radio music quizzes, with the final of Counterpoint, and the return of Popmaster in its new home on Greatest Hits Radio! I certainly don't mind the new Radio 2 quiz, Ten to the Top, though, and I'll definitely be giving it another go once Vernon Kay takes over; Gary Davies is alright, but he's not very good at hosting it IMO. Anyway, on with tonight's UC, where tonight we would be losing our first quarter-finalist...

Southampton were comfortable winners over Balliol of Oxford and Christ's of Cambridge in the first two rounds, but lost a closely fought preliminary game against Durham 165-135. They were unchanged from those previous outings:

Ethan Lyon, from Northampton, studying Film

Magda Steele, from Poland, studying Ecology

Captain: Dom Belcher, from Worcestershire, studying Machine Learning 

Elliot Miles, from the Wirral, studying Marine Biology

 

Robert Gordon also had easy wins, over Roehampton and the Courtauld Institute, in their first two matches, but they were easily beaten by Royal Holloway 170-85 in their preliminary. They were also the same unchanged quartet as before:

Samuel Fregene, from Nigeria, studying Analytical Science

Donald Anderson, from Aberdeen, studying Accounting and Finance

Captain: Emily Cullen, from Clonroche, County Wexford, studying Pharmacy

Faye Cooke, from Edinburgh, studying Legal Practice

 

So, off we set once again then, and Ms Cullen was first to the buzzer to identify 'little' as the word linking various titles for the first starter; bonuses on constellations didn't give them any further points however. So, when Mr Belcher took the night's second starter, two bonuses on odd pairs of words found on the same page of a dictionary meant they immediately took the lead. A second starter to the Saints captain had the same result, two bonuses correct. The first picture round, on locations of Max Planck research institutes in Germany, also went to Southampton; one correct bonus took their lead to 55-10.

It increased against when Mr Anderson lost five on the next starter; Southampton didn't pick it up, but Mr Lyon took the next starter instead, though bonuses on economic models didn't give them any further points. The next starter, asking for a name given to certain numbers, suddenly became obvious when Paxo said it was also the name of a yellow circular Mr Man; Mr Belcher was first in with 'happy', which was followed by a single bonus. A second penalty reset Robert Gordon's score to zero, but they were doing the right thing in keeping on going for it; again, Southampton didn't pick up. Mr Anderson finally got some points on the board again with 'Doric' for the next starter; the Scots side also took a single bonus, on telegrams. The music round, on pop songs whose music videos were inspired by film scenes, also went to Robert Gordon; two bonuses took the score to 80-35.

Ms Cullen gave Robert Gordon a third starter in a row by knowing Marseille won the 1993 Champions League (and were lucky to be allowed to keep it after a subsequent corruption scandal); two bonuses on novels set in Africa meant they were now just a full house behind. But another five point penalty allowed Mr Lyon to increase Southampton's lead again, though just one bonus meant they just fell short of three figures. The second picture round, on the first presidents of African countries, did take the Saints past 100 though; no bonuses followed though, leaving their lead at 105-50.

Still either team's game, just about, but Robert Gordon would have to run the show from now on. A second starter in a row to Mr Miles and two bonuses on death masks put Southampton on the verge of victory though. And when Mr Belcher was first in with 'Omicron' on the next starter, and his team swept up a full bonus on motorcycle racing, that was game over. Ms Cullen did take another starter for Robert Gordon on the next starter, and they followed it up with another two bonuses, only for another penalty to lose them five of those points. There was time for Mr Belcher to take two final starters, including a most impressive working-out for the final starter, and his side took two bonuses from the one set there was time for. At the gong, Southampton won 180-65.

Another one-sided contest for the most part, but still an enjoyable one. Well done to Southampton, another solid performance against solid opponents; best of luck in the play-off round! Hard lines to Robert Gordon, but, as Paxo said, getting to the QFs is a fine achievement; thanks for playing!

The stats: Mr Belcher was the best buzzer of the night with six starters, while Ms Cullen was best for Robert Gordon with four, meaning she just pips Mr Anderson as their best of the series with 17 to his 15. On the bonuses, Southampton managed 14 out of 30 and Robert Gordon 7 out of 15 (with four penalties).

Next week's match: Bristol vs U.C.L.

Mastermind’s fourth semi-final was won by James Beeby, who was second after the SS round, but who had the best GK round of the night to win with 22 points, two ahead of second place Stewart McNicol and three ahead of Jonathan Evans, who had led after the SS round but not fared as well on GK. Holly Franklin completed the line-up with 12.

 

Counterpoint’s final ended up being a two horse race, with Kathryn Johnson and Sally Wilson pulling well ahead of Anthony Fish and remaining so right until the end. Ultimately, it was decided on the very last question of the show, which Sally buzzed in on, but, agonisingly, the answer didn’t come until after Paul G had timed her out. As it transpired, if she’d gotten it right, she’d have forced a tie-breaker! Hard lines to her, and Anthony, but well done for getting so far and giving a good effort. Well done to Kathryn though, a deserving winner! And thanks to all involved for another fine series!