University Challenge 2022-23: Grand Final Preview

Well, here we are again people: another UC grand final. But not just any one, the last one of the Jeremy Paxman era! And, most fittingly for this occasion, the final is being contested, exactly nine months to the day, by the two teams who competed in the very first show of this series! Those two teams are:

Durham: Harry Scully, Chloe Margaux, Alex Radcliffe and Bea Bennett.

and

Bristol: Sam Kehler, Jacob McLaughlin, Tess Richardson and Alejandro Ortega.

 

So, they played each other in the first round, and there were only ten points in it, with Durham triumphing 195-185 on the very last starter of the game. But how they have they done since?

 

Durham went straight into the second round and thumped Bangor 240-35. They then won a close preliminary QF against Southampton 165-135, but then lost a close qualifier QF against Royal Holloway 125-100. A late rally saw them beat U.C.L. 160-145 to reach the SFs, where they met Royal Holloway again, and this time won easily 160-90.

Bristol went into the repechage and beat Oriel of Oxford 185-150 before easily beating Queen's of Belfast 205-90. They went straight through the QFs with wins over Newnham 205-110 in their preliminary and U.C.L. 205-70 in their qualifier. Their semi against Southampton was another comfortable win, 200-70.

So, that's their joint story so far (they began together and they're going to finish together! As I said, and others have said too, most pleasing!); now for the stats.

Well, they've both played six matches, including the one against each other; in those six games, Durham have scored 1,020 points, an average of 170 per game, while Bristol's total is 1,185, an average of 197.5 per game. Bristol have also conceded fewer points, 685, an average of 114.17 per game, to Durham's 715, an average of 119.17 per game, but there's not really anything in that.

Bristol have also answered more starters correctly than Durham, 66 to the Wearsiders' 61. Perhaps more tellingly, though, Bristol's tally is largely the work of Mr McLaughlin, whose 38 is the highest individual total of the series, while Durham have two players with 20+ starters to their names, Mr Scully (28) and Mr Radcliffe (21).

So, Bristol have most of the stats in their favour. Therefore, are they the favourites? Probably, yes. Are they definitely going to win? Not definitely, no. We've already seen Durham beat them once after all.

 

That was in the first round though; Bristol, if anything, have gotten better in the round since, whereas Durham have, arguably, taken their feet off in the rounds since (apart from the second). If anything, the two side's performances against U.C.L. and Southampton illustrate this: Bristol were comfortable winners over both, while Durham only just beat both (and came very close to losing to U.C.L. especially).

 

So, yeah, I'd have to say Bristol look the most likely to win on current form, and given that they have all the stats in their favour. Apart from the fact they lost the previous game between the two. Ironic really; a few weeks ago, I referenced the Eric Monkman final of 2017 to predict Durham would win a rematch; now, I'm using it to predict them to lose one!

But, seriously, if Durham do win, I wouldn't be surprised; they're a fine team too and have proven capable of grinding results out when they have to (including in that first match between the two of course).

These are two very good teams, both very worthy finalists and both would be most worthy winners, and neither would be surprising winners. Best of luck to both; hopefully a great final to end this series, and the Jeremy Paxman era, on! (As others have said, how fitting it is for Paxo's final series to begin and end with the same two teams playing!)

Anyway, as I've said before, I won't be reviewing it on Monday as usual as I'm going away for a week on Monday (and, as tempting as it is, I'm not delaying my holiday just so I can review the show!), so my final write-up of the series will be on Saturday the 4th (at the earliest); see you then then...