University Challenge 2023-24: Preliminary Quarter-Final 1: Manchester vs Birkbeck

Good evening again friends, and welcome to the QFs of this year's UC! And, after years of Paxo making the double elimination format sound more complicated then it sounds, AR duly redressed the balance tonight with a very clear and concise explanation indeed! Seriously, it's a good format; it's the stage of the tournament it's used at that I and others object too. Anyway, here we go again...

 

Manchester beat fellow quarter-finalists Trinity on a 190-each tie-breaker in the first match of the series, before more comfortably beating the fancied Edinburgh 215-105 in the second. They were the same foursome as those two games:

Bluma De Los Reyes-White, from Franklin, Massachusetts, studying Genetics

Ilya Kullmann, from London, studying Medicine

Captain: Hiru Senehedheera, from Letchworth Garden City, studying Materials

Dan Grady, from Burton-on-Trent, studying Maths

Birkbeck have been narrow winners in both their games so far, winning a great first round match against Oxford Brookes 220-205 before they too needed a tie-breaker to beat York after drawing 155-each in the second round. They were also the same quartet as twice before:

Danny McMillan, from Belfast, studying Modern Irish History

Olivia Mariner, from London, studying Maths

Captain: Samir Chadha, from Ealing, studying Creative and Critical Writing

Margherita Huntley, from South London, studying Law and Political Economy

So, off we set once again then, and it was Mr Grady who opened the scoring for the round with 'Philip Glass'; bonuses on potatoes in art gave them just one bonus, before Birkbeck responded in kind with a starter and sole bonus. A second starter to Mr Grady gave Manchester bonuses more to their liking, a full set on the Asante people. Birkbeck in contrast got just one of their second set. The first picture starter was dropped; the replacement starter suddenly became obvious when '2010 World Cup quarter-finalists' and 'Roque Santa Cruz' were mentioned, myself and Mr Grady both knew it to be Paraguay. The bonuses, on elements with shared name roots, gave Manchester one correct right, taking their lead to 55-30. Manchester took the next starter, Birkbeck the next two, but the struggles with the bonuses continued, none out of nine. The music round, on pop songs produced by Conny Plank, went to Manchester; one correct bonus finally came, taking their lead to 80-50.

Back came Birkbeck, and they took two bonuses on Bossa nova; Manchester responded in kind, and thus reached three figures. Another starter to the Londoners saw a reversion to form; just one correct. The second picture round, on paintings by war artists, went to Manchester; no bonuses once again though nonetheless meant they led 110-85. Mr Senehedheera took a second starter in a row to Manchester, and Mr Grady a third, but just one resulting bonus out of six meant Birkbeck still had a chance. Mr Chadha duly took the next starter, but no bonuses going with it felt like game over. Mr Senehedheera confirmed this as he took the next starter, which was followed by another sole bonus. There was time for one more starter before the gong, but the gong denied any bonuses being answered; Manchester won 160-95.

A somewhat slow start to the round with both teams struggling somewhat with the bonuses; again, both did rather well all things considered. Well done to Manchester and best of luck in the qualifying round! Hard lines to Birkbeck, and best of luck in the eliminators.

The stats: Mr Grady was the best buzzer of the night with five, while Messrs McMillan and Chadha were joint best for Birkbeck with three each. On the bonuses, Manchester managed just 10 out of 31 and Birkbeck just 5 out of 21, so some pretty tough questions tonight; as I said, both teams did pretty well in the circumstances.

Next week's match: Sheffield vs Imperial

Only Connect’s second semi-final was a much anticipated clash between the Also Rans and the Mercians. The former led 4-3 after the first round, and 9-7 after the second. A better wall saw the Mercians take the lead 17-16 going into Missing Vowels, but the Also Rans just snuck back ahead after a very close round to win 22-21! They meet the Thrifters in, what should hopefully be, a good final; the Mercians play the Suncatchers in next week’s third place play-off.

 

Mastermind was won very comfortably by Julie Ashcroft, whose 26 points saw her easily triumph over Rachel Fullard with 19, Edison Hipkin with 18 and Mark Davies with 17.