Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 21: University Challenge R2M5, Only Connect Play-Off 4, Mastermind Heat 20

Hello again my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! Back to a feeling of normality this week after the odd feeling of last Monday, after a much more conventional week; enjoy it while we can as there won't be many more of them for a while as winter and Christmas both approach. I believe the fixtures for this year's Xmas UC and OC are both out, but I've yet to get around to checking them out; will do so tomorrow. Anyway, on with business as usual tonight, beginning with UC...

 

Manchester were narrow winners in their first match over New College Oxford, surviving a late fightback from their opponents to win 170-150 on the final starter of the game. They were the same foursome as before:

Ray Power, from Bangkok, studying Film and English Literature

Kirsty Dickson, from Morley Green in Cheshire, studying Medicine

Captain: Kai Madgwick, from Fowey in Cornwall, studying AI and Astrophysics

Rob Faulkner, from Norwich, studying Physics with Astrophysics

 

The London School of Economics beat Trinity Hall Cambridge in a higher scoring first round contest; in contrast, they pulled away late on and won 215-135. They were also the same quartet as the first time around:

Ryan Sharpe, from Oakville, Ontario, studying History and Philosophy

Cormac Beirne, from Ireland and Canada, studying the History of International Relations

Captain: Andy Huff, from Houston, Texas, studying International Social and Public Policy

Catherine Tan, from Lexington, Massachusetts, studying Anthropology and International Relations

 

We begin on a very slightly controversial note as two L.S.E. players answered the first starter at the same time; as one of them was the player who'd been announced, the chairman let them have it. He did not, however, let them off with a hesitation after buzzing on the second starter, allowing Manchester into the game. It proved a blip to L.S.E.'s dominance of the first quarter; after the first picture round, they led 45-25. Another L.S.E. penalty allowed Manchester to pull back within ten, but one to the Mancunians handed the Londoners the advantage and they reached three figures first. Manchester did take the music round, which they too one bonus on, which helped them cut the gap to 100-55.

 

This proved the start of a strong recovery from Manchester, as their virtuoso captain Mr Madgwick went on a run on the buzzer and, a few starters later, they'd suddenly taken the lead! They also took the second picture round, after which they now led 120-100. L.S.E. suddenly reawoke though, and took a couple of starters to move back into the lead. But a penalty pegged them back; Manchester didn't take advantage, but their captain took the next starter to pull them level again. A couple of penalties pushed them back, but Mr Faulkner took the next starter and one bonus gave them the lead again. And when Mr Madgwick took the final starter, that was game over; at the gong, Manchester won 160-135.

 

An absorbing contest between two very even teams, but Manchester were worthy winners in the end. Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs! Hard lines to L.S.E., another team who can consider themselves unfortunate to be out already; thanks to them for playing, a good team.

 

The stats: Mr Madgwick was, again, the best buzzer of the night with, again, NINE(!) starters, already giving them a total of 18 over two games, while Mr Huff was best for L.S.E. with four. On the bonuses, Manchester managed 15 out of 28 and L.S.E. 14 out of 24, and both sides incurred three penalties.

 

Next week's match: Trinity Cambridge vs Edinburgh, followed by Lincoln vs U.C.L. the week after, and then we break for Christmas.

 

Only Connect’s final play-off match was contested by the Benchwarmers, who were beaten by the Pitchers in their first match, but beat the Scanners in their second, and the Workers Bees, who, once again, did the exact same things in the opposite rounds!

 

I don’t think my household claimed any points in the first round; the Benchwarmers led 6-2 at the end of it. We did work out the languages sequence in the second round at around the same time as the Benchwarmers, but not sure if we’d have thought of an answer in time; I definitely claim FIVE POINTS on the Liz Truss question. The Benchwarmers led 12-6 after that.

 

The Benchwarmers went first on the Walls, and took quite a while to find one group, before getting timed out; they did get two of the connections though, so three points. The Bees, in contrast, took their time and worked out all the groups for a full ten, while meant they now led 16-15 going into Missing Vowels. And they just about hung on to their lead there to complete the comeback and win 20-19! Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs, and thanks to the Benchwarmers for playing.

 

Next week’s match: the first quarter-final, between the 5ks and Oh No They Didn’t

 

Mastermind was won by Teddy Fogel, who was level on 10 each with Meg Stapleton after the SS round, but fared a touch better on GK to win with 19 points to her 17; Tom McAndrew and Meena Heath also took part, finishing with 11 and 15 respectively.

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; only two more regular weeks to go before we break for Christmas, though, depending on whether some regular editions creep in during the festive fortnight, as has happened before, I may still keep this blog series going, we'll have to wait and see. All will become clear when I finally check the listings tomorrow. Anyway, back next week, same time same place, with my usual normal write-up, so, see yous then I guess... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 20: University Challenge R2M4, Only Connect Play-Off 3, Mastermind Heat 19

Hello again my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! After what's been a most strange week indeed, going from the utter hysteria of Tuesday night (WOOHOO SCOTLAND!) back to boring old business as usual for the rest of the week, not to mention the snow we had up here, was a bit of a drop-off that I suspect impacted me more than I thought it would. But here's one bit of business as usual that you can always count on to perk you up! Coming up, OC and Mastermind, but we begin with UC as usual...

 

Bristol defeated Cardiff in their first match, leading steadily throughout but never really pulling that far ahead, they eventually won 180-115. They were the same unchanged foursome as before:

Lewis Jenkins, from Swansea, studying Maths

Lois Connolly, from Brighton, studying Liberal Arts

Captain: Hugo Goodwill, from Surrey, studing Aerospace Engineering

Nathaniel Joyce, from Southampton, studying Biology

 

Warwick defeated Sheffield in the first match of the series, trailing almost throughout before a spectacular late recovery saw them defeat the now-quarter-finalists 210-170. Hoping to join the Steelers were the also-unchanged quartet of:

Josh Howarth, from St Albans, studying History

Antoni Kluzowski, from Chingford in London, studying English Literature and History

Captain: Chris Levesley, from Derby, studying Maths

Lucy Dennett, from South West London, studying Politics and International Studies

 

Bristol started stronger with the first two starters of the game, but only half the resulting bonuses; Warwick took the third starter and matched that tally in a single bonus set. Bristol responded in king with the first picture round though, after which they led 60-25. The Avonsiders maintained a steady lead during the second period, but Warwick kept themselves well within distance; after the music round, Bristol led 95-75.

 

A starter and single bonus pulled Warwick within five, but a penalty allowed Bristol to pull away again. But a reversal of those fortunes saw Warwick pull back to within ten points and, after the second picture round, they had taken a narrow lead, 115-110. Bristol were unfortunate not to get the next starter, but a penalty on the next allowed Warwick to pull further ahead. Bristol kept themselves in it with the next starter, but Warwick took the next to pull further away again, and a second in a row put them within sight of victory. Bristol, again, kept themselves in it with a starter and sole bonus, but when Warwick took the next, that was game over; a blank on the bonuses didn't matter. At the gong, Warwick won 180-145.

 

A good contest that, once again, makes me sad that one of these teams has to go out at this stage. Well done Warwick, another good victory over good opponents; best of luck to them in the QFs! Hard lines to Bristol, but they gave a good account of themselves; thanks to them for playing!

 

The stats: Messrs Jenkins and Levesley were the joint best buzzers of the night with five starters each for their respective teams. On the bonuses, Bristol managed 16 out of 24 (with three penalties) and Warwick 17 out of 33 (with one penalty) and, for the first time this round, all eight players got at least one starter correct.

 

Next week's match: L.S.E. vs Manchester, followed by Trinity vs Edinbugh the week after

 

Only Connect’s penultimate play-off saw the returns of the Keyboard Worriers, who lost to the Doctors Matthews but then defeated the Jive Bunnies, and the Sorcerers, who did exactly the same things in their first two matches but the other way around!

 

My Dad and I jointly claim one point on the music question, the retail brands question and the places on the Moon question in the first round; the Worriers led 2-1 after that round. I claim two points on the football days question in the second round; the Sorcerers led 5-3 at the end of that.

 

The Sorcerers went first on the Walls, and worked out all the groups steadily, but missed one of the connections, so seven points. The Worriers took a bit longer, but it was the same result, all the connections, just three groups, another seven points, so, as you were, they trailed 12-10 going into Missing Vowels. They did just a bit better in that and the game ended in a 17-each tie! A second tie in a row and a second for the Worriers. And, just like the first time, they lost out, Emily B getting “ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END” to win the Sorcerers! Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs! And thanks to the Worriers for playing!

 

Mastermind was very close indeed, with only two points separating all four contenders; Ross Taylor just about edged the game with 19 points, ahead of Julie Aris with 18 and Sam Schoen and Ryan Lewendon with 17 each.

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; hopefully this coming week will be a lot more settled than last week was, but, the way things are at the moment, who knows? Anyway, what shouldn't change is my usual Monday night routine; back same time same place next week with my usual write-up, so, see yous then...

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 19: University Challenge R2M3, Only Connect Play-Off 2, Mastermind Heat 18

Hello again my friends, and welcome to another Quizzy Monday! Coming up tonight, some very dramatic contests indeed; well worth waiting for for viewers in Northern Ireland, where tonight's shows weren't shown due to football (rightly TBF) getting precedence, who've chosen to wait until they are shown on Wednesday rather than just use the iPlayer or watch English BBC2 on satellite like I suggested last week. Anyway, on with those dramatic contests, beginning with UC...

 

Southampton were winners over Bath back in the summer, a sharp contrast to the weather this week(!), where they racked up the highest score of the round as they won 255-70. They were the same foursome as that time:

Cormac Stephenson, from Stratford in London, studying Maths

Zain Mahmood, from Skipton in Yorkshire, studying Maths with Computer Science

Captain: Florence Williams, from Essex, studying Medicine

Ben Hermanns-Kermode, from Horsham, studying Chemistry

 

Imperial came through the repechage, narrowly losing to Churchill in the first round, but comfortably defeating SOAS 220-115 in their play-off to make it here tonight. They were also unchanged from their previous matches:

Rahim Dina, from the Seychelles, studying Ecology and Evolution

Eugenia Tong, from Hong Kong, studying Chemistry

Captain: Oscar O'Flanagan, from London, studying Atmospheric Physics

Justin Keung, from Hong Kong, studying Computing 

 

The match started well as the two sides took the first two starters and both took a full set of bonuses. Imperial took the next two to pull away, but Southampton bounced back with the first picture round, which they took one bonus on and were unfortunate not to get the other two, after which they'd cut the gap to 65-40. A second starter pulled the Saints closer, but Imperial reawoke and pulled away again to reach three figures first. Southampton did take the music round, which they, again, took one bonus on, which reduced their arrears to 100-65.

 

Another two starters to Imperial, and suddenly they looked in danger of running away with the contest. Southampton had other ideas, taking two starters of their own to reach three figures. They also took the second picture round, after which they were well back in the game, trailing 140-125. Another starter to the Saints, two bonuses and they suddenly had the lead. But back came Imperial and they immediately took it back with the next starter; just one bonus followed, but another two starters followed and it looked like they might have done enough. Or maybe not, as Southampton took the next starter to keep themselves in the game, and then a second in a row plus two bonuses took them back within ten! Another starter was begun... but was beaten by the gong! Imperial won 190-180.

 

A solid contest that just about sums up how unfair the round is, that a team as good as Southampton are out after a single defeat. Hard lines to them, but they can go away with their heads held high after two fine performances; thanks for playing! Well done Imperial though, another good showing against strong opponents, best of luck in the quarter-finals!

 

The stats: Ms Williams and Mr O'Flanagan were joint best buzzers of the night with five each for their respective teams. On the bonuses, Southampton managed 17 out of 30 (with the night's one penalty) and Imperial 18 out of 30, so it was those extra bonuses that won it for them.

 

Next week's match: Bristol vs Warwick, followed the week after by L.S.E. vs Manchester

 

Only Connect continued its play-off round with the Pear Trees, who lost to Oh No They Didn’t in their first match, but beat the Caraxians in their second, against the Whitley Baes, who did the exact same thing, but the other way round!

 

I claim the same point as the Trees on the mayors question and the same point as the Baes on the quiz answers question (although I may have been tempted to say ‘fictional University Challenge answers’ after three clues, which probably wouldn’t have counted!), while my Dad claims the same point as the Trees on the ‘foes of Rangers’ question; they led 4-2 at the end of that round. My Dad claims the same two points as the Trees on the music question in the second round; they led 6-3 after that.

 

The Baes went first on the Walls, and worked everything out steadily for a full ten. The Trees took a bit longer, but same result, a full ten, so as you were, they led 16-13 going into Missing Vowels. The Baes just about had the better of that though, and the game ended in a 20-each tie-breaker! Mr Erdal was first to answer ‘WHO DARES WINS’ to complete the comeback and win the game for the Baes! Well done them, and best of luck in the QFs, and thanks to the Trees for playing!

 

Mastermind was won by Carolyn Rowe, whose 25 points saw her win against Stuart Beard with 21, Finn Mawell with 17 and Bella Burgess with 11.

 

And that's it for another week! Thanks as ever for reading; back to business as usual next week with everyone getting the shows at the same time, and not long now before the Christmas specials start as well, assuming there are any. Watch out for repeats of previous years' Xmas UC (with the previous chairman) on BBC4 soon. Anyway, back same time same place with my usual write-up next Monday, so, see yous then...