Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 25: University Challenge Preliminary Quarter-Final 1, Only Connect Semi-Final 2

Good evening my friends, and welcome to the second Quizzy Monday of 2026! Once again, we're on a truncated line-up because Mastermind is still on celeb editions, and will probably be so for the next two weeks as well, so, as that's when OC ends, means we probably won't get another line-up of all new regular editions of all three shows again this season. So, let's make the most of having new UC and OC while we do then, shall we? Let's start with tonight's UC, and the first QF...

 

Manchester reached the QFs via narrow wins over New College of Oxford in the first round, and L.S.E. in the second, largely thanks to their captain's excellent performances on the buzzer, 18 so far, the most of the 36 players in the QFs. They were unchanged from those two previous matches:

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

 

Edinburgh have gone somewhat under the radar so far, their first round win over Newcastle being overshadowed (for me anyway) by the unseasonably strong wind we had here that day, before beating Trinity of Cambridge in the second round; both solid wins and performances, but not as noticeable as some of the other quarter-finalists. They were also the same quartet as the first two times around:

Parthav Easwar, from Portland, Oregon, studying Sustainable Lands and Cities

Johnny Richards, from Los Angeles, studying Ancient DNA

Captain: Alice Leonard, from Portsmouth, studying Environment, Culture and Society

Rayhana Amjad, from Dublin and Glasgow, studying Computer Science

 

Edinburgh got off to the stronger start, Ms Amjad and Mr Richards taking the first four starters of the game between the two of them as the Scots side raced into an early lead. Manchester got off the mark with the first picture round, and duly took all three bonuses, which cut the gap to 70-25. It proved a brief blip though, as Edinburgh resumed their dominance, and their lead just kept increasing until they suddenly had a 100-point lead. Manchester got going again with the music round, which they took one bonus from, but their deficit now stood at 135-35.

 

Manchester finally got some momentum together as their impressive captain Mr Madgwick took a further two starters in a row and soon they had nearly halved the deficit. But a penalty halted this run, and Edinburgh duly reawoke and pulled further ahead again. They also took the second picture round, after which they led 175-60. It was now a question of how far both teams could go; Edinburgh took another couple of starters, but they didn't get any of the bonuses, not that it really mattered. Manchester did get another starter to reach a more respectable score, but didn't make it to three figures. At the gong, Edinburgh won 195-80.

 

A low(ish) scoring start to the QFs, but played in good spirits by two decent teams. Well done Edinburgh, another solid performance and win; best of luck to them in the qualifying matches! Hard lines to Manchester, but they're not out of it yet, especially if their captain picks their earlier form back up in the eliminators; best of luck to them then!

 

The stats: Mr Richards was the best buzzer of the night with seven, while Mr Madgwick was best, again, for Manchester with five (all five of their starters in fact), taking their series total so far to 23. On the bonuses, Manchester managed 8 out of 15 (with two penalties) and Edinburgh 15 out of 36.

 

Next week's match: don't know yet, but I would have to guess U.C.L. vs Merton

 

Only Connect’s second semi-final was a rematch between the Pitchers, who got here unbeaten with wins over the Benchwarmers, their opponents tonight and the Sorcerers, and the Worker Bees, who defeated the Scanners, the Benchwarmers and the Doctors Matthews alongside their loss to their opponents tonight.

 

My Mum and I claim two points on the women who married two brothers question; the Pitchers led 5-2 at the end of that first round. I don’t think we got any questions fully right in the second round, but I was pleased to spot the cricket question was something to do with cricket; the Pitchers led 12-2 after that.

 

The Bees went first on the Walls in need of a good result, and did indeed get one, working out all four groups and all four connections, for a full ten. The Pitchers also worked out all four groups, in roughly the same amount of time, but only got three connections; seven points, which meant their lead had narrowed to 19-12 going into Missing Vowels. And they maintained and improved on that lead there to win the game 27-14. Well done them, and best of luck in the final! And best of luck to the Bees in the third place play-off next week!

 

Next week's match: the Metrophiles vs the Worker Bees in that third place play-off

 

And that's it for another week! You know, as much as I disapprove of Mastermind still being on celeb editions, it's actually good that I'm not writing as much at the moment after a rather exhausting last few weeks of last year, and first couple of this year as well as it happens. But that's another story, and possibly another blog at some point later this year. Anyway, thanks as ever for reading; back same time same place next Monday with my usual write-ups, so, see yous then I guess... 

Quizzy Mondays 2025-26 Week 24: University Challenge R2M8, Only Connect Quarter-Finals 3 and 4 and Semi-Final 1

Good evening my friends, and welcome to the first Quizzy Monday of 2026! Albeit, just like last year, we're on truncated form again for the first few weeks as Mastermind still has some celebrity editions to get through. Luckily, we have three weeks of OC to catch up on, which should more than make up for it hopefully. Firstly though, we begin with the first regular UC of the year, and the last match of the second round...

 

Churchill College Cambridge won a very good, close first round match, beating Imperial 175-160, the same Imperial team who came back in the play-offs and have since made it to the QFs. Hoping to join them were the unchanged foursome of:

Ella McGovern, from London, studying Medicine

Matt Hasler, from Cambridge, studying Law

Captain: Sam Webber, from Birmingham, studying Chemistry

Shiv Seshan, from Detroit, studying Maths

 

Merton College Oxford were very easy winners over a capable Durham team in their first match two weeks earlier, leading throughout virtually and winning 235-120. Hoping to be the first Oxford quarter-finalists for two years were the also unchanged quartet of:

Ciaran Duncan, from High Wycombe, studying English Literature

Evelyn Ong, from Singapore, studying Maths and Philosophy

Captain: Elliot Cosnett, from Hatton in Warwickshire, studying History

Verity Fleetwood-Law, from Amersham, studying English and French

 

The match didn't get off to the best of starts with neither side getting the first starter, and Merton losing five; Churchill took the first positive points of the match, but a quickfire double soon gave the Oxonians the advantage. They also took the first picture round, after which they led 50-15. The lead just kept getting bigger as they kept getting starters and soon they already led by 75 points. Churchill recovered as Mr Seshan took two starters in a row, which were followed by half the resulting bonuses. Merton took the music round though, after which they led 100-45.

 

The starters just kept coming for Merton as Mr Cosnett, who'd already had a productive night, took two in a row, and all the resulting bonuses meant they now led by 100 points. Churchill took a couple of starters and a decent number of bonuses to pull back, but their opponents remained nearly double the number of points they had. After the second picture round, Merton led 160-85. Another starter pretty much confirmed Merton's victory, especially when Churchill failed to take advantage of a couple of penalties, though Mr Seshan was unlucky on one of them. Churchill did deservedly reach three figures with a couple of late starters, but had been fairly comfortably beaten this time. At the gong, Merton won 180-115.

 

A good game to start the New Year proper with. Well done Merton, another solid performance from them, Mr Cosnett especially strong; best of luck to them in the QFs! Hard lines to Churchill, who gave a solid account of themselves again and would well have beaten another team; thanks to them for playing.

 

The stats: Mr Cosnett was the best buzzer of the night with seven starters, while Mr Seshan was best for Churchill with five. On the bonuses, Churchill managed 10 out of 21 (with one penalty) and Merton 17 out of 33 (with three penalties).

 

Next week's match: the first QF! Don't know who's playing yet, but, if the last couple of series are a guide, it'll be Manchester vs Edinburgh, followed by U.C.L. vs Merton the week after. Darwin, Sheffield, Imperial and Warwick complete the QF line-up.

 

Only Connect’s third quarter-final on December the 22nd was contested by the Pitchers, who came straight through the earlier rounds with wins over the Benchwarmers and the Worker Bees, and the Sorcerers, who defeated the Jive Bunnies and the Keyboard Worriers, but lost to the Doctors Matthews.

 

We claim one point on the Annie music question in the first round; the Pitchers led 6-2 at the end of that. I claim two points for getting the principle of the house numbers question in the second round despite not being able to come up with a full answer; the Pitchers led 8-3 after that.

 

The Sorcerers went first on the Walls, but failed to find any groups; they did get three of the connections though, so three points. The Pitchers, on the other hand, worked out all four groups; they only got three connections though, so seven points, which nonetheless took their lead to 15-5 going into Missing Vowels. They only increased their advantage in that though, and won the game 25-8. Well done them, and best of luck in the semis next week! And thanks to the Sorcerers for playing.

 

The final quarter-final on the 29th saw the returns of the Doctors Matthews, who came straight through to the QFs with wins over the Keyboard Worriers and the Sorcerers, and the Worker Bees, who defeated the Scanners and the Benchwarmers, but lost to the Pitchers.

 

I claim the same two points as the Doctors on the GIFs question in the first round and the same point as them on the things won by Williams question; the Bees led 4-3 at the end of that round. I claim two points on the Crown and Premier League winners (this must’ve been recorded quite close to when the series started airing if Liverpool had won the league when it was filmed) and initials questions in the second round; the Bees led 8-3 after that.

 

The Bees went first on the Walls, and worked out two groups, one very quickly, but didn’t manage the other two in their three attempts; they did get three connections though, so five points. The Doctors took their time and worked out all the groups and all the connections; a full ten meant the teams were now level on 13-each going into Missing Vowels! And it was the Bees who just about did better there to win the game 20-18! Well done them, and best of luck in the semi next week, and thanks to the Doctors for playing.

 

Tonight’s first semi-final was contested by the Metrophiles, who got here unbeaten by beating the Grapevines, the Showstoppers and the Whitley Baes, and the 5ks, who lost to the Showstoppers, but then also beat the Grapevines, then beat the Showstoppers in a rematch and finally beat Oh No They Didn’t last time around.

 

I think we half-got the music question in the first round, but no completely correct ones; the teams were tied on 4-all at the end of that. My Dad definitely claims the same two points as the Metrophiles on the currencies question in the second round; the 5ks led 11-6 after that.

 

The Metrophiles went first on the Walls, and worked out one group, but not the others; they did get three of the connections, so four points. The 5ks also got one group pretty quickly, but couldn’t untangle the others; they only got two connections, so three points, which narrowed their lead to 14-10 going into Missing Vowels. And they just about maintained their lead in that to win 19-16! Well done them, and best of luck in the final! And best of luck Metrophiles in the third place play-off!

 

Next week's match: the Pitchers vs the Worker Bees in the second SF 

 

Also, Counterpoint returned for its latest series yesterday, which brings up two points of discussion. Firstly, they seem to have done away with the audience and replaced their applause with Fifteen-to-One style stings that are variants of the theme tune, which… I’m not sure I like to be honest. I think I prefer the audience being there.

 

Secondly, what has happened to Brain of Britain? We didn’t get a new series of that last year; instead we had to endure repeats of TWO series of Nature Table and, OK, to be fair, Route Masters was a good listen, so I’ll excuse that, but still, will BoB ever be coming back?

 

And that's it for this specially extended first week of the year! Thanks as ever for reading; back to sort-of business as usual next week in so far as we only have one OC to cover. In fact, given that we'll probably have another three weeks of Celeb Mastermind and OC only has three shows left, we may well not get another full line-up of new shows this year. What a shame; I do hope TPTB reconsider having so many Celeb Masterminds next(/this!) year. Anyway, I'll be back same time same place next week with my usual write-up, so, see yous then...