Quizzing in Lockdown: Online Quiz League

The Online Quiz League was launched a few weeks into the first Lockdown and had the first week of the first season in April 2020. Over a year later, and over 1000 matches later, the league continues to grow and is certainly something that will outlast lockdown. Full information on the league can be found HERE

The league was created as the brainchild of Jon Stitcher and since that initial launch has expanded into what I think, its the largest quiz league on the planet. The divisions keep growing, the player talent keeps increasing and some of the countries finest quizzers line up every Wednesday to compete! I was placed together with a scratch team, initially in Division 1 but dropping off to Division 2 for the past few seasons, and we have since gone on to enter several other events together. 

On a personal level, the league has given me access to a style of quiz I simply don't have locally. The 4v4 individual question format is something I have always wanted to be part of, but the local league here in Sunderland is a bit different and not to my tastes, so after leaving that I had given up hope of league quizzing for the forseeable. But OQL changed that....

The format does take some adjusting too, especially in Season 1 when it was a No-Free-Guess rule, but after played dozens of games now in the format it has became second nature. There are friendlies available every week and usually loads of post quiz action going on, so the social aspect of the league is just as important as the main quiz!

Every online quiz format is going to face challenges when normality fully returns, but I think OQL has built up such a loyal and committed userbase that it should continue to grow and grow. It has long been one of the highlights of my week, and the fact you can log in, compete in a high quality quiz against the best players in the country, from the comfort of your own home is something that will hopefully never lose its appeal.

Quizzing in Lockdown: Quarantine Virtual Quiz League

 

As pubs around the country closed their doors, the thousands of quizzers around the country who played regularly in the many leagues on offer suddenly found themselves with free evenings. Dave Tilley, who has written for several quiz leagues, formulated the Quarantine Virtual Quiz League (QVQL) and attracted a wide range of players from TV Eggheads and Chasers to quiz league regulars to quiz newbies. Two divisions soon formed and as Season 3 continues to roll on, the league is still going strong. 

I was lucky enough to be teamed up with a great team of players for another league (to mention later) and we decided to enter this league and on the whole have really enjoyed it. Its a typical 4v4 individual question style league with all questions written by the teams involved. It takes place every Tuesday at 9pm and with the diversity of setters, you never quite known what yo expect when you turn up! With 3 seasons launched, two cup competitions and a great post-quiz scene Tuesday night quickly became one of the highlights of my week.

In fact, the post-quizzing action in QVQL is always great fun and there are always people throwing questions at each other in the Zoom room late into the night! Many 2am sessions have been had and it has been great to have such a "social" option during lockdown when other opportunities weren't there!

The league is entirely free to play, and like many quizzes, I am grateful to the team who ensure everything runs well! I for one certainly hope it continues long after lockdown is distant memory...

p.s. the League doesn't have a website but if you are keen to play pop me a message and Ill put you in touch with the relevant people!

Quiz Bowl League

 

The growth in Online Quizzing competitions continues with the launch of an online quiz bowl league. All the details can be found HERE and if you do decide to register then please give The Quiz Addict a mention.

I am so far out of my comfort zone with Quiz Bowl but have decided to give this a go! It may be the only chance I get to play Quiz Bowl so why not?!?

Pub Quiz Round #3

 

1.      What board game would you be playing if you encountered the animal characters Happy, Harry, Henry and Hoer?	Hungry Hippos
2.      The controversial TV personality and journalist, Katie Hopkins, shot to fame in 2006 when she appeared on which competitive tv show? She reached the final stages only to reject her place in the final and walk out!	The Apprentice
3.      Since it was first introduced, the UK Census has always took place in years ending with what number?	1
4.      What kind of crabs, grow at such a rapid rate, that they often need to locate bigger shells and are best known for the way in which they compete to gain these new shells?	Hermit Crabs
5.      What animal appears on the most number of national flags in the world….An eagle, a Lion or a Dragon?	Eagle

Quizzing in Lockdown: Wiki Quiz

 

As we move toward what we all hope is the final stages of Lockdown (*touch wood*) I thought I would do a little series of posts on the various quizzing avenues that have emerged online in the last year. I think in general, it is fair to say, that the quizzing scene has exploded in the midst of the Pandemic and for many players, the choice of quizzing options has been greater than they have ever had. 

I want to start off with Wiki Quiz which was launched right at the start of Lockdown by Will Jones. From what I gather, the plan for Wikiquiz was well in place before Covid-19 landed on our shores, and the timing just happened to match up. The site has been running well over a year now and on it you will find literally hundreds of top quality quizzes, on all manner of subjects, written by some of the finest setters around.

As you can see if you follow the link HERE you will see the sheer volume of content on the site. At one point Wikiquiz had live 'main event' quizzes going live twice a night at 7pm and 9pm and I remember planning my evenings around the quizzes.  The site grew very quickly and numbers playing began to rocket. In addition to the main quizzes (usually 30 minutes long), longer haul quizzes were written left right and centre and literally every day you could log in and play half a dozen new quizzes. I don't mean to talk too much about Wikiquiz in the past tense by the way, there is still a wide range of content on the side daily and plenty of worthwhile quizzes to take part in......and of course being an open platform you can set on any subject you wish!

Wikiquiz is still  very much part of my quizzing, and many quizzers of all levels of experience are still investing plenty of time in the site. Will Jones has created something that will be fondly thought of by all for years to come and hopefully will last long after lockdown has ended. Issues with inflated scores and perhaps quiz fatigue started to hit numbers and many setters took a step back after Lockdown 1. but their work is still there for all to see!

Certainly, those first few weeks of lockdown, with all the uncertainty and normal life being completely uprooted, Wikiquiz provided some much needed distractions!

Connections League

 After 11 weeks, the OQL Connections League came to an end this week. (See Game of the Week video below). The competition has flown over, and its been one of the most enjoyable competitions I've participated in, not just online, but in wider quizzing in general. Great questions, teams and all backed up by solid tech. I was in two minds about joining the league initially but I am so glad I did. If you wish to be part of it then register your team HERE. 

Pub Quiz Round #2

 

1.      Which former star of ‘High School Musical’ the TV Series had a 2021 Number 1 across the globe with the song “Drivers Licence”?	Olivia Rodrigo
2.      Tommy used to work on the docks, union's been on strike / He's down on his luck, it's tough, so tough – are the opening lyrics to which global hit from Bon Jovi?	Living on a Prayer
3.      The title of which Abba hit single features in the lyrics of the Queen song “Bohemian Rhapsody”?	Mama Mia
4.      “So What” “Raise Your Glass” and “Who Knew” are all the titles of Global hits for which female pop star?	Pink
5.      The 1991 Global Smash hit “Everything I Do…” by Bryan Adams was taken from the soundtrack of which movie?	Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
6.      Which reality TV star, who rose to fame on Britains got talent, is the oldest person to have a Number 1 debut album in both the UK and the USA?	Susan Boyle
7.      Which global Britney Spears hit featured a famous video in which she is working as an air hostess?	Toxic
8.      Having had global hits such as “Human” and “Mr Brightside”, who is the lead singer of the Killers?	Brandon Flowers

Mastermind 2021 Champion

 Congratulations to Jonathan Gibson who recently became Mastermind champion! His victory also made him the youngest winner in the history of the competition. Those of us who have quizzed with Jonathan in the various online tournaments and leagues currently kicking around were hardly surprised to see him take the Glass Bowl. A great quizzer and Im sure we will be hearing more for him in the quiz community in the years to come!

Pub Quiz Round #1

 

1.      Which actor has played Supermans father, a French police inspector, a legendary English heroic outlaw and perhaps most famously a powerful Roman General who is condemned to death by an evil Emperor?	Russell Crowe
2.      If you combine the Chemical symbols for Tin, Oxygen and Tungsten….what word do you get?	Snow
3.      Often known as the Sport of Kings, which Sport involves two teams of four, competing to score goals. The game is divided into two half’s called “Chukkas”?	Polo
4.      What is the name of the American woman who was convicted in 2007 for the murder of Meredith Kercher, spent 4 years in jail but was later freed and her conviction overturned? She has went onto to become an author and spokeswoman	Amanda Knox
5.      In 1992, riots broke out in which American city, following the emergence of a video of police brutality against Rodney King? The riots lasted 6 days and 63 people were killed	Los Angeles
6.      There are two Martial Arts which are part of the Summer Olympic Games. For one point each can you name both?	Judo and Taekwondo
7.      Located on the side a canal in Amsterdam is one of the world’s most visited museums. This museum is was one a house and is dedicated to which famous person who lived there for much of her life until her death in 1945?	Anne Frank
8.      What name is shared by an app that you could use to help you cheat in a pub quiz, and the name of a leading DC comic book character who appeared in a 2019 feature film?	Shazam