Thursday 29 October 2020

Christmas Gift Guide for Quizzers #2

 Next in my series of Christmas gift ideas for quizzers is a game I am sure you will all have heard of, or at least seen on shelves, is Linkee. The game gained a certain level of fame when it appeared on Dragons Den but has since forged its own reputation with various editions and thousands of copies sold




Linkee is essentially a connection round from the local pub quiz! 4 questions per card, with a connection between the answers. Some you will get after one clue, others will puzzle you until the last. Although the game is pitched at the easy end of the market, its still a challenge as "early buzzes" are encouraged which can punish the over eager quizzer. A nice simple quiz game, easy to pick up and play with a ton of questions....what more could you want!

Tuesday 27 October 2020

Mastermind 2020/2021 - Heat 4

 




 Mastermind 2020/2021

Heat 4

 

So it was on to Heat 4 of Mastermind 2020 last night and lining up to take on the black chair were…

 

-        Peter Almond

-     Jonathan Sargent

-     Kitty Grant

    Jacqueline Jones

 

 

At the end of the specialist round the standings were as follows

 

Kitty Grant

History of Anaesthesia

9

Jonathan Sargant

The Crown (TV Series)

8

Peter Almond

The Montgomery Bus Boycott

7

Jacqueline Jones

Stormzy

6

A varied mix of subjects tonight with debut appearances for both the Crown and Stromzy. Again the question length often makes these rounds hard to watch as a viewer, with some hideously long questions.

The GK began with Jacqueline Jones who aimed to set a high target for the field to follow and began well hardly dropping a point in the first half of the round, with a confident array of answers across all subjects. Double figures was quickly hit (which has often placed contenders in a good position in the first range of heats thus far) and scoring 13 points on GK is certainly not to be sniffed at and gave Jacqueline every chance. A marker had been laid down….Anyone wanting to win would need double figures on GK.

Peter Almond next with at least 12 needed on GK to progress and staggered at the start  with questions on musicals, pop groups and  Wallace and Gromit causing brief pauses in the scoring. Despite some impressive answers on what I felt was the tougher questions of the set, it is fair to say the rhythm of the round never really got going and Peter scored another 7 to take his total to 14.

Could Jonathan Sargant score the 11 he needed to take the lead? It certainly looked likely early on with rapid answers coming to keep the score rising. A nice string of questions around the 11 mark set the base for a good score. I did think at this point two or three of the questions were overlong to the point that it detracted the contestant from getting the right answer. Another case of too-many-words in the question which I can imagine just puts the contestant under more pressure in the seat. Jonathan also notched up a 7 meaning it was now all down to Kitty Grant….

 

Kitty played a smart GK round, tending not to dwell on answers that didn’t come quickly and moving the pace of the round.  (Side note – The Good Place seems to have came up in every form of quiz lately, worth remembering!). The set threw up a couple of tougher questions that slowed the scoring and indeed Kitty became the third player to score 7 on GK in this heat taking her total to 16.

 

So congratulations this week go to Jacqueline Jones who takes the victory. Outside if Frankie Frankos 15, I believe this was the second highest scoring GK round of the series to date and certainly Jacqueline is a contender to keep an eye on if she can nail her next Specialist subject.

Final standings in the round…

 

Contestant

Specialist Subject

SS

GK

Total

Jacqueline Jones

Stormzy

6

13

19

Kitty Grant

History of Anaesthesia

9

7

16

Jonathan Sargant

The Crown (TV Series)

8

7

15

Peter Almond

The Montgomery Bus Boycott

7

7

14

 

And the current season leader board now looks like this…

Contestant

Total

Frankie Franko

27 (w)

Tom Lee

21 (w)

Sally Wilson

21

Emma Haley

21

Steve Goddard

20 (w)

Jane McDonnell

20

Jacqueline Jones

19 (w)

Poppy Mckenzie Smith

19

Ikenna Oguguo

18

Andrew Fortyish

18

Adrian Segens

17

Dani Cugini

16

Kitty Grant

16

Jonathan Sargant

15

Cecil Morgan

14

Peter Almond

14

 *the (w) indicates that score won the heat


·      Other season records this far

  • Highest GK Total – Frankie Franko – 15
  • Highest SS Total – Frankie Franko – 12
  • Highest Scoring Heat – Heat 1 – (Tom Lee, Sally Wilson, Emma Haley, Adrian Segens) – 80
  • Highest scoring combined GK heat – Heat 2– (Frankie Franko, Cecil Morgan, Ikenna Oguguo, Dani Cugini)  and Heat 3 (Steve Goddard, Jane McDonnell, Poppy Mckenzie Smith and Andrew Forsyth)  - 41

Monday 26 October 2020

Christmas Gift Guide for Quizzers #1

 As always on the blog, in the run up to Xmas each year I like to post up a series suggesting gifts that a the quizzer in your life may appreciate......or things for quizzers to treat themselves too. Mostly a range of books, games and other such like quizzy things that I have enjoyed in the year!

I am going to start off with a book I have mentioned several times on the blog this year

 

Shaun Williamson is a keen quizzer, and a very good quizzer at that. A regular on the UK Quizzing scene, Shaun has produced a book chronicling his quest to improve his standings in the World Quizzing Championship. I won't spoil the ending, but the book covers the period of 2019-2020. I, like most quizzers I have spoken to about this, found this a engaging and fun read that encapsulates the quizzing scene well, far better than the range of books that have tried before it.

Anyone who has even a vague interest in quizzing will adore this book, and it is worthy on a place on any bookshelf

Quote...Unquote - New Series

 



After Brain of Britain came to an end last week, the 3pm quizzy slot on Radio 4 passes over this week to the always enjoyable Quote Unquote with a brand new series starting today!

Wednesday 21 October 2020

Quiz League Recap - Tuesday Night Quarantine Virtual Quiz League

As well as the Wednesday Night Online Quiz League which I have mentioned and recapped on the blog several times over the weeks, I have also been playing for the last few months in the Quarantine Virtual Quiz League on a  Tuesday. The league is ran by Dave Tilley and is currently towards the end of its second season. We have played in Division 2 this season, and secured the title last week, and with one game to go (dare I jinx it) we have yet to drop a game. 

Here is  recap of my seat last night in a game which we won by 5 points. It was set by a team lead by Paul Sinha (The Chase)....

 

Round 1 - Dane Whitman is the real name of which member of the comic book ‘Superteam’ known as “The Avengers”? He shares his name with a piece that you would find exactly two of at the start of the game of Chess.

With my recent run of not getting my own first question, I gave myself a little thinking time here and at least could take a guess. I didn't know it per se, but Knight sounded like the most plausible option (although I had to be prompted on just saying "Knight" when a decision had to be made....). Luckily I went for the right option!

Answer: Black Knight

 

Round 2 - In athletics who holds the world record for the men’s 800m? The record of 1:40:91 was set at the London Olympics in 2012. 

Athletics is quite a strong field for me, especially anything from the 1990s onwards and I am usually up to date on world records so I was happy this fell to me. Despite a little moment of "Who is Kiryani James again?" playing through my mind I picked up a 2 pointer on this. That must be at least the 5th or 6th set of points I have picked up across leagues this season on Athletics world records. Certainly a good list to be familiar with!

Answer: David Rudisha

 

Round 3 - Peter Firth as King Ernest Augustus, Alex Jennings as King Leopold and Diana Rigg as the Duchess of Buccluech are all supporting and guest characters in which British TV Drama from this decade?

Having not seen the show in question, or indeed the answer I gave, this was more of a guess due to the presence of the royalty in the question. As soon as The Crown entered my head, that was the answer I was going to give even though I did feel it was wrong, I wouldn't have got the correct answer of Victoria. (Although its one my watch list on Netflix....I need to watch more TV)

Answer: Victoria

 

 

Round 4 - According to ancient Greek and Roman Sources, who fled tyranny in (what is now) Lebanon to found the city of Carthage?

I was fairly confident on this, but just gave myself the full time to check I wasn't rushing in. A common quiz question and a correct answer meant I had started well with 3 out of my 4 questions (a rarity for me). Maybe this was the game I would get that elusive (6).

Answer: Dido

 

 

Round 5 - Chateau Petrus, probably the world’s most expensive wine, is produced in which wine growing commune close to St. Emilion, in the Bordeaux region of France? 

Food and Drink is one of my weakest areas and I have tried making some in roads, but this was a toughie which went for an X in the room. Ended up not even being able to give a sensible guess for what I thought was one of the toughest questions in the set.

Answer: Pomerol

 

 

Round 6 - The head of the villainous Lannister family on Game of Thrones was Tywin Lannister played by Charles Dance. Name any of the actors or actresses that played starred as one if his children, Ser Jaime, Cersai or Tyrion?

...see comment about. I should watch more TV. I have tried watching Game of Thrones numerous times and just can't seem to get into it. Had I had extra time I MAY have been able to get Dinklage here but the other two would never have came. And more to the point, Emilia Clarke (which was my given answer) wasn't a total guess but obviously this is something I need to invest time in watching. No excuses really, as it comes up in every form of quiz!

Answer: Nicolaj COSTER-WALDAU Lena HEADEY, Peter DINKLAGE

 

Round 7 - Following the removal of Lance Armstrong's Tour de France titles, four men each have five wins, but only one of them has five consecutive wins.  Name him?

No excuses for my wrong answer here. Had a bit of a mind block, as I wrongly predicted what the question was going to be so had to reset my though process. Time ran out, but the team picked it up for a bonus.

Answer: Miguel Indurain 

  

Round 8 - In which thoroughfare did the Great Fire of London begin in 1666?

The game had tightened by this point to just a 5 point gap, so I was happy to get a chestnut for my final questions.

Answer: Pudding Lane


I ended up with a 12 (4) which is spot on with regards to my average in this league, but feel again like I could have scored higher.  These are the bonuses I picked up.....


Bonus - Katherine Elizabeth Hudson is the real name of which singer born in 1984?

A bit of a pub quiz chestnut here, that I've set as many times as I've answered. 

Answer: Katy Perry

 

Bonus -In athletics who holds the World Record for the men’s mile? The record of 3:43:13 was set in 1999

Only 3 fingers out for this. I knew given the year and the distance knew who it was likely to be. I would have deferred to more fingers but the captain passed it to me.

Answer: Hitcham El Guerrouj


Bonus -HG Wells first name was also Herbert – what did the G stand for?

The pair to this has been the E in HE Bates which probably put the original player off this answer, thinking the G wouldn't be the most common G. 

Answer: George

-----------

 

A tough and challenging set, and other than one round which we won 7-1, it was very very close throughout. The 5 point win was hard fought indeed.


Tuesday 20 October 2020

Brain of Britain - 2020 - Final

 


Brain of Britain 2020  - Final

If you have yet to hear the final, don't read below and click HERE to listen via the iplayer.


After much delay and an audience-free end to the series, the final of Brain of Britain was aired yesterday on the BBC Radio 4. The series has thrown up some great contests, with plenty of known quizzers taking their shot at the crown. Congratulations go to Merseyside based quizzer Graham Barker on taking victory in the 2020 series and joins the illustrious list of winners of by becoming the 66th Brain of Britain!


The final scores in the final were as follows....

Graham Barker - 16

Hugh Brady - 12 

Graham Anderson - 7

Michael Smith - 5





Mastermind 2020/2021 - Heat 3



Mastermind 2020/2021

Heat 3

 

Quizzy Mondays on BBC Two are now in full stride and last night the third heat of the current series of Mastermind took place with the following four quizzers taking to the black chair…

 

-        Jane McDonnell

-     Poppy Mckenzie Smith

-     Steve Goddard

-     Andrew Forsyth

 

At the end of the specialist round the standings were as follows


Poppy Mckenzie Smith

Blackadder

10

Jane McDonnell

The Tales of the City Novels

9

Andrew Forsyth

The Boxer Rebellion

9

Steve Goddard

Blake’s 7

8


A nice range of subjects again this week, although can’t often remember there being a heat that involved 2 TV series as specialist subjects in recent times. Either way, the scores remained close, everyone pretty much nailed their subjects and the heat was there for the taking!

Steve Goddard kicked off the General Knowledge round and quickly amassed double figure scoring an impressive 12 and placing the marker down of 20 for the rest of the field.

Jane McDonnell came next needing at least double figures to have a chance of progression. Ethanol/Ethaline was an unlucky miss early on, and a Pass on Mabel’s mother (Nineh Cherry), slowed the pace down. But the answers came thick and fast and it became clear another score around the 20 mark was on the cards. And indeed with a score of 11in GK Jane matched Steve with a score of exactly 20.

Andrew shot off to a flying start and continued throughout the round with a few, what I assume were 50/50s, going the wrong way. A handful of tough questions towards end slowed the scoring with Andrew finishing on a solid 18.

 So after topping the SS round, Poppy Mckenzie Smith knew a score of 11 would guarantee a place in the next round. Any double figure score in the GK round is tough under the pressures of the chair but Poppy settled into the round straight away. A slight stall on around 16 Caused concern until a smile arose when the word “Fenty” emerged in a question. Time was running out and despite a solid round, the score of 19 fell just one short.

An extremely close heat all round, but Steve Goddard was able to progress to the next stage based on fewest passes. With a stronger SS score in the next round, Steve may take some beating as his GK round proved. Final total below…

Contestant

Specialist Subject

SS

GK

Total

Steve Goddard

Blake’s 7

8

12

20

Jane McDonnell

The Tales of the City Novels

9

11

20

Poppy Mckenzie Smith

Blackadder

10

9

19

Andrew Forsyth

The Boxer Rebellion

9

9

18

 

And the current season leader board now looks like this…

Contestant

Total

Frankie Franko

27 (w)

Tom Lee

21 (w)

Sally Wilson

21

Emma Haley

21

Steve Goddard

20 (w)

Jane McDonnell

20

Poppy Mckenzie Smith

19

Ikenna Oguguo

18

Andrew Fortyish

18

Adrian Segens

17

Dani Cugini

16

Cecil Morgan

14

 

Other series records this far

  • Highest GK Total – Frankie Franko – 15
  • Highest SS Total – Frankie Franko – 12
  • Highest Scoring Heat – Heat 1 – (Tom Lee, Sally Wilson, Emma Haley, Adrian Segens) – 80
  • Highest scoring combined GK heat – Heat 2– (Frankie Franko, Cecil Morgan, Ikenna Oguguo, Dani Cugini)  and Heat 3 (Steve Goddard, Jane McDonnell, Poppy Mckenzie Smith and Andrew Forsyth)  - 41