‘Nuff(ield) said

Monday evening saw the first outing of the new term for the seemingly unstoppable University Challenge team that is Ben Fernando, Ashwin Braude, Onur Teymur and their captain James Bezer. The team were riding high on the back of their 305-75 demolition of Sidney Sussex, Cambridge, but as we all know, there are no easy games in this league.

The challenging side from Nuffield College, Oxford was comprised of two Americans, a Norwegian and a South African who were studying a mix of Economics, Politics, and International Relations. A combination which was far too “artsy” for their Imperial foes, a collection of three physicists and a mathematician.

The excitement within the spectator arena (FiveSixEight) was palpable from the offset, with all available tables being taken well before kickoff. It was standing room only for the audience as they watched the intellectual gladiators do battle in the arena, with only Jeremy Paxman to mediate the fierce competition that was to ensue.

The crowd erupted in a frenzy unseen since the last ACC sports night

A poor start plagued the Imperial squad, with captain Bezer handicapping the team on the very first question, buzzing in before the end of the question with the incorrect answer of “Hippocrates”. Minus five points. No need to panic though, plenty of time left yet.

The crowd were anxious to see a return to form, and the answer of “Hamster” from Fernando did just that. Woops and cheers rang through the union building with the follow up category on Mathematicians yielding “Hilbert”, “Godel” and “Riemann” in quick succession to bring the score back to a level playing field of 20-20.

Bezer again decided to try and score another slamdunk but “M-A-R” turned out to actually be “D-A-N”. You win some, you lose some, I guess, and in this case it was another five points conceded. Racking up bonus points gave Nuffield a slender 45-15 lead but it really isn’t over ‘till it’s over when it comes to University Challenge.

Supporters watched with baited breath through the rollercoaster of emotions that was the following question. As they heard the word “physics” from Paxman, spirits rose, assuming Imperial had it in the bag but subsided again as the Nuffield captain buzzed in first. Victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat however, with Fernando calmly collecting the pieces after the incorrect “Inertia” answer, parrying with the correct “Hysteresis”. The crowd erupted in a frenzy unseen since the last ACC sports night.

But, what should be lurking round the corner but the apparent Achilles heel of the team, literature. With a bonus round that incorporated Jane Austen came exchanges of “Do you know?” followed by “I literally have no idea”. A picture round on German geography brought the ship back on course, sending the score to 45-40 in Imperial’s favour.

What followed was another breakdown in play as, after Bezer grabbed the starter for ten with “Bears”, Imperial went on to throw away yet more science bonuses. Chaos occurred in the union as Ben Fernando wrestled with himself to find the answer on the tip of his tongue. But no, he couldn’t convert and Bezer wildly lashed out at the target with “Pietro Aronica”, much to Fernando’s amusement (it turns out he just named a bloke who was an ex-University Challenge player for Imperial). The loss of points was no laughing matter for the expectant crowd of loyal fans though.

Fernando also suffered a flip-flop in these bonuses, deliberating over “Peroxide” before settling on “Epoxy”. It came up “Peroxide”. The score remained at 55-40.

The old adage tells that it’s ‘a game of two halves’ and it certainly was. Imperial suddenly found a new gear after Braude entered the fray, upping the score to an 80-40 lead with his clinically precise “Karelia”.

The music round came and went with no points scored by anyone, indeed with a loss of five for Imperial after another “Premature Bezer Buzzer” (which I am reliably informed is a serious medical condition).

A Feynman quote for Fernando was counteracted by “Sudan”, and a smattering of extra point conversions from Nuffield brought the scores back to a level 85-85. Could it be any closer? No.

But then Imperial decided to stop toying with them

But then Imperial decided to stop toying with them.

A picture round with female political leaders, questions surrounding dyes, and a rare flourish from Teymur with “Slide Rule” meant the quartet were as on fire as Ben Fernando’s hot pink hoodie.

A celebratory dance was seen from Fernando after he netted “Ellipse”, and Bezer brought home “Venus” and “Kiloparsec” before the gong meaning the team ended on a 105 point streak. A final score of 190-85 meant another victory was recorded and Beit Quad was duly bouncing.

Paxman gave a damning post-match analysis, stating to the losers “you didn’t do so well today”. No Jeremy, no they didn’t.

Imperial will return in their second quarter final at somepoint.