Mastermind 2024 Grand Final Preview

 The Tale of the Tape 

For each contender the top row is the semi final stats, the second row is the first round stats and the third is the average of the two.

Ruth Hart	The novels of Dame Muriel Spark	10	0	10	2	20	2
		12	0	14	0	26	0
		11	0	12	1	23	1
Helen Lippell	British Prime Ministers of the 18th century	11	0	13	0	24	0
		12	0	9	0	21	0
		11.5	0	11	0	22.5	0
Thomas Nelson	Sir Bobby Robson	12	0	14	0	26	0
		10	0	16	0	26	0
		11	0	15	0	26	0
Oli Hanson	World Athletics Championships 2011 to the Present Day	11	0	12	2	23	2
		9	0	12	0	21	0
		10	0	12	1	22	1
George Twigg	The Prose Edda	12	-	13	0	25	0
		13	0	10	0	23	0
		12. 5	0	11. 5	0	24	0
Sarah Thornton	Happy Valley	12	0	14	1	26	1
		12	0	11	1	23	1
		12	0	12. 5	1	24. 5	1

 

Okay, it’s that time of the year when I embarrass myself by making predictions about the Mastermind Grand Final. I have been singularly unsuccessful in the last few years, but there you go. For what it’s worth, and in the order in which they won their place in the final :-

Sarah Thornton

Sarah won the first semi. Now, in both heat and semi her specialist rounds were exemplary. It doesn’t automatically mean she will do well in specialist in the final, but it’s a useful indicator that she is likely to. For Sarah I can’t help thinking it will come down to GK. If she gets close to the performance from the semi, then she could be there. However her GK in the heat was good, but not outstanding. Prediction – amongst the meals, but silver or bronze most likely.

George Twigg

Like Sarah, George’s specialist rounds have been excellent. I believe tha this will be another very tight final, and the ability to bring out a top scoring specialist round could turn out to be the difference between the winner and the rest. George himself said that his 10 on GK in the heats was disappointing. I think he’ll need a round closer to the GK from his semis. Let’s not forget that George took out the top scorer from the heats, Stephen Dodding in his semi. Prediction – Silver, but gold would not be a shock either.

Oli Hanson

Oli is the opposite to Sarah and George. He’s consistently scored well in GK but only managed good rather than great rounds on Specialist. While his general knowledge has been high in both rounds, it hasn’t bee quite high enough that you can see him overhauling everyone else if he’s a couple of points behind at half time. Prediction – not on the podium.

Thomas Nelson

We are in the unusual position that the most impressive performer of his group of Mastermind finalists did not actually win his heat. Thomas lost by a point to Peter Wilson in the heats, but was brought in when one of the heat winners could not make it to the semis. Well, Peter Wilson did not make it to the final. We’ve seen enough times in the past that someone who has achieved excellence in heat and semi performs below par in the final, so this has to be born in mind, but Thomas seems to have an advantage in GK. Prediction – champion.

Helen Lippell

In all honesty the tale of the tape suggests that the final is so close that it could be won by any of these 6 contenders if they have a great performance on the night. So make no mistake, Helen is certainly in with a chance. Based on what we’ve seen I think it’s a little less likely she will win than three we’ve already mentioned. But what do I know? Prediction – not on the podium.

Ruth Hart

Well, so far it’s really been a game of 2 halves for Ruth. Along with Thomas she was the best performer out of the finalists in her first round heat. Yet she went on to have the lowest winning score of any of the semis. So you really do have to pay yer money and take yer chance on what kind of performance she will have. Can she win? Certainly. But I have to go on the balance of probability. Prediction – not on the podium.

So – Thomas, I can only apologise. The Clark tip for the top is usually the kiss of death for any contender.