University Challenge 2026 Round 2 Sheffield v. Strathclyde

Okay, so now that we’re up to date with MM we begin the harder task of catching up on UC. Harder task? Well, yes. I find that whereas a Mastermind review rarely takes longer to compile than 30 minutes, a UC review takes considerably longer. In which case, we need to get cracking.

The Teams

Sheffield

Rhys Lewis

Abdelrahman Elsisi

Jacob Price (captain)

Isabel Dobbie

Strathclyde

Matthew Johnston

Kate Lochrie

Jack Stirling (capt)

Tom McHugh

Nice to see a namecheck for Dennis Potter’s The Singing Detective in the first question. Isabel Dobbie was the first to pick up the detective connection. Two bonuses on art followed. Sheffield’s fine start continued when Abdelrahman Elsisi buzzed early to correctly identify the use of the Bonaparte family name. The intriguing subject of prunes in literature brought another two well earned bonuses. This was built on when Abdelrahman identified photographer Diane Arbus for the next starter. Incongruous titles of bonus sets continued with ‘real world metal alloys that play a role in the magic system of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Fantasy series.’ Takes all sorts I suppose. The questi0ons themselves were easier than the set sounded and we both took a full house. If you lose the first three starters in a row the danger is that you will fall into an underdog mindset and start to subconsciously accept that the opposition’s reactions will be faster than yours, so it was vital for Strathclyde to win the next starter. They didn’t. For the picture starter Jacob Price did remarkably well to identify the passport of Singapore. Other ‘powerful’ passports brought the Sheffield skipper a full house, in a remarkable display of passport identification. Sheffield were 90 to the good with Strathclyde yet to start. Jacob Price took the next starter with Coulomb to earn a set on Aussie Rules Football. I’ve always been a Hawthorn supporter myself – seriously, I’ve loved Aussie Footie since seeing it in the 80s on Eurosport. A full house took Sheffield into triple figures and earned Strathclyde the indignity of a gee up from Amol before the 10 minute mark. It didn’t work at this point since Isabel Dobbie identified a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. The prize for the most esoteric bonus set was stolen by “works that feature chicken hypnotism”. Two bonuses ensured that Sheffield led 135 – 0 at just after 10 minutes.

Isabel Dobbie recognized references to various Collins(es) but the Sheffield juggernaut slowed slightly as just one bonus was taken on tourism. Abdelrahman Elsisi knew various codices giving us information about the belief systems of the Mayans. Bonuses on science fiction followed. Whenever you’re asked – which genre of science fiction – the answer is often cyberpunk and so it proved this time. That was the only bonus that Sheffield took on this set. The music starter was next but nobody recognized the work of Chopin. Nobody managed the sebaceous glands for the next starter either. At last on 14 minutes Strathclyde skipper Jack Stirling stopped the rot and took a starter recognizing a description of the Niger. This earned the music bonuses on other works in allegro con fuoco – nope, me neither – and they brought one correct answer. Jacob Price buzzed in correctly to identify references to Romania in the first world war. TV Dramas set in West Yorkshire brought two bonuses and meant that Sheffield could possibly take their double century on their next visit to the table. They didn’t get that visit with the next starter for Jack Stirling was first to recognize allusions to Thomas ‘Another Fine Mess’ Hardy. Italian unification brought just the one bonus. An unnecessarily long question saw me earn a lap of honour with asteroid.Jacob Price took that one. Conurbations that cross international borders ( hope they all have Singapore passports! Oh , well, please yourselves.) brought a full house to take Sheffield past the double century mark. Isabel Dobie knew that if it’s a musical instrument and it’s built for a church then it must be an organ. Works edited by Toni Morrison did not provide any bonuses. Didn’t matter. At the 20 minute mark Sheffield led by 215 – 25 and were already home and dry.

For the second picture starter Abderahman Elsisi recognized a painting of a jackfruit. More fuity paintings brought, well nothing. Didn’t matter. Pity Strathclyde. They were trying, but the buzzing from Sheffield was too sharp as Abdelrahman came in early to identify a queen of kingdoms within Angola. Two bonuses on shipwrecked animals followed. The original names of football clubs that each went on to become something City fell to Jacob Price. Emma ‘Half a Pound of Tuppenny’ Rice brought two bonuses. Thankfully Jack Stirling recognized the words of Foucault to take the next starter. Chinese words linked by the character for fire brought two bonuses and got Strathclyde moving. Tom McHugh took the Baffin Mountains for the next starter, brought one bonus, but Strathclyde were now over 60. Jacob Price knew – well – he knew something where the answer was caesium. Prime ministers from their chief cabinet ministers brought one bonus. If they could get another visit to the table Sheffield just could break 300. Isabel Dobbie took the starter recognizing authors with the middle initial S. Birth counties of literary figures didn’t quite allow them enough time and the gong sounded leaving them winners by 290 to 60.

For the record Strathclyde’s BCR was 41.6% while Sheffield managed 54.1%. Well, Strathclyde to be fair were working off famine rations. One of those nights, I’m afraid.

Amol Watch

Fair play, the man knows the difference between a specific soursop and a general custard apple.

Interesting Fact That I Didn’t Already Know

The passport of Singapore is rated as the world’s most powerful, allowing visa free access to 195 countries.

Baby Elephant Walk Moment

A single word answer is enough here. In astrophysics Atila, Aten, Apollo and Amor are names given to orbital classes of what type of astronomical object? All four of these classifications refer specifically to groups of objects that pass relatively close . . . (incorrect buzz) to Earth. Hmm – seems a while since I’ve said this – dum de dumdum dum dum dum dum dumdum.