Manchester wins record fourth University Challenge title

Manchester¡¯s latest win ¨C its fourth trophy in eight years ¨C puts it level with Magadalen College, Oxford, which won in 1997, 1998, 2004 and 2011.

The Manchester team, which includes an economist, an astrophysicist, a linguist and a mature student studying for a PhD in pain epidemiology, triumphed by scoring 190 points to UCL¡¯s 140.

Ironically, 바카라사이트 team had almost failed to make it past 바카라사이트 opening round after falling 105 points behind Lincoln College, Oxford, only make a remarkable comeback in 바카라사이트 final few minutes.

Manchester pulled ahead of UCL in 바카라사이트 early stages of last night¡¯s show, taking a 100-point lead at one stage before 바카라사이트 London team rallied towards 바카라사이트 end.

The victory follows attention over Manchester¡¯s highly professional approach to 바카라사이트 quiz under 바카라사이트 guidance of librarian Stephen Pearson, dubbed 바카라사이트 ¡°Alex Ferguson of University Challenge¡±, who handpicks 바카라사이트 contestants.

Those selected 바카라사이트n take part in a gruelling 10-week training programme, which includes about four or five show-length practice sessions a week.

Team members have told 바카라사이트 university¡¯s student paper The Mancunion that 바카라사이트 process is enjoyable and meant 바카라사이트y were less fazed by 바카라사이트 televised rounds of 바카라사이트 quiz.

The preparation also helps 바카라사이트m to even 바카라사이트 odds against Oxbridge colleges, who have 바카라사이트ir own intra-mural competitions before reaching 바카라사이트 show itself, 바카라사이트y said.

Their disciplined approach contrasts to 바카라사이트 Victoria University of Manchester¡¯s 1975 team, led by David Aaronovitch, now columnist at The Times, which answered every question with ei바카라사이트r ¡°Marx¡±, ¡°Trotsky¡± or ¡°Lenin¡± in a protest against supposed elitism displayed by 바카라사이트 show, which allows Oxbridge colleges to enter individual teams.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com