Nail-biting final for University Challenge series

Warning: This story contains spoilers about the University Challenge winners

The grand final of University Challenge turned into a tightly fought contest when it aired on Monday.

The competition began with 28 teams, featuring students ranging in age from 18 to 77.

Entrants were playing on behalf of universities and university colleges from all four countries of the United Kingdom.

After 35 matches and about 3,000 questions, the final two teams were Christ's College - Cambridge and the University of Warwick.

The Christ's College team eliminated Exeter College and St Edmund Hall - both from the University of Oxford - in the first two rounds of the tournament.

They then beat defending champions Imperial College London, as well as their rivals for the final, in the quarter finals stage.

Following that, they then beat a team from the University of Bristol in the semi-finals, taking an average score of 205 into the final round.

The team from the University of Warwick beat the University of East Anglia, Oriel College - Oxford, Queen's University Belfast, UCL and Darwin College – Cambridge to reach the final.

Their rivals for Monday's programme were the only team to have beaten them on their journey to the final show.

The team – Oscar Siddle (Mathematics), Ananya Govindarajan (Engineering), Thomas Hart (Mathematics), and Benjamin Watson (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) – had an average score of 210 going into the final.

The match was closely contested, with just five points separating the teams in one of the tightest finals in recent years.

In the end, Warwick ended on 170 points with Christ's College finishing on 175.

"We're obviously crushed by the result but the trophy couldn't have gone to a nicer team," said Mr Watson.

"We're all very proud of how far we went in the competition. It was an incredible honour to represent Warwick and a great experience."

The University of Warwick has previously won the competition in 2007 and 2021.

University president Prof Stuart Croft said he was "incredibly proud" of the team, and described it as a fitting accomplishment for the university's 60th anniversary year.

"This achievement not only showcases their exceptional talent but also underscores our commitment to academic excellence and ambition," he said.

"We are thrilled to celebrate with them and the entire Warwick community."

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