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UCL University Challenge team prepares for final

26 April 2013

UCL's University Challenge team have reached the final of the popular BBC2 quiz show, after producing a consistent winning streak this series.

University Challenge In the final the team will face current reigning champions the University of Manchester in a bid to win the competition for the first time.

To get here, the UCL team defeated five teams, including the University of Exeter, Bangor University, New College Oxford, University of Manchester and Jesus College Oxford. Unlike their opponent in the upcoming final, UCL have never won the competition. 

The UCL team consists of Simon Dennis (UCL Science & Technology Studies), Tom Parton (UCL Mathematical & Physical Sciences), Tomasz Tyzczuk Smith (UCL Biosciences) and Adam Papaphilippopoulos (UCL Philosophy).

In recent years, University of Manchester have made a significant impact on the competition, with the last seven teams reaching at least the semi-final stage. They also went on to lift the trophy in 2006, 2009 and 2012. Nevertheless in the quarter final in March, UCL beat Manchester 230-150, and with the UCL scoring the highest in the competition so far, the team are confident they can do it again.

Last year's final was watched by three million viewers, and this year's final on the 29th of April 2013 is expected to be just a popular.

Talking to Pi magazine about his experiences of the show, UCL team member Tom Parton, said: "At first I was terrified of buzzing in, if you get it wrong you'll look like a right fool and lose five points… It's like preparing for any competition- you have to stay in the right mindset, try to be mentally prepared without shredding your nerves. Even though filming was nerve-racking it's also exhilarating; waiting around is just torturous."

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The final of University Challenge is on Monday 29th April 2013 at 8pm on BBC2