Series 39 of University Challenge began on 6 July 2009 and aired on BBC Two. This is the first series to use the current 37-episode format. Below is a list of the matches played with their scores and outcomes.

Schedule The series comprised 37 matches over five rounds, airing between July 2009 and April 2010. Round Dates Matches Teams Change First Round 6 July 2009 – 26 October 2009 14 + 2 28 28→16 Second Round 2 November 2009 – 21 December 2009 8 16 16→8 Quarter-finals 4 January 2010 – 15 March 2010 8 + 2 8 8→4 Semi-finals 22 March 2010 – 29 March 2010 2 4 4→2

Format The format of the show changed for the first time in many years. The quarter-finals were not a straight knock-out competition but involved a variant on the Swiss pairs format. Each of the eight teams that reached the quarter-final stage played two matches. Any team who won both of these matches progressed immediately to the semi-final; any team losing both were eliminated from the competition. The four remaining teams engaged in an additional play-off round for the other two semi-final places.

Results Winning teams are highlighted in bold. Teams with green scores (winners) returned in the next round, while those with red scores (losers) were eliminated. Orange scores indicate a further match must be played and won (highest scoring first round losers, teams that won their first quarter final match, teams that won their second quarter final match having lost their first, or teams that won their first quarter final match and lost their second). Yellow scores indicate that two further matches must be played and won (teams that lost their first quarter final match). A score in italics indicates a match decided on a tie-breaker question.

First round Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date Christ's College, Cambridge170200 University of Warwick 370 6 July 2009 Royal Veterinary College235 University of Manchester 295 13 July 2009 Loughborough University205175 University College London 380 20 July 2009 Clare College, Cambridge165215 Jesus College, Oxford 380 27 July 2009 University of Nottingham180 Girton College, Cambridge 325 3 August 2009 University of Edinburgh170 University of Central Lancashire 325 10 August 2009 King's College London155 Cardiff University 295 24 August 2009 Newnham College, Cambridge260 University of Sussex 380 31 August 2009 Imperial College London175 University of Southampton 310 7 September 2009 St John's College, Oxford270 Durham University 360 14 September 2009 Magdalene College, Cambridge145 St Hugh's College, Oxford 270 21 September 2009 University of York200 St George's, University of London 255 28 September 2009 University of St Andrews255 Somerville College, Oxford 405 5 October 2009 Emmanuel College, Cambridge165205 Regent's Park College, Oxford 370 12 October 2009

Highest Scoring Losers play-offs Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date University College London220 Clare College, Cambridge 365 19 October 2009 Christ's College, Cambridge280 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 385 26 October 2009

Second round Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date Girton College, Cambridge170 St George's, University of London 330 2 November 2009 Newnham College, Cambridge185 University of St Andrews 295 9 November 2009 St John's College, Oxford220 Loughborough University 410 16 November 2009 University College London260 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 445 23 November 2009 Imperial College London280 St Hugh's College, Oxford 360 30 November 2009 Jesus College, Oxford200 University of Warwick 370 7 December 2009 University of Edinburgh170 Regent's Park College, Oxford 320 14 December 2009 University of Manchester210 King's College London 300 21 December 2009

Quarter-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date St John's College, Oxford28055 Girton College, Cambridge 335 4 January 2010 University of St Andrews50195 University of Manchester 245 11 January 2010 Imperial College London240110 University of Edinburgh 350 18 January 2010 Jesus College, Oxford125280 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 405 25 January 2010 St John's College, Oxford150140 University of Manchester 290 1 February 2010 Girton College, Cambridge140 University of St Andrews 255 8 February 2010 Imperial College London160275 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 435 15 February 2010 University of Edinburgh195 Jesus College, Oxford 380 22 February 2010 University of Manchester170 University of Edinburgh 335 1 March 2010 Girton College, Cambridge200 Imperial College London 300 15 March 2010

Semi-finals Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date St John's College, Oxford260 Imperial College London 430 22 March 2010 Emmanuel College, Cambridge315 University of Manchester 435 29 March 2010

Final Team 1 Score Team 2 Total Broadcast Date St John's College, Oxford315 Emmanuel College, Cambridge 415 5 April 2010

The trophy and title were awarded to the Emmanuel team of Andy Hastings, Jenny Harris, Alexander Guttenplan, and Josh Scott. The trophy was presented by Carol Ann Duffy.

References

External links Blanchflower Results Table