University Challenge Therefore, the lowest score officially achieved against eligible opponents under quizmaster Jeremy Paxman was by Lincoln College, Oxford, who totalled 30 in a semi-final against the eventual series champions the University of Manchester, in an episode televised on 9 February 2009. This was also matched in the grand final by St John's College, Oxford, against Peterhouse, Cambridge, on 18 April 2016. Before these matches, the lowest score was 35, reached by New Hall, Cambridge, 1997. This score would have been lower if all fines for incorrect interruptions had been applied. The lowest score during the "Professionals" series was achieved by
University Challenge 2009–10 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. University Challenge 2009–10 Series 39 of "University Challenge" began on 6 July 2009 and aired on BBC Two. Below is a list of the matches played with their scores and outcomes. The series comprised 37 matches over five rounds, airing between July 2009 and April 2010. 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