Packed theatre greets quarter finalists at Gulf News Blockbusters

Dubai: A packed theatre greeted the junior singles, junior doubles, senior singles, senior teams and adult singles and teams quarterfinalists yesterday in a series of tense but exciting games.

Gulf News Blockbusters had moved to a significantly bigger theatre at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre (DUCTAC) in anticipation of a bigger audience.

Spectators and supporters kept pouring in as the afternoon progressed, with some eventually having to be seated in the upper seating area. "I attended some Blockbuster games during Ramadan and have noticed that the questions are getting harder. It seems to be a filtration process to keep the smartest kids," said Ravi, a member of the audience.

The audience included parents, friends and relatives of the competitors, as well as those who were there to cheer every contestant.

Avinash, who clapped loudly and cheered for every contestant who got an answer right said he felt more excited than the contestants.

Pressure

"But it's also very important to make the younger contestants feel the support - and pressure. These guys have bright lights shining on them and can't really see their supporters in the audience, so we need to make them hear it," he said.

Supporters of every generation could be seen. One of the families in the audience consisted of three generations, from toddlers to elderly members.

Although bloopers were fewer during the quarter finals, they were as entertaining. "During the bloopers, I think most of the participants know that their answers will be wrong, even funny, but they think an answer is still worth a try," said Radha, whose son was competing.

For example, one competitor answered "agriculture" to the question "What A is the study of human culture", and another answered "dictator" to "What D was Che Guevara before becoming a political leader".

'Nervous'

One blooper which led to a number of gasps from the audience was to the question: "What D is the currency of Australia". The senior competitor answered: "The Dirham". The right answers were anthropology, doctor and dollar respectively. A game that perhaps received the loudest applause was when in Avneeth Fernandes' first game, where he only allowed his co-competitor one right answer.

Avneeth, who is head boy at school as well as quiz captain, said the level of competition was very high and that he did not expect to get so far. "Now that all the sifting has taken place the questions are harder... but I've participated in other quizzes before," said the 12th grader.

Rahul Nambiar, a grade seven pupil who won a Juniors Doubles match with Dibyo Majumdar, said it was his first time competing in a quiz contest and that he did not expect to reach so far. "It was tough. I was surprised at how far I got. I'm a bit nervous for the semi finals, but not too much," he said.