Being quick on the buzzer key to success, says team

Dubai: There is no formula that makes the winning team at the Gulf News Blockbuster.

The random people you strike a conversation with among the audience or the obscure guy sitting next to you would prove to be your apt partner, as in the case of Dubai Dynamos that clinched the winning title in the Adults Teams heats two, held on Sunday at the Kilachand Theatre at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre.

The three friends, Suman Manning, Sameer Vyas and Chirag Vyas who came to watch the blockbuster teamed up with Selven who was sitting behind them to play the doubles when one of the registered team did not turn up.

"Chirag had won the title 14 years ago. So when we got stuck in traffic, he dragged us to watch the quiz programme. We just happened to have a conversation with Selven, and recruited him instantly to form a team and participated," said Suman, a sales professional.

The winning team in the first heats, were 'No Strings' who also had an ex-champion in their league. "Sapan Mehta had won the senior title some 15 years ago. Se we were all counting on him. Though he was not very sure of his winning, We were pretty sure, that we can emerge winners," said Manu one of the team members. Anil and Nylisha were the other two who formed 'No Strings.'

Keys to success

Both the teams said being quick on the buzzer and able to guess fast are the keys to success, especially when some questions as simple as UAE's currency and who looks after gardens and Superman's planet were thrown in to some other tricky ones.

"It was a fluke for us. We never thought we would win. But, it was very crucial to be quick on the buzzer as the other team was also very good," said Suman.

Winning against the Hip Hop Happenings in the final match, she adds, was not a cakewalk, as they kept on blocking them in each move. "We had to re-strategise ourselves to get to the other end. At the end, it was a lot of fun and excitement."

No Strings said they are also looking forward to the finals, and hope to play even better next time.

In the game of wit and intelligence, Sunday's audience proved to be as spirited as the participants. Answers of most of the questions that the teams skipped came right from the audience who had to be reminded every now and then not to give it away in whispers even while the game is on.

Competition

Unanswered questions

What E was Charles Lamb's pen name? Elia

What W would you expect to find with a tweeter? Woofer

What F is the world's leading exporter of pulp and paper?Finland

What C is the profession of Sophie Neveu in the book Da Vinci Code? Cryptologist

What C is the underground room for church or cathedral?Crypt

What B is Rudyard Kipling's birth place? Bombay

What J is obscure in the title of a Thomas Hardy novel? Jude

What P is the figure of speech when an inanimate object is given human qualities? Personification

What C is the study of shells? Concology

What A is like an uncle? Avuncular