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With six of the nine finalists from New South Wales, chances of a winner from the state were pretty high. Introductions and the chatter between host Sandra Sully were slightly longer than in previous heats. Answers to the questions were already putting the precious nerves under a hint of extra strain.
From the blocks, Penina Su takes no errors in the General Knowledge section, holding onto an on light after the end of each question. Others were pretty close, but finding a chance to slip up here and there. With such a solid lead, even missing out on the remaining three questions after the break did not stop her move into the second round.
Taking the time for more personal banter, Sully stumps Douglas Roche. Explaining the use and application of grey water leaving much dead air in the studio. Alice Han, defying other rote topics, chooses to lead off with Maths and blows it away.
On the second run through the twelve topics, Sully breaks it quick to the kids when they fail to kick up enough second part points for a position in the final three. Han finds herself with Film and TV and the intensity increases with her eyes darting back faster and faster on the scan of questions. Needing only 4 to secure a spot, sitting on a long pause for the last question of the round, "He-Man the Masters of the what," she misses out on an easy sneak into the third and final round. Claiming to an equal sitting with the other kids vying for the last spot into the third, Roche pips both Han and Vivian Giang with faster reflexes and a spot on the three.
With William Xi on William the Conqueror, Roche on Academy Awards (2000 onwards) and Su on Mao Zedong as their personal pet topics, things slow down a notch. Taking no chances, the three select their own squares and hold on to level ground. Slipping on a Nicole Kidman Oscar, Roche breaks the smooth sailing and sends the game into a slow battle for the final points. Su throws a hilarious look of shock and utter dismay when told of the answer to one of her questions. Totally left field and nearly falling over the back of the stand.
Xi works on an edge just out in front of the other two. Roche and Su trail behind and only have a shot outside their topics. Instead of a tie-break forcing move into either William the Conqueror or the Academy Awards, other specialty topics behind the black squares, Su opts for her own topic. Xi nails the final question and is crowned the 2005 winner along with $20,000 in a trust and a heavy plastic trophy suitable for bludgeoning.
Monday, 21 November 2005 - 15:54
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