Merseyside Quiz Leagues

The MCC is the main competition for teams across the whole of the MQL.  From 2025-26 the competition will be played using the Swiss System.  This is a non-eliminating tournament format that will consist of six rounds of matches thus each team does not play all the other teams.  The rules are designed to ensure that each team plays opponents with a similar running score but does not play the same opponent more than once. The winner is the team with the highest aggregate points earned in all rounds. If we have an even number of teams, then all teams will play in each round.  The match pairing for each round is done after the previous round has ended and depends on its results.

The MCC provides one of the few opportunities to meet and play against teams from all over Merseyside.  Admittedly some of these teams can be quite formidable but on the whole matches will be very competitive.

The matches are played on five Wednesday evenings, between October and March, with a final set of games on a date tba.  We play online using a Zoom meeting hosted by MQL and you will be sent the the link in the week before a match.  Each team will also be sent one half of the password and instructions on how to download the password protected set of questions.  Only the home team needs to download the set which can be opened by the QP in the presence of both teams in their Zoom Room.  After the match an image of the scoresheet should be sent to the competition secretary.

Bill Thomas has stepped down as competition secretary after many years.  Many thanks Bill!

Rules 2, 6 and 7 apply only when the competition uses a mini league and knockout format

1.   Entry to the Merseyside Challenge Cup is open to any teams registered as members of the MQL subject to Rule 36 of the MQL.
2. The initial stage of the competition shall be played on a league basis. Each league shall consist of no more than four teams, the composition of such leagues to be decided by Council.
3. All MQL matches are to be played using the 2 attempt format.
4. Players should be players in the Merseyside Quiz League.  A team who wish to include any other player must seek permission from the Competition Secretary.  If this is not done then the game, when played, may be forfeit.
5. Each team shall play against the other teams on dates and at venues to be decided by Council and in accordance with MQL Rules. Rule 36 applies to any team failing to fulfil a fixture.
6. At the completion of the leagues, teams will go forward to the knockout stages of the Merseyside Challenge Cup or the Plate Competition. The normal rules for knockout competitions under MQL auspices will then apply. Teams failing to fulfill any fixture in the initial stage of the competition without good reason will, if necessary, be excluded from participating in the Plate Competition.
7. Positions within the league will be determined on the basis of points gained, cumulative points difference and where two teams are level, on the result of the match between those teams in the league. Should no decision still be reached the result shall be achieved by the drawing of lots. Forfeited fixtures will be allocated an appropriate notional match score by the Competition Secretary.
8. It is the responsibility of the WINNING TEAM to forward the match score sheet to the Competition Secretary within three days of the match. Failure to do so will render the winning team, liable to penalties under Rule 32. Such penalties are likely to include the offending team having to play away from home in the next round of the competition.
9. Each constituent league may be required to supply one or two ten round question sets, as specified by the Competition Secretary. Each set must be sent to the Competition Secretary a minimum of two weeks before the round in which it is due to be played. The Competition Secretary has the right to require the rewriting of any or part of any set which is deemed unsuitable. In the event of the Competition Secretary being involved in one of the teams participating in the Competition, these tasks will be delegated to a colleague from a team not involved in the competition.
10. Teams failing to conform to the rules of the competition will be liable to such penalty at the MQL Council deems necessary.