SURVIVAL OF THE WITTEST

It happened in Mumbai. It happened in Ahmedabad. It happened in Kolkata. And now it happens in Delhi. The host takes it all. It’s the end of a fiery battle in Delhi and the results are in. IIT Delhi, the host, scrapes through to the final round to be held in Mumbai on 22nd January, 2009.

The day began with each team pulling in their best resources to be at the top, and then it boiled down to the last minute in the quiz. Sujith S & Gyanesh Kumar Sinha (Faculty of Management Studies) were leading before the last question but 5 points away stood Ashish Sharma & Anuj Jalote (Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi) quite composed. And then as the last 10 pointer question was being read out, the IIT Delhi team took a guess, blurted out the answer before the question was completed and it was right. The host team and companions broke out with elated cheer and excitement. They had won. It was sheer presence of mind, wit and luck that got IIT Delhi to still be in the running to win the ET CITI Grand Masters.

The pattern in the host colleges emerging victorious has only one answer. Home ground and peer support in large numbers. So for those participating in the Bangalore zone, take the tip and bring along enormous crowds from your college, as they will cheer you on and keep your spirits high while you strenuously try to be the next hero.