Which tennis player fills in the gap in this list of Wimbledon Men’s Champions from the early nineties: Edberg — … — Agassi — Sampras — Sampras
Answer: Michael Stich
In the list shown Edberg vein in 1990 and Stich in 1991. Michael Stich, a former German professional tennis player, achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 2 in singles and No. 9 in doubles. He won 18 singles titles, including Wimbledon and the ATP Tour World Championships, and ten doubles titles, including Wimbledon and the Olympic gold medal.
Two
What is the capital of Lithuania?
Answer: Vilnius
Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is known for its well-preserved Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was a multicultural centre during the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and is now a financial centre and important fintech hub.
Three
Who created the fictional detective Lord Peter Wimsey?
Answer: Dorothy L. Sayers
Lord Peter Wimsey, a gentleman detective created by Dorothy L. Sayers, solves mysteries for amusement, often assisted by his valet, a police detective, and later, his wife.
Four
What word does the ‘U’ in U-boat actually refer to?
Answer: Unterseeboot
U-boats, German naval submarines, were used in unrestricted submarine warfare during both World Wars to disrupt UK merchant traffic. While initially successful, improved Allied tactics, particularly during the Battle of the Atlantic, led to significant U-boat losses, culminating in ‘Black May’ 1943.
Five
The title of Pink Floyd’s debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn derived from what children’s novel?
Answer: The Wind in the Willows
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is Pink Floyd’s debut album, released in 1967. It was recorded at EMI Studios and produced by Norman Smith, blending improvisational pieces with Syd Barrett’s pop songs and psychedelia. The Wind in the Willows was a childhood favourite of Barrett.
Born in Florida, USA, on this day in 1941, with a film debut in The Happening (1967), one of the stars of Bonnie and Clyde (also 1967), is whom?
Answer: Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway is an acclaimed American actress with a career spanning Broadway and film. She rose to fame in the 1960s and 1970s with notable films like Bonnie and Clyde and Chinatown, earning an Academy Award for Network. Dunaway later transitioned to mature character roles in independent films and stage performances.
Two
In 1939, Queen Maud Land was claimed and named. Which country made this claim on this 1.0-million-square-mile area of Antarctica?
Answer: Norway
Queen Maud Land is a 2.7 million square kilometre region of Antarctica claimed by Norway. It is a demilitarised zone within the Antarctic Treaty System, with no permanent population but 12 active research stations. The region is divided into five coasts and is bordered by the British and Australian Antarctic Territories. It is named after the Norwegian Queen Maud (1869–1938).
Three
In 1970, The Supremes performed their final concert with whom?
Answer: Diana Ross
The Supremes, an American girl group formed in Detroit in 1959, were the most commercially successful act of Motown Records during the 1960s. With Diana Ross as lead singer and Holland-Dozier-Holland as their songwriting and production team, they achieved mainstream success with twelve number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. The group disbanded in 1977 after numerous lineup changes.
Four
In 2005, which organisation developed the probe that became the first spacecraft to land on a celestial body beyond Mars, and on which moon of Saturn did it touch down?
Answers: European Space Agency; Titan
The Huygens probe spent over two hours descending through Titan’s thick, orange, nitrogen-rich atmosphere before landing, sending back the first-ever images and sounds from the surface of a moon in the outer Solar System.
Five
In 2024, Queen Margrethe II abdicated after 52 years on the throne. Her eldest son, the Crown Prince, succeeded her as king. Who was the new king, and in which country did this happen?
Answer: King Frederick X; Denmark
Margrethe, Queen of Denmark, is a talented scenographer and costume designer, having designed costumes for the Royal Danish Ballet and films like The Wild Swans and Ehrengard: The Art of Seduction. She has also designed sets and costumes for numerous ballets, including The Nutcracker and The Snow Queen. Additionally, Margrethe is an accomplished painter and has illustrated works like Prince Henrik’s poetry collection and Danish editions of The Lord of the Rings.
Born in Florida, USA, on this day in 1941, with a film debut in The Happening (1967), one of the stars of Bonnie and Clyde (also 1967), is whom?
Two
In 1939, Queen Maud Land was claimed and named. Which country made this claim on this 1.0-million-square-mile area of Antarctica?
Three
In 1970, The Supremes performed their final concert with whom?
Four
In 2005, which organisation developed the probe that became the first spacecraft to land on a celestial body beyond Mars, and on which moon of Saturn did it touch down?
Five
In 2024, Queen Margrethe II abdicated after 52 years on the throne. Her eldest son, the Crown Prince, succeeded her as king. Who was the new king, and in which country did this happen?
Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.
Continuing from yesterday with questions six to ten.
Six
For SIX points, name the members of the comedy troupe, Monty Python.
Answer: Graham Chapman—John Cleese—Terry Gilliam—Eric Idle—Terry Jones—Michael Palin
Seven
For SEVEN points, list the Harry Potter novels. No need to put Harry Potter and…
Answer: Philosopher’s Stone—Chamber of Secrets—Prisoner of Azkaban—Goblet of Fire,—Order of the Phoenix—Half-Blood Prince—Deathly Hallows
Eight
For EIGHT points, starting from 0 degrees and moving clockwise, list the compass points formed by dividing a compass rose into eight segments. (in clockwise order)
For NINE points. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of nine, known as the Company of the Ring or the Fellowship of the Ring, embarked on a mission to destroy the ring. Who were they?
Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.
Continuing from yesterday with questions six to ten.
Six
For SIX points, name the members of the comedy troupe, Monty Python.
Seven
For SEVEN points, list the Harry Potter novels. No need to put Harry Potter and…
Eight
For EIGHT points, starting from 0 degrees and moving clockwise, list the compass points formed by dividing a compass rose into eight segments. (in clockwise order)
Nine
For NINE points. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of nine, known as the Company of the Ring or the Fellowship of the Ring, embarked on a mission to destroy the ring. Who were they?
Ten
For TEN points, list the world’s ten most populous cities as listed by the UN 2025 Population Estimates.
Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.
Posted in two parts with the second part following tomorrow.
One
For ONE point, in what country was the composer Franz Liszt born
Answer: Hungary
Two
For TWO points. According to the Bible story, Noah released two birds from the ark to determine whether the flood had abated; what birds?
Answer: Raven—Dove
Three
For THREE points. In Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Three Musketeers, the title characters meet and befriend d’Artagnan; what are their names?
Answer: Athos—Porthos—Aramis
Four
For FOUR points, list the patron saints of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.
Answer: Andrew—George—David—Patrick
Five
For FIVE points, list the five boroughs of New York City.
Answer: The Bronx—Brooklyn—Manhattan—Queens—Staten Island
Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.
Posted in two parts with the second part following tomorrow.
One
For ONE point, in what country was the composer Franz Liszt born
Two
For TWO points. According to the Bible story, Noah released two birds from the ark to determine whether the flood had abated; what birds?
Three
For THREE points. In Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Three Musketeers, the title characters meet and befriend d’Artagnan; what are their names?
Four
For FOUR points, list the patron saints of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.
Five
For FIVE points, list the five boroughs of New York City.
Good luck! I’ll post the answers later and part II follows tomorrow.
iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, and went on sale later that year. It transformed the phone into a handheld computer, fusing communication, entertainment and internet access. Since its release, it has evolved with improved cameras, faster processors, and new features like face recognition.
Two
In 1982, Catherine, princess of Wales was born. What was her maiden surname?
Middleditch
Middlesmyth
Middleton
Answer: 3. Middleton
Catherine, Princess of Wales, born Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, is the consort of Prince William, heir apparent to the British throne. She became Princess of Wales in 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Catherine is known for her warmth and relatability, and is actively involved in various charities, particularly those focused on children and mental health.
Three
Which traditional American folk song, recorded by Joan Baez on her 1960 debut album, became one of her signature performances and helped spark the 1960s folk revival?
This Land Is Your Land
Silver Dagger
John Henry
Answer: 2. Silver Dagger
Joan Baez was born this day in 1941. Her first album, Joan Baez (1960), was recorded in just a few days and featured only her voice and acoustic guitar. Despite its simplicity, it became a landmark folk record and influenced countless artists—including a young Bob Dylan—by bringing traditional ballads like Silver Dagger to a wide, modern audience.
Four
In 1816, Humphrey Davy tested what device at Hebburn Colliery in England?
Safety fuse
Safety helmet
Safety lamp
Answer: 3. Safety lamp
The Davy lamp, invented in 1815 by Sir Humphry Davy, is a safety lamp used in flammable atmospheres, particularly coal mines. It consists of a wick lamp enclosed in a mesh screen, acting as a flame arrestor to prevent explosions. Despite its initial promise, the Davy lamp’s unreliability and the false sense of security it provided contributed to an increase in mine accidents, highlighting the need for improved ventilation and safer practises.
Five
Born in 1913, Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States. During his presidency Nixon became associated with what group of tradesmen?
Carpenters
Mechanics
Plumbers
Answer: 3. Plumbers
The Watergate Plumbers, a covert group formed during Richard Nixon’s presidency, aimed to suppress leaks of classified information, especially the Pentagon Papers. Their most notorious involvement was the Watergate break-in, which ultimately led to Nixon’s resignation.
