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Logical thinking with a dash of luck helped Indian School Bahrain students Shyam Mohan and Mohar Chatterjee secure a hotly-contested and coveted 'brains of Bahrain' title.
The duo spoke this week for the first time after winning the sixth Mothercare Inter-School Quiz Contest which they secured with 54 points after taking a nail-biting tie-breaker round against tough opponents, The British School Bahrain.
More than 150 teams representing many of the kingdom's schools took part in the contest which was organised by the Association of Mar Ivanios College Old Students and managed by Synergy Middle East.
After a series of preliminary rounds its final was staged at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam venue in Segaiya with representatives from six top schools - Al Noor International School, the British School, the Indian School, the Asian School, the New Millennium School and Sacred Heart School - fighting for the prestigious trophy and title.
The children and audience were kept on the edge of their seats in anticipation as international quiz-master Derek O'Brien shot them with one trick question after another.
Mohar, 12, a grade seven student, said: "The last question was to name the only planet in the solar system that ended with a vowel. Unfortunately, we knew the correct answer but didn't press the buzzer on time. But, it wasn't required, as the tie was broken when our opponents answered incorrectly and as a result had six points deducted making us clear winners.
"The quiz was particularly challenging in all sorts of ways. The questions were never straight forward although they were quite logical ... you sort of knew the answers but they didn't click straight away. You really had to work under pressure."
The quiz questions involved a random sample of brain teasers. For example, the children were asked to name the literary character on which the University of Nottingham offers an MA course and reveal the solvent used in 99 per cent of all solutions in a lab. (Editor's note: See answers at the bottom of the story)
Shyam, 13, a grade eight student, said: "These two questions got us into the race. We grew in confidence and that did the trick."
The pair won a trophy, medals and certificates.
Manoharan S Pillai, the proud father of Shyam and head teacher of class 9 and 10, said the pair's success was the school's first victory in the competition which it had entered since its conception and it alone boasted 18 pairs putting their quiz playing talents to the test this year.
He added: "It is difficult enough to qualify for the finals let alone win the contest. We are delighted for the children, although they thoroughly deserve their success for spending so much time studying in preparation for the event."
Mohar's father, Partha Chatterjee, an engineer with Bapco, appreciated the children's team spirit and competitiveness. He said: "Both Mohar and Shyam are prolific readers and I believe that helped them enormously. They were a very good team. They both love to read books and their quest for knowledge is something that will continue throughout their lives."
Quiz answers: a) Robin Hood and b) water
