Merseyside Quiz Leagues

The World's Largest Independent Quiz Leagues

Welcome to the Merseyside Quiz Leagues

The Merseyside Quiz Leagues, the home of team quizzing here on Merseyside, were founded in 1959 and for a long time were the largest independent quiz leagues in the world. In 2019 we therefore celebrated our our Diamond Jubilee!

The 2022-23 season saw a return to full competition following the pandemic and there are 79 teams active in the current season. Teams usually take part in their own local league, so that travelling distances are kept to a minimum. There are, however, opportunities to enter Merseyside-wide competitions at either team or league representative levels.

If you are interested in finding out a little more about team quizzing on Merseyside, why not drop into a venue and watch a game taking place. During the September to March season most games are played on Monday or Tuesday nights starting between 8 and 9pm. The tab 'Leagues' will allow you to select your local area from where you can find a team playing near you. You will be guaranteed a warm welcome and if you wish, a chance to take part in a friendly game after the main match. If you need any advice please contact us.

Guidance and Policy Update

During the summer of 2025 the MQL Council adopted a revised Guidance to Writers of Question Sets and a new policy on Sensitivity and Discriminatory Behaviour. These can each be viewed by clicking the link. In both cases they describe actions and behaviours that are already practised by members of MQL. Nonetheless, all should familiarise themselves with the two documents.

This Week

This week most Areas have suspended their League programme to hold the Local Heats of their Mimir Individual Competition. These will be held on Monday in Liverpool and Ormskirk, and on Tuesday in Warrington and Wirral. Southport & Formby will play their regular League matches on Monday and Tuesday and hold their Mimir on Wednesday. Good luck to all taking part.

Saturday 21 Feb sees the Seventh MQL Jubilee Buzzer Tournament at Hoylake Parade Community Centre (click for map), 31 Hoyle Road, Hoylake, Wirral CH47 3AG. 25 teams from all around the country will be playing a University Challenge style competition throughout the day. Although all the places were filled several months ago, you are most welcome to call in and see some of the UK's best quizzers in action. The Tournament begins at 1030 and finishes around 8pm.

News

7th MQL JUBILEE Buzzer Tournament

The seventh MQL Jubilee Buzzer Tournament takes place on Saturday 21 February at The Parade in Hoylake. 25 teams from Merseyside and from all across the UK will be playing in an all day competition based upon TV's University Challenge. Players include Chasers, Eggheads, former Brains of Britain and the current BBC Mastermind. All team places are full but spectators are welcome.

Posted by briathom59@gmail.com 16/02/26

2025 Jubilee Pairs Competition

Many congratulations to Joan Peacock and Graham Barker of Liverpool QL who are the 2025 Jubilee Pairs Champions. The competition had been held over from last September. Joan and Graham defeated Roy Smith (War) and Rob Cruise (Liv) and Karen Leahy (Liv) and Neil Wright (Wir) in the Final. David Smith (War) and Sam Roberts (Wir) were the winners of the Plate. A total of 26 players took part at the Burtonwood Community Centre. Full Results here.

Posted by briathom59@gmail.com 29/01/26

president's shield

Congratulations to the Liverpool 2A team of Joan Peacock, Frank McHugh, Rob Cruise and John Coventry on winning this season's President's Shield. Having completed all their games they have an unassailable lead in the competition.

Posted by briathom59@gmail.com 15/01/26

SARAH TREVARTHEN

It is with great sadness that we learned of the recent death of Sarah Trevarthen. Sarah was a very talented quizzer and a familiar face around the UK quiz circuit. She began playing in the MQL in 2021 where she played for Ringers in the Warrington Quiz League. Sarah had success individually, reaching the Mastermind Final in 2022 the same year in which she won BBC Radio 4's Brain of Britain. In March she became the Counterpoint champion. With her husband Noel, Sarah appeared and won an episode of TV show Pointless. In June of this year they both attended the Quiz League of London's Open Festival, where Sarah was part of the MQL team who won the Don Bissett Plate.
All at MQL offer our condolences to Noel and the family at this very sad time.

Posted by briathom59@gmail.com 23/08/25

MQL on Tour!

Two teams representing MQL took part in the Don Bissett Cup held at the annual Quiz League of London Open Festival on Saturday 21 June. The Don Bissett Cup was originally a challenge match between the MQL and the QLL but today is an eight team competition. On this occasion both MQL teams were defeated in their opening matches but the team of Dag Griffiths, Jim Eccleson, Sarah Trevarthen and Pat Gibson went on to win the Plate competition. The other MQL team consisted of Dan Lawson, Neil Macaskill and Brian Thompson together with honorary Merseysiders Isabelle Hewerd and Oliver Church.

Many thanks to James Devine-Stoneman and the QLL for organising the event.

MQL after winning their Plate Final against the West Midlands team (current Counterpoint champion plays current Mastermind champion!!)

Posted by briathom59@gmail.com 29/06/25