The contenders are quizzed on their specialist subjects of Greek mythology, words, classical music, and 19th century English literature, before facing the general knowledge round.
Four contenders answer questions on their specialist subjects harps, harp music and harpists; the life and works of Franz Liszt; European mountaineering to 1914; and the life and works of Rudyard Kipling.
The specialist subjects of the contenders are Frederick the Great, the history of music 1680-1850, Shakespeare's plays, and Romano-British archaeology.
Specialist subjects of modern weapons, the city of Paris, the history of the theatre, and painting 1880-1994 are chosen by the four contenders in the black chair.
The four contenders answer specialist subject questions on the Royal Navy, classical mythology, English literature, and symphony orchestras, then the general knowledge round.
British geography, Gilbert and Sullivan, the Third Reich, and the 19th century novel are the specialist subjects chosen by the contenders taking the black chair in this first-round contest.
In the last of the first-round matches, the contenders in the black chair answer questions on West Africa, 19th-20th century crime, the history of Greece and city states to the death of Alexander, and British birds.