Quizmaster Uncovers Cheating Scandal at Urmston Pub
A pub quizmaster has recounted the dramatic moment he exposed a team caught utilizing their smartwatches to illicitly fetch answers during a quiz at the Barking Dog in Urmston, Greater Manchester.
Bobby Bruen, the mastermind behind the quizzes at this renowned establishment, shared his investigative journey with LBC News’s James Hanson, revealing how suspicion arose due to the team’s unusually high scores.
Mark Rackham, the pub’s proprietor, announced on Tuesday that he had apprehended the group in a nefarious act of deception, though he opted not to publicly disclose their identity. His revelation on social media incited a fervent quest among patrons to unveil the identity of the culprits.
Reflecting on the affair, Bobby noted, “They started attending about 18 months ago. Initially, their high scores seemed legitimate; we considered them a clever, albeit small, team.”
He indicated that the norm was perceived to be trustworthy until whispers of suspicious behavior surfaced from fellow quiz participants.
Motivated by these allegations, Bobby devised a strategic plan to expose the fraudsters. “The alarm bells started ringing,” he recounted. Noticing anomalies, particularly during a music round, led him to engage a staff member to monitor the group closely while they quizzed.
“They consistently achieved correct answers across various music genres—from 1950s rock to 2010s pop—even identifying obscure producers not listed on mainstream platforms,” Bobby explained.
His concerns reached a tipping point, prompting his colleague Rob to discreetly observe the team from outside the pub. Through the window, he discovered their clandestine tactic: using smartwatches to access answers.
Bobby further revealed that the group employed the widely-used app Shazam to pinpoint songs, while also leveraging a smartwatch to interface with artificial intelligence for question responses. Despite being cornered, the team maintained its innocence.
In a social media announcement, the pub directly addressed the cheaters, expressing disappointment over the breach of trust: “We are disheartened to report that a team has been cheating during our quiz. Suspicions had lingered, but evidence only recently surfaced,” the post read.
“This, regrettably, may have led to the loss of genuine patrons. Following last night’s events, the team has been banned, and we hope to welcome back those loyal quizzers who may have been deterred.” The post continued, emphasizing awareness of other teams’ waning participation due to these suspicions.
Mr. Rackham commented on the prior dominance of the same team. “We often observed repeat winners, accruing obscure knowledge that raised eyebrows,” he noted, mentioning the institution of restrictions on phone usage, a measure previously deemed unnecessary. “The spirit of the quiz has been compromised,” he lamented.
After receiving an anonymous tip about the team in question, he tasked his quiz co-host with discreetly monitoring them. The espionage ultimately revealed the clandestine whispering into smartwatches for assistance and using an application during the music round.
“They were caught red-handed and subsequently banned from future quizzes,” Mr. Rackham confirmed, although he expressed reluctance to reveal the names of the offenders.
They may still visit the pub, but their quiz participation is indefinitely curtailed. “Knowing there are cheats fundamentally detracts from the enjoyment for all,” he concluded.
Source link: Lbc.co.uk.
