Rulings Before the Final Answer

The standard phonetic tolerance applies: if the written answer is phonetically unambiguous and cannot be confused with another entity, award full points. For instance, writing "Gorbachov" instead of "Gorbachev" is acceptable. However, writing "Austria" instead of "Australia" is not a spelling error; it is a wrong answer and receives zero points.

Unless the host specifically announced "Full name required" before reading the question, a correct surname is always sufficient (e.g., "Churchill", "Hemingway", "Picasso"). The only exception is when multiple prominent figures share a surname in the same field (e.g., Roosevelts, Pitts, or Brontë sisters), in which case the forename is mandatory.

If a question contains a fundamentally flawed premise (e.g., referring to an event happening in the wrong decade or misattributing a book), the host must void the question entirely and award zero points to all tables, or read an immediate reserve question. Never award points selectively based on what the question "meant" to say.

The standard adult maximum is six players per table. Tables competing with seven or eight players should either split into two independent teams or incur a mandatory 2-point per extra player handicap per round to preserve competitive balance for smaller groups.

In the rare event that two teams guess identical distances from the actual number in a tie-breaker, the team whose guess did not exceed the true figure wins. If both are on the same side and equidistant, conduct a second sudden-death question from the sealed reserve list.

Universally recognized acronyms and abbreviations (e.g., USA, UK, USSR, NASA, FBI, NATO) are fully accepted. Obscure local abbreviations or colloquial nicknames are unacceptable unless approved by the host before marking begins.

All tables have the right to a brief audit of their sheet after marks are announced. If a table believes their paper was unfairly graded by a peer marker, the captain brings the paper directly to the host's desk. If deliberate wrongful marking is proven, the offending table receives a 5-point sportsmanship penalty.

Do not publicly accuse individuals over the microphone. The host should approach the table quietly between rounds and say: "We have had a query regarding screens at this table; please keep all phones stacked face-down in the center glass so nobody can question your team's integrity." This diffuses suspicion without creating an adversarial atmosphere.

If a question asks for a measurement, specify the unit in the question (e.g., "in kilometers" or "in kilograms"). If a player provides the mathematically correct equivalent in miles or pounds, award full points if the conversion is accurate within 2%.

Once the host completes the podium awards and signs off the fixture, all rulings are permanent. Post-game discussions are welcome at the desk for clarifying future fixtures, but historical prize distributions remain final to prevent endless post-match litigation.