The International Quizzing Championships (IQC) is an annual multi-disciplinary quiz event, in which representatives from various countries compete as individuals, in pairs, and in teams (club and national).
It was known as the European Quizzing Championships (EQC) from 2004 to 2021 and was open to European quizzers only. To reflect the competition's shift to a more global reach, the 2022 edition was played as the Ultimate Quizzing Championships (UQC). In 2023 it was rebranded to its current name.
History In contrast to the World Quizzing Championship, the IQC is played in one place only, in English only (WQC is played in the language of each country) and has several competitions with more than one player (pairs, national teams - for four players, and clubs - also four players). In 2016 the EQC was part of the 2016 Quiz Olympiad. In 2021 it was part of the 2021 Quiz Olympiad and in 2024 it was part of the 2024 Quiz Olympiad.
The 2010 event attracted media attention from BBC Radio Derby and was the subject also of a BBC Radio 4 documentary presented by the comedian, and quiz enthusiast, Paul Sinha. The 2006 event in Lésigny near Paris was also the subject of a well received Channel 4 documentary 'Quizzers' by the director Paul Whittaker, shown in the UK as part of the series 'New Shoots'. The 2022 edition was the subject of an episode of the Arte documentary series which aired in January 2023.
In 2020 the event was planned to take place in Kraków from 5 November until 8 November, but was postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Individual champions
England's Kevin Ashman and Olav Bjortomt are the most successful candidates with six and four individual titles, respectively. Belgian Nico Pattyn upset all the locals in 2007 in Blackpool, to become the first Belgian to win the trophy. In 2012, Germany's Holger Waldenberger won with the last question on musician Dr. John, while trailing by one point from Igor Habal. Ronny Swiggers took another Belgian victory in 2013.
Year Venue Winner Runner up Third place 2004 Ghent Kevin Ashman Nico Pattyn Pat Gibson 2005 Tallinn Kevin Ashman Pat Gibson 2006 Lésigny Kevin Ashman Mark Bytheway Lieven Van den Brande 2007 Blackpool Nico Pattyn Lieven Van den Brande Pat Gibson 2008 Oslo Kevin Ashman Pat Gibson Olav Bjortomt 2009 Dordrecht Kevin Ashman Olav Bjortomt Pat Gibson 2010 Derby Olav Bjortomt Tero Kalliolevo Pat Gibson 2011 Bruges Kevin Ashman Pat Gibson Olav Bjortomt 2012 Tartu Holger Waldenberger Igor Habal Olav Bjortomt 2013 Liverpool Ronny Swiggers Nico Pattyn Jesse Honey 2014 Bucharest Olav Bjortomt Kevin Ashman Tero Kalliolevo 2015 Rotterdam Olav Bjortomt Ronny Swiggers Pat Gibson 2016 Athens Olav Bjortomt Kevin Ashman Pat Gibson 2017 Zagreb Pat Gibson Olav Bjortomt Kevin Ashman 2018 Venice Pat Gibson Tom Trogh Ronny Swiggers 2019 Sofia Ian Bayley Kevin Ashman Tero Kalliolevo 2021 Kraków Mark Henry Ronny Swiggers Tero Kalliolevo 2022 Berlin Ronny Swiggers Kaarel Silmato Daoud Jackson 2023 Torremolinos Daoud Jackson Victoria Groce Tero Kalliolevo 2024 Fuengirola Daoud Jackson Ronny Swiggers 2025 Caserta Ronny Swiggers Tom Trogh Lander Frederickx Tero Kalliolevo 2026 Sarajevo
Pairs champions
Introduced in 2005, Belgian and Anglo-Irish pairs have dominated this event.
Year Venue Winners Runners up Third place 2005 Tallinn Ian Bayley/Pat Gibson Marnix Baes/Bart Permentier Nico Pattyn/Paul Arts 2006 Lésigny Paul Arts/Marc Van Springel Mark Bytheway/Kevin Ashman Keith Andrew/ Sean O'Neill 2007 Blackpool Erik Derycke/Tom Trogh Albert November/Ronny Swiggers and Tero Kalliolevo/ 2008 Oslo Albert November/Ronny Swiggers Olav Bjortomt/David Stainer Mark Bytheway/Kevin Ashman 2009 Dordrecht Olav Bjortomt/David Stainer Ian Bayley/Pat Gibson Mark Bytheway/Kevin Ashman 2010 Derby Kevin Ashman/Pat Gibson Tero Kalliolevo/Jussi Suvanto Olav Bjortomt/David Stainer 2011 Bruges Kevin Ashman/Pat Gibson Erik Derycke/Tom Trogh Olav Bjortomt/David Stainer 2012 Tartu Kevin Ashman/Pat Gibson Tero Kalliolevo/Jussi Suvanto Holger Waldenberger/ Dorjana Širola 2013 Liverpool Kevin Ashman/Pat Gibson Olav Bjortomt/David Stainer Tero Kalliolevo/Jussi Suvanto 2014 Bucharest Tero Kalliolevo/ Ronny Swiggers Kevin Ashman/Pat Gibson Olav Bjortomt/David Stainer 2015 Rotterdam Kevin Ashman/Pat Gibson Olav Bjortomt/David Stainer Didier Bruyere/ Ian Bayley 2016 Athens Kevin Ashman/Pat Gibson Olav Bjortomt/David Stainer Didier Bruyere/ Ian Bayley Belgian Nico Pattyn and American Ed Toutant finished in third place, but as the latter is not a European, the bronze medal went to Didier Bruyère and Ian Bayley. 2017 Zagreb Kevin Ashman/Pat Gibson Olav Bjortomt/David Stainer Estonian Igor Habal and Canadian Paul Paquet finished in second place, but as the latter is not a European, the silver medal went to Olav Bjortomt and David Stainer and bronze medal to Didier Bruyère and Ian Bayley. Didier Bruyere/ Ian Bayley 2018 Venice Tero Kalliolevo/ Ronny Swiggers Kevin Ashman/Pat Gibson Tom Trogh/Derk De Graaf 2019 Sofia Kevin Ashman/Pat Gibson Didier Bruyere/ Ian Bayley Olav Bjortomt/David StainerAmericans Steven Perry and Tim Polley finished in third place, but as they are not Europeans, the bronze medal went to Olav Bjortomt and David Stainer. 2021 Kraków Tero Kalliolevo/ Ronny Swiggers Nico Pattyn/Jens Everaerdt Tom Trogh/Derk De Graaf 2022 Berlin Victoria Groce/ Kevin Ashman Tero Kalliolevo/ Ronny Swiggers Igor Habal/Kaarel Silmato 2023 Torremolinos Victoria Groce/ Tom Trogh/Tim van der Heyden Igor Habal/Kaarel Silmato 2024 Fuengirola / Daoud Jackson Victoria Groce/ Thomas Kolåsæter Pat Gibson/ Ian Bayley 2025 Caserta Adam Hancock/ Anu Kashyap Tim Van der Heyden/Tom Trogh Dean Kotiga/ Daoud Jackson 2026 Sarajevo
National Team champions (four players each)
The English and Belgian teams have contested in most finals, England has won the most titles, nine. The foursome of Kevin Ashman, Mark Bytheway, Pat Gibson and Olav Bjortomt failed to retain the title in 2008 in Oslo, the winning Belgian team composed of Ronny Swiggers, Nico Pattyn, Erik Derycke, and Tom Trogh, but rebounded in 2009. In 2011 Finland became the third team to win the title, beating Norway in the final. The deciding question after the long and even match with tough questions was about a very common Nordic plant Hepatica. Both teams failed to answer correctly and Finland won. So far seven countries have won medals: England, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Estonia, USA and Croatia.
Year Venue Winner Runner up Third place 2004 Ghent (Kevin Ashman, Pat Gibson, Barry Simmons, David Stainer) Belgium (Erik Derycke, Nico Pattyn, Leo De Haes, Jean Marivoet) 2005 Tallinn (Patrick Andries, Erik Derycke, Nico Pattyn, Jo Vandenbroucke) (Kevin Ashman, Pat Gibson, Barry Simmons, David Stainer) 2006 Lésigny (Erik Derycke, Nico Pattyn, Tom Trogh, Marc Van Springel) (Kevin Ashman, Ian Bayley, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson) (Trine Aalborg, Harald Aastorp, Dag Fjeldstad, Marie Haavik) 2007 Blackpool (Kevin Ashman, Mark Bytheway, Pat Gibson, David Stainer) (Erik Derycke, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Trine Aalborg, Tore Dahl, Thomas Kolåsæter, Ole Martin Halck) and (Tero Kalliolevo, Jussi Suvanto, Tuomas Tumi) 2008 Oslo (Erik Derycke, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Kevin Ashman, Olav Bjortomt, Mark Bytheway, Pat Gibson) (Tero Kalliolevo, Jussi Suvanto, Tuomas Tumi) 2009 Dordrecht (Kevin Ashman, Olav Bjortomt, Mark Bytheway, Pat Gibson) (Erik Derycke, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Harald Aastorp, Ole Martin Halck, Lars Heggland, Thomas Kolåsæter) 2010 Derby (Kevin Ashman, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson, Jesse Honey) (Erik Derycke, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Tero Kalliolevo, Jussi Suvanto, Timo Toivonen, Tuomas Tumi) 2011 Bruges (Tero Kalliolevo, Jussi Suvanto, Timo Toivonen, Tuomas Tumi) (Tore Dahl, Ole Martin Halck, Lars Heggland, Thomas Kolåsæter) (Erik Derycke, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) 2012 Tartu (Kevin Ashman, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson, Jesse Honey) (Tero Kalliolevo, Jussi Suvanto, Ilkka Tiensuu, Timo Toivonen) (Bernard Kreps, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) 2013 Liverpool (Kevin Ashman, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson, Jesse Honey) (Erik Derycke, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Harald Aastorp, Tore Dahl, Ole Martin Halck, Thomas Kolåsæter) 2014 Bucharest (Kevin Ashman, Ian Bayley, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson) (Nico Pattyn, Gerben Smit, Ronny Swiggers, Lars Van Moer) (Harald Aastorp, Ole Martin Halck, Thomas Kolåsæter, Geir Kristiansen) 2015 Rotterdam (Kevin Ashman, Ian Bayley, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson) (Erik Derycke, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Ove Põder, Igor Habal, Illar Tõnisson, Tauno Vahter) 2016 Athens (Kevin Ashman, Ian Bayley, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson) (Gerben Smit, Stijn Gyselinckx, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers) (Tore Dahl, Ole Martin Halck, Thomas Kolåsæter, Geir Kristiansen) 2017 Zagreb (Kevin Ashman, Ian Bayley, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson) (Gerben Smit, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Tero Kalliolevo, Jussi Suvanto, Tuomas Tumi) 2018 Venice (Tore Dahl, Ole Martin Halck, Lars Heggland, Thomas Kolåsæter) (Nico Pattyn, Gerben Smit, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Kevin Ashman, Ian Bayley, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson) 2019 Sofia (Kevin Ashman, Ian Bayley, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson) (Lander Frederickx, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Tore Dahl, Ole Martin Halck, Thomas Kolåsæter, Geir Kristiansen) 2021 Kraków (Lander Frederickx, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Ove Põder, Igor Habal, Illar Tõnisson, Kaarel Silmato) (Ian Bayley, Daoud Jackson, Ned Pendleton, Matt Todd)The American National Quiz Team finished in third place at the 2021 Quiz Olympiad, but as that is not a European team, the European Championship bronze medal went to fourth placed England. 2022 Berlin (Lander Frederickx, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Ove Põder, Igor Habal, Illar Tõnisson, Kaarel Silmato) (Kevin Ashman, Ian Bayley, Daoud Jackson, Ned Pendleton) 2023 Torremolinos (Victoria Groce, Brandon Blackwell, Shane Whitlock, Steve Perry) (Lander Frederickx, Nico Pattyn, Ronny Swiggers, Tom Trogh) (Kevin Ashman, Ian Bayley, Olav Bjortomt, Pat Gibson) 2024 Fuengirola (Andrew Ullsperger, Brandon Blackwell, Victoria Groce, Shane Whitlock) (Nico Pattyn, Tom Trogh, Ronny Swiggers, Lander Frederickx) (Daoud Jackson, Evan Lynch, Ian Bayley, Pat Gibson) 2025 Caserta (Pat Gibson, Daoud Jackson, Ian Bayley, Evan Lynch) (Neven Trgovec, Dean Kotiga, Lovro Jurišić, Domagoj Pozderac) (Lander Frederickx, Tim Van der Heyden, Dries Van De Sande, Tom Trogh) 2026 Sarajevo
Club champions (four players each)
After the first years the event was dominated by two British teams. Since 2007 the questions have been set by a team of quizmasters from different nationalities, in order to eliminate too much local flavour. Milhous Warriors (2006 line-up Kevin Ashman, Mark Bytheway, Tim Westcott, Sean O'Neill) who won in Lésigny in 2006. Broken Hearts (Olav Bjortomt, Ian Bayley, Mark Grant, David Stainer) made it three straight 2007-2009, then it was Milhous again with Pat Gibson replacing the late Mark Bytheway. 2012 winner JFGI was the first champion to have quizzers from several countries: Tero Kalliolevo and Jussi Suvanto from Finland, Ove Põder and Tauno Vahter from Estonia. In 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022 all top three teams included several nationalities.