Mark Labbett's last name literally means "The Beast" in French. But he has also earned the imposing moniker for being a monster trivia player--an international champion who eats up heady intellectuals on GSN's hit game show The Chase, returning tonight at 8 ET.
The 48-year-old British man, who figures his winnings have bought him every car he's ever owned and is currently ranked #81 in the World Quizzing Championships, sums up his talents simply: "I'm very good with facts," he says. "Very good."
The stakes may be considerably higher on The Chase than they are at your local bar. But if you want to boost your knowledge--and up your odds of walking away with a $50 gift card (or free plate of wings)--follow Labbett's tips for unleashing your inner trivia beast.
1. Break a Sweat
"It sounds weird coming from a bloke who could stand to drop 70 pounds," says the hefty Labbett, "but physical activity is good for the brain, so get to the gym." During a typical trivia competition, you use a tremendous amount of stamina, adrenaline, and energy. "So it helps to have some in reserve," he says.
2. Keep an Eye on Everything
You never know what you'll need to know. "No matter where I am, no matter what I'm doing, I'm always awake to the world--watching, listening, reading, observing, and learning," Labbett says. When he rides the London Tube, Labbett constantly looks at all the advertisements around him, from new books to who's appearing in the latest play on the West End. "The number of times these things come up in trivia is astounding," he says. "So pay attention to the world, all the time."
3. Study the Host
Wherever you're playing trivia, know who's writing the questions, advises Labbett. How old is the emcee? Where's he from? "Chances are, people revert to type," he says. "If the guy setting the quiz is a baseball nut in his 30s, then expect a lot of questions from 1990s pop culture, baseball, and Top 40 music. A guy in his 30s is probably not going to include a lot of questions on Hollywood's Golden Age of Cinema. Knowing who wrote the quiz is definitely a leg up."
4. Know the Basics--and Boy Wizards
"Like in any sport, in trivia you have to know what you need to know," Labbett says. That includes the 20th century presidents, the states and their capitals, where every pro sports team is located, and recent results from the Oscars and Emmys. "These are your fundamentals for quizzing well in the U.S.," he says. "And know your Harry Potter. For God's sake, you must know your Harry Potter."
5. Play Nice
Trivia is easy--it's the people who are complicated, Labbett says. So above all else, be nice. "Nobody likes a smart guy who's a jerk, and nobody celebrates a winner who behaves like an ass. Chat people up. Listen well. Trivia, like everything else, is much more fun when you're getting along well with the other people there."
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