It was a 30-point "sabo" that gave Raffles Institution (RI) the edge it needed to clinch the championship in The Big Quiz - for the second time in a row.

In the finals of The Straits Times-Ministry of Education National Current Affairs Quiz, the NYJC team had directed its question to RI using its "Sabo King" card, as part of its strategy. RI correctly answered this question: Which is the first woman author to win the Man Booker Prize twice? The answer: Hilary Mantel.

The team held on to its lead, eventually scoring 210 points to beat Hwa Chong Institution, which scored 180 points, for first place. After weeks of intense competition, RI won $5,000 and a trophy in the second edition of The Big Quiz. The finals were held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel on Wednesday. Third place went to River Valley High School while Nanyang Junior College came in fourth.

The event was organised by The Straits Times and the Ministry of Education. It was sponsored by Singapore Press Holdings Foundation and innovation partner Shell. The guest-of-honour was Senior Minister of State (law and education) Ms Indranee Rajah.