It was just an appetiser. But going by the wit-matching standards the Northern region's B-schools set for the Business Today-Standard Chartered Acumen 2003: The National B-school Challenge, in association with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), it's going to be one heck of a final. The kick-off round of the all-India quiz-cum-debate contest attracted 34 B-schools, lured by glory and the grand prize of a two-week summer course at Middlesex University, London, apart from laptops from h-p and assorted prizes from Park Avenue and Fast Track.

Day One, held at the Amity Business School, Noida, an institution keen on an interface with today's realm of business, had B-schools sparring with one another to qualify for the next day's contests. The home team, Amity, got knocked out at this stage, despite some feisty performances and roaring crowd support-roused by moderator Rathin Bose's wit.

Cut to Day Two, at Amity's basement auditorium. The first debate qualifier was marked by all the din and babble of a full-house. The topic: 'Manufacturing is the key for the growth of an economy'. Delhi's Jagan Institute of Management Studies (jims) spoke for, and Delhi University's Faculty of Management Studies (FMs) against the motion. FMs came through, as the jims duo failed to adapt their argument to the Indian context. The next debate: 'Management means control'. Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad spoke for, the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (IIM-L) against, with the latter struggling for conviction under the onslaught of posers from the judges and even the audience (suitably rewarded with instant prizes from the sponsors).

The North zone's debate final saw Abhilin Mukherjee and Sidharth Kshatriya from FMs up against IMT's Vidhi Agarwal and Nitin Kumar. The topic: 'Differentiation does not matter any more'. Both teams struggled with this rather fuzzy topic, but that didn't deter them from firing salvos at each other. ''Differentiating your product is futile in a world of imitators. What matters is speed,'' argued IMT. ''One size doesn't fit all. Respect the diverse needs of your customers,'' said FMs. The latter prevailed.

The quiz, conducted by cricket show host Joy Bhattacharya, had some interesting trivia. Taut nerves and stage-fright claimed their victims. Anustup Dutta of Quizicians who formulated the questions, winced every time a sitter was missed. The luck of the draw was against Delhi's Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), which got some real tough nuts. But at the end, it was Anindya Sen and Gaurav Mishra from FMs who claimed unambiguous victory. So there: a clean sweep for Delhi's best known 
B-school in the North qualifiers. Will FMs win the finals? Watch this space.