Quidditch

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The Golden Snitch Quiz

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The Snitch is the ultimate prize in any Quidditch game, so we haven’t made the questions easy – this quiz will challenge even the most avid of Quidditch fans…  

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Which Quidditch position would be right for you? 

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## For thrill-seeking adventurers, you should be a Seeker 

*Notable Seekers*: Viktor Krum, Glynnis Griffiths, Harry Potter, Charlie Weasley

*Seeker objective*: Catch the Golden Snitch before the other team’s Seeker

__Seeker would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__
… you keep a cool head under pressure and never shy away from shouldering responsibility. Individuality is important to you; you love the limelight, but you believe working as part of a team makes your success all the more meaningful. You notice small details that other people don’t and often follow your instincts when the way forward is unclear. You are bold and brave in the face of physical danger and would never dream of running the other way. 

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## For a goal-orientated team player, you should be a Chaser 

*Notable Chasers*: Ginny Weasley, Dragomir Gorgovitch, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell

*Chaser objective*:  Throw the Quaffle through one of the three goal hoops

__Chaser would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__ 
… you’re a team player and feel most fulfilled when working towards a common goal. You read situations quickly, and often successfully pre-empt a particular outcome. You don’t crack under pressure, but you prefer to share the burden of responsibility with a select and trustworthy few. You’re excellent at thinking on your feet and unafraid of a challenge. You don’t shy away from hard work and are a fan of the mantra, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. For you, victory isn’t sweet unless it’s shared. 

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Quidditch Pitch and its stands from the Half Blood Prince 

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## For the selfless, you should be a Keeper 

*Notable Keepers*: Oliver Wood, Ronald Weasley, Barry Ryan, Cormac McLaggen

*Keeper objective*: Protect the hoops from goal-scoring Chasers

__Keeper would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__ 
… you’re an all-or-nothing kind of person, for whom there is no middle ground. Good or bad, that’s how you see things. You save the goal, or you let it in – no grey area exists. You stand strong in the face of adversity and cope well under pressure, as well as under intense scrutiny. You are happy to sacrifice personal glory for the good of others, even if it means you’re the centre of negative (rather than positive) attention. When it comes to a showdown, you always stand your ground. Some might describe you as an unsung hero or heroine, but you don’t need their praise to know your own worth. 

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## For the free-spirited exuberant, you should be a Beater 

*Notable Beaters*: Kevin and Karl Broadmoor, Gwenog Jones, Fred and George Weasley

*Keeper objective*: Protect team members from Bludgers using a bat

__Beater would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__ 
… you’re fiercely protective of your friends, sometimes taking it to... extremes. Rather than focussing on specific goals, you prefer to take life as it comes, and go with the flow. When you have a challenge in your sights, however, there’s no holding you back. You’re a team player, but only as long as you’re enjoying your own role within the group. You prefer to tackle new obstacles as they arise, rather than plan for them in advance. People call you unpredictable, mainly because you have a strong sense of fun and nobody can tie you down. You only live once, right?

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## For the thick-skinned, you should be a referee 

*Notable referees*: Madam Hooch, Hassan Mostafa

*Referee objective*: Implement the rules of Quidditch in a fair manner

__Referee would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__ 
… you have a clear and unshakeable moral compass and don’t mind getting a bit of stick. You are never swayed by bias and judge events based on the facts in front of you rather than making any assumptions, even if people are arguing otherwise. If you are convinced of a particular way forward, you will not be deterred, even if it makes you unpopular. Indeed, a referee of any sport requires a thick skin, and judging by some of the injuries we’ve heard about Quidditch referees suffering, we might mean literally. 

Quidditch crowd stands image

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## If you have a way with words, you should be a commentator 
 
*Notable commentators*: Lee Jordan, Luna Lovegood, Ludo Bagman

*Commentator objective*: Communicate the action on the Quidditch pitch to the crowd

__Commentator would be the right Quidditch position for you if…__ 
… you prefer to watch the action rather than be caught up in it – but that doesn’t mean you don’t know exactly what’s going on. You like facts and figures, and you have an excellent memory for names and faces. You have a love of words and like the sound of your own voice, and others like listening to you too. You are generally trustworthy, honest and call things as you see them. You also have an infectious sense of humour and don’t mind being the centre of attention – even if you’re happy on the sidelines most of the time. And, of course, you are absolutely, 100% impartial.  

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And if you want to [watch David Tennant, with David Beckham, reading Chapter Eleven, ‘Quidditch’ again, you can find it here](https://www.wizardingworld.com/chapters/reading-quidditch "CH11").


The Ultimate Quidditch Quiz

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

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The beautiful game of Quidditch was a big deal throughout the wizarding world – a sport with a rich history; exciting, dramatic matches and enough fans to warrant one of the biggest magical events ever, the Quidditch World Cup. Oh, and it was definitely, absolutely, 100 per cent safe. Honestly.

But how much do you really know about Quidditch? Are you the Viktor Krum of Quidditch quizzing or do you need to re-read *Quidditch Through the Ages?*

Well, we’ve got two quizzes for you to try out – easy and hard – to set apart the novices from the experts.

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So, how did you do? Fancy something tougher? Be warned... this next Quidditch quiz is a little trickier. Can you (broom) handle it? We’ll see you on the other side!

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Right, we must have exhausted your Quidditch knowledge by now. If not, why not have a read of our new interactive reading experience of a [Quidditch World Cup match](/quidditch-world-cup), written by J.K. Rowling, complete with animations and lots of whooshing sound effects? You don’t get more Quidditch-y than whooshing, after all.

Discover the films

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to Fantastic Beasts

The funniest ten moments of Quidditch commentary

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## When Lee Jordan couldn’t keep his Gryffindor loyalty under control 
‘So – after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating –’

‘Jordan!’ growled Professor McGonagall.

‘I mean, after that open and revolting foul –’
‘Jordan, I’m warning you –’

‘All right, all right. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I’m sure’.

*Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*

## When Luna Lovegood wasn’t too fussed about remembering the players’ names 
‘… but now that big Hufflepuff player’s got the Quaffle from her, I can’t remember his name, it’s something like Bibble – no, Buggins –’

‘It’s Cadwallader!’ said Professor McGonagall loudly from beside Luna.

*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*

## When Malfoy fouled Harry and Professor McGonagall forgot all about Lee Jordan’s bias 
Professor McGonagall didn’t even bother to tell him off. She was actually shaking her fist in Malfoy’s direction; her hat had fallen off, and she, too, was shouting furiously.

*Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*

## When Ginny Weasley deliberately flew into biased commentator Zacharias Smith 
‘Forgot to brake, Professor, sorry.’

*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*

## When Lee Jordan spoke mostly in capital letters
‘YOU CHEATING SCUM!’ Lee Jordan was howling into the megaphone, dancing out of Professor McGonagall’s reach. ‘YOU FILTHY, CHEATING B–’

*Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*

## When Luna Lovegood had a deep and meaningful chat with the whole Quidditch crowd 
‘Smith was being quite rude about Gryffindor, I expect he regrets that now he’s playing them – oh, look, he’s lost the Quaffle, Ginny took it from him, I do like her, she’s very nice …’

*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*

## When Ludo Bagman noticed the referee at the Quidditch World Cup having Veela issues
‘Now, we can’t have that!’ said Ludo Bagman, though he sounded highly amused. ‘Somebody slap the referee!’

*Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*

## When Lee Jordan appeared to be sponsored by the Firebolt
‘The Firebolt’s precision-balance is really noticeable in these long –’

‘JORDAN! ARE YOU BEING PAID TO ADVERTISE FIREBOLTS? GET ON WITH THE COMMENTARY!’

*Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*

## When Professor McGonagall just couldn’t take it anymore
‘Seventy–forty to Hufflepuff!' barked Professor McGonagall into Luna’s megaphone. 

‘Is it, already?’ said Luna vaguely. 

*Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*

## When Lee Jordan bemoaned the state of his love life
‘And it’s Johnson – Johnson with the Quaffle, what a player that girl is, I’ve been saying it for years but she still won’t go out with me –’

*Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*

History of the Quidditch World Cup

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### [View the Quidditch World Cup enhanced reading experience](https://www.wizardingworld.com/quidditch-world-cup)

According to *The Official Guide to the Quidditch World Cup* – produced by the International Confederation of Wizards Quidditch Committee (ICWQC) and available through all reputable wizarding bookstores for what many feel is the ridiculously overpriced sum of thirty nine Galleons – the tournament has been held every four years since 1473. As with so much else about the wizarding world’s most important sporting competition, many query the accuracy of this statement.

As only European teams competed during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, purists prefer to date the Quidditch World Cup’s inception from the seventeenth century when it became open to all continents. There is also heated debate about the accuracy of some historical accounts of tournaments. A substantial amount of all post-game analysis centres on whether magical interference took place and whether it made, or ought to have made, the final result moot. 

The ICWQC has the unlucky job of regulating this contentious and anarchic competition. The rulebook concerning both on- and off-pitch magic is alleged to stretch to nineteen volumes and to include such rules as ‘no dragon is to be introduced into the stadium for any purpose including, but not limited to, team mascot, coach or cup warmer’ and ‘modification of any part of the referee’s body, whether or not he or she has requested such modification, will lead to a lifetime ban from the tournament and possibly imprisonment.’

A source of vehement disagreements, a security risk for all who attend it and a frequent focus for unrest and protest, the Quidditch World Cup is simultaneously the most exhilarating sporting event on Earth and a logistical nightmare for the host nation.


## **Statute of Secrecy**

A watershed moment for the Quidditch World Cup was the implementation of the International Statute of Secrecy in 1692, which was intended to conceal the existence of magic and wizards. The International Confederation of Wizards (ICW) saw the Quidditch World Cup as a security risk of the highest magnitude because of the mass movement and congregation of so many members of the international wizarding community. However, following mass protests and threats to the ICW, it was agreed that the tournament could continue and a regulatory body – the ICWQC – was set up to locate suitable venues – usually remote moors, deserts and deserted islands – arrange transportation for spectators (as many as a hundred thousand routinely attend finals) and police the games themselves, a task generally agreed to be among the most thankless and difficult in the wizarding world.

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## **How the Tournament Works**

The number of countries that enter a Quidditch team for each World Cup fluctuates from tournament to tournament. Where the wizarding population of a country is small it can be difficult to raise a team of the required standard, but other factors such as international conflict or disaster may affect the entry numbers. However, any country may enter a team within the twelve months following the last final.

Teams are then divided into sixteen groups within which every team plays all the others over a two-year period until sixteen winning teams remain. During the group phase, game length is capped at four hours to prevent player exhaustion. Inevitably this means that some group games have no Snitch catches, but are decided on goals alone.  Any win in the group phase counts for two points. A win by more than 150 points earns an additional five points, by 100 an additional 3 points and 50, 1 point. In the case of a tie on points, the winner is the team who caught the Snitch most often – or most quickly – during its matches. 

The final sixteen are ranked according to the points they won during the group phase. The team with most points plays the team with least, the team with the second most points plays the team with the second least and so on. In theory, the two best teams will remain to play each other in the final. 

Referees are chosen by the ICWQC. 

**Infamous Tournaments**

No Quidditch World Cup is without its controversies, but some stand out. A few of the most infamous are listed below.

## **Attack of the Killer Forest**

The ghastly climax of the 1809 final between Romania and New Spain (what is now known as Mexico) has gone down in wizarding history as the worst exhibition of temper ever given by an individual player. Niko Nenad’s teammates had become so concerned by his ferocious outbursts during the quarter and semi-finals that they tried to persuade their manager to substitute him for the final, advice that was sadly ignored by the ambitious old wizard. After the game, Nenad’s teammate Ivan Popa (winner of an International Wizarding Order of Merit for his life-saving actions during the catastrophe) told an international inquiry: ‘Over the preceding weeks we’d seen Niko beat himself over the head with his broom and set fire to his own feet in frustration. I’d personally stopped him strangling two referees. However, I had no suspicion about what he was planning to do if the final didn’t go our way. I mean, who’d suspect that? You’d have to be as mental as he was.’ Precisely when and how Nenad managed to jinx an entire forest on the edge of the West Siberian Plain is open to speculation, although he is thought to have had accomplices among unprincipled fans and was later proven to have paid local Dark wizards substantial sums. After two hours of play, Romania were behind on points and looking tired. It was then that Nenad deliberately hit a Bludger out of the stadium into the forest beyond the pitch. The effect was instantaneous and murderous. The trees sprang to life, wrenched their roots out of the ground and marched upon the stadium, flattening everything in their path, causing numerous injuries and several fatalities. What had been a Quidditch match turned swiftly into a human versus tree battle, which the wizards won only after seven hours’ hard fighting. Nenad was not prosecuted as he had been killed early on by a particularly violent spruce.

## **The Tournament that Nobody Remembers**

 The ICWQC insists that a tournament has been held every four years since 1473. This is a source of pride, proving as it does that nothing – wars, adverse weather conditions or Muggle interference – can stop wizards playing Quidditch. There is, however, a mystery surrounding the tournament of 1877. The competition was undoubtedly planned: a venue chosen (the Ryn Desert in Kazakhstan), publicity materials produced, tickets sold. In August, however, the wizarding world woke up to the fact that they had no memory whatsoever of the tournament taking place. Neither those in possession of tickets nor any of the players could remember a single game. However, for reasons none of them understood, English Beater Lucas Bargeworthy was missing most of his teeth, Canadian Seeker Angelus Peel’s knees were on backwards and half the Argentinian team were found tied up in the basement of a pub in Cardiff. Precisely what had – or had not – taken place during the tournament has never been satisfactorily proven. Theories range from a Mass Memory Charm perpetuated by the Goblin Liberation Front (at that time very active and attracting a number of disaffected anarchist wizards) or the breakout of Cerebrumous Spattergroit, a virulent sub-strain of the more common Spattergroit, which causes severe confusion and memory impairment. In any case, it was deemed appropriate to re-stage the tournament in 1878 and it has been held every four years since, which accounts for the slight anomaly in the ‘every four years since 1473’ sequence.

## **Royston Idlewind and the Dissimulators**

In 1971 the ICWQC appointed a new International Director, Australian wizard Royston Idlewind. An ex-player who had been part of his country’s World Cup-winning team of 1966, he was nevertheless a contentious choice for International Director due to his hard-line views on crowd control – a stance undoubtedly influenced by the many jinxes he had endured as Australia’s star Chaser. Idlewind’s statement that he considered the crowd ‘the only thing I don’t like about Quidditch’ did not endear him to fans. Their feelings turned to outright hostility when he proceeded to bring in a number of draconian regulations, the worst being a total ban on all wands from the stadium except those carried by ICWQC officials. Many fans threatened to boycott the 1974 World Cup in protest but as empty stands were Idlewind’s secret ambition, their strategy never stood a chance. The tournament duly commenced and while crowd turnout was reduced, the appearance of ‘Dissimulators’, an innovative new style of musical instrument, enlivened every match. These multi-coloured tube-like objects emitted loud cries of support and puffs of smoke in national colours. As the tournament progressed, the Dissimulator craze grew, as did the crowds. By the time the Syria-Madagascar final arrived, the stands were packed with a record crowd of wizards, each carrying his or her own Dissimulator. Upon the appearance of Royston Idlewind in the box for dignitaries and high-ranking officials, a hundred thousand Dissimulators emitted loud raspberries and were transformed instantly into the wands they had been disguising all along. Humiliated by the mass flouting of his pet law, Royston Idlewind resigned instantly. Even the supporters of the losers, Madagascar, had something to celebrate during the rest of the long, raucous night.

## **Reappearance of the Dark Mark**

Possibly the most infamous World Cup Final of the last few centuries was the Ireland-Bulgaria match of 1994, which took place on Dartmoor, England. During the post-match celebrations of Ireland’s triumph there was an outbreak of unprecedented violence as supporters of Lord Voldemort attacked fellow wizards and captured and tortured local Muggles. For the first time in fourteen years, the Dark Mark appeared in the sky, which caused widespread alarm and resulted in many injuries among the crowd. The ICWQC censured the Ministry of Magic heavily after the event, judging that security arrangements had been inadequate given the known existence of a violent pure-blood tendency in the United Kingdom. Royston Idlewind emerged briefly from retirement to give the following statement to the *Daily Prophet*: ‘A wand ban doesn’t look so stupid now, does it?’


**Quidditch World Cup (1990-2014)**

## **1990**       
 
### Canada 270 – Scotland 240 
 
A bitter disappointment for Scotland, whose Seeker Hector Lamont missed catching the Snitch by millimetres. In a post-match interview, Hector famously lambasted his father (‘Stubby’ Lamont) for not giving him longer fingers.

## **1994**        
 
### Ireland 170 – Bulgaria 160 
 
The on-pitch action was very much overshadowed by the events that followed this match. A spectacular Snitch capture by young Seeker Viktor Krum was enough to salvage Bulgarian dignity, but not to secure a win. 
 
## **1998**        
 
### Malawi 260 – Senegal 180 
 
Only  the  second  ever  all-African  final.  Following  the  1994  riots,  security  at  this  match  was  tighter  than  ever  before.  Senegal  almost  refused  to  play  when  their  team mascots (Yumboes) were arrested outside the stadium. Yumboes are a kind  of  African  house-elf  and  they  took  their  arrest  in  reasonably  good  part,  merely  stealing  every  bit  of  food  within  a  ten-mile  radius  in  revenge  and  vanishing  into  the night. 
 
## **2002** 
 
### Egypt 450 – Bulgaria 300 
 
Another  crushing  disappointment  for  Bulgaria.  Viktor  Krum  was  narrowly  beaten  to  the  Snitch  by  the  outstanding  Egyptian  Seeker,  Rawya  Zaghloul. After  the match, a tearful Krum announced his retirement. 
 
## **2006**       
 
### Burkina Faso 300 – France 220 
 
A  popular  win  for  the  small  African  nation,  whose  Seeker  Joshua  Sankara  was  promptly  named  Burkinabé  Minister  for  Magic.  Two  days  later  he  resigned,  pointing out that he’d much rather play Quidditch. 
 
## **2010**          
 
### Moldova 750 – China 640 
 
A  furiously  contested  match  that  lasted  three  days  and  was  widely  held  to  have  produced  some  of  the  finest  Quidditch  seen  this  century.  The  tiny  country  of  Moldova  has  consistently  produced  excellent  Quidditch  teams  and  supporters  were  heartbroken  that  they  failed  to  qualify  this  year  due  to  an  outbreak  of  Dragon Pox at their training camp. 

## **The Quidditch World Cup 2014** 
 
This  year’s  Quidditch  World  Cup  promises  to  be  as  exciting  as  ever.    The  sixteen  competing countries are: 
 
Brazil,  Bulgaria,  Chad,  Fiji,  Germany,  Haiti,  Ivory  Coast,  Jamaica,  Japan,  Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, USA and Wales.  

Nigeria and Norway enter the tournament as the two highest ranked teams.  This  is  the  first  year  that  the  USA  is  thought  to  have  a  reasonable  chance  of  reaching  the final. Much interest has been generated by the return to the Bulgarian side of  the  previously  retired  Viktor  Krum,  who  at  38  is  old  for  a  Seeker  but  whose  stated  aim  is  ‘to  win  the  World  Cup  before  I  die.’  For  this  reason,  Bulgaria  is  attracting  support  from  those  whose  own  countries  have  not  qualified. 

Liechtenstein  caused  a  serious  upset  in  the  qualifying  stages  by  winning  the  group  over  last  year’s  runners-up,  China.  Liechtenstein’s  team  mascot  is  a  gloomy, oversized Augurey called Hans who has his own fan club. 
 
Other  than  this,  nothing  out  of  the  ordinary  has  been  reported.  Rumours  that  Haiti  have  used  Inferi  to  intimidate  opposing  teams  have  been  dismissed  by  the  ICWQC  as  ‘malicious  and  baseless.’  Accusations  that  Polish  Seeker  Bonawentura  Wójcik  is  actually  the  famous  Italian  Seeker  Luciano  Volpi,  Transfigured,  were  only  disproven  when  Luciano  Volpi  agreed  to  a  press  conference  by  Wójcik’s  side.  Welsh  manager  Gwenog  Jones,  formerly  of  the  Holyhead  Harpies,  threatened  to  ‘curse  the  face  off’  rival  Brazilian  manager  José  Barboza  when  he  called  her  Chasers  ‘talentless  hags’,  a  comment  he  later  insisted  had  been  taken  out of context. 

Opening games will take place next month in the Patagonian desert. 


***


*Read the* Daily Prophet *reports on the [2014 Quidditch World Cup matches](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/quidditch-world-cup-2014-daily-prophet-reports "Quidditch World Cup 2014: Daily Prophet reports by J.K. Rowling") and opening ceremony.*

Firebolt

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Ron flying Harry's Firebolt from the Prisoner of Azkaban 

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In the late twentieth century, the Nimbus Racing Broom Company dominated its competition. The Nimbus Two Thousand and Two Thousand and One models outsold all other top-class brooms combined by a factor of three to one.

Little did the Nimbus designers realise that a racing broom was in development that would knock them from their number one spot within twelve months of its release. This was the Firebolt, a top-secret project developed by Randolph Spudmore (son of Able Spudmore of Ellerby and Spudmore, who produced the Tinderblast in 1940 and the Swiftstick in 1952, both serviceable brooms, but never achieving great popularity).

A skillful and innovative broom designer, Randolph was the first to use goblin-made ironwork (including footrests, stand and twig bands), the secrets of which are not fully understood, but which seem to give the Firebolt additional stability and power in adverse weather conditions and a special non-slip foot grip that is of particular advantage to Quidditch players. The handle is of polished ebony and the twigs of birch or hazel according to personal preference (birch is reputed to give more ‘oomph’ in high ascents, whereas hazel is preferred by those who prefer hair-trigger steering).

The Firebolt is a costly broom and Harry Potter was among the first to own one. It continues to be made in relatively small quantities, partly because the goblin workers involved in the patented ironwork are prone to strikes and walkouts at the smallest provocation.

Ranked: the best and worst Hogwarts Quidditch players 

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Cormac McLaggen close-up in front of the Quidditch goal hoops

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We have taken a look back at the [Quidditch](/collection/quidditch) players, ranking them from best to worst. Players get points for reliability, professionalism and results. And we’re not counting professional internationals in this list, because that seems somewhat unfair. Sorry, Krum.

## Cormac McLaggen

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Sure, he was a talented player, but that arrogance! How are you meant to be a Keeper if you keep trying to tell everyone else how to do their roles properly? How are you meant to be on a team if you can’t even listen to your captain? For these reasons, we’re glad that Cormac’s stint in [Gryffindor’s](/collection/characters-gryffindors) team was so quick and painless (well, not for Harry).

It has to be said, we’re also very relieved that Hermione had the smarts to Confund him during the trials as well, even though that was technically cheating.

## Marcus Flint (tied with Crabbe and Goyle)

[Slytherin](/collection/characters-slytherins) captain Marcus Flint really personified the Slytherin team’s personality: they weren’t afraid to play dirty to win a game.

> Angelina was nearly thrown from her broom as Marcus Flint
went smashing into her.
>‘Sorry!’ said Flint, as the crowd below booed. ‘Sorry, didn’t see
her!’
<br> *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban* </br>

Sure, you didn’t, Flint. As a flyer, he seemed adept enough (remember, Slytherin were reigning champions before Harry joined the Gryffindor team...) but didn’t seem to be the smartest captain in the world, opting for ‘size rather than skill’ when picking his team.  

Take Crabbe and Goyle for instance... not so much Beaters as lumbering trolls on brooms.

## Ron Weasley

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Cormac McLaggen and Ron Weasley face off in the Great Hall

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Poor Ron couldn’t play Quidditch in front of a crowd to save his life, and that wasn’t helpful. As much as he tried to do a good job as Gryffindor’s Keeper, and we knew that he could be excellent – particularly after he thought he was given [Felix Felicis](/features/felix-felicis) and played like a champ – his struggle with confidence has let him down on this occasion. Sorry, Ron!

## Draco Malfoy

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Draco on his broom beofre quidditch match 

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Placing Draco higher than Ron?! This is perhaps unfair, seeing as Draco was gifted with a fancy broom by his dad and most likely bought his way on to the Slytherin Quidditch team in the first place. Suffice to say, though, Draco did hold his own against the Gryffindor Seeker during games, but seemed to only get into Quidditch to spite Harry rather than anything else.

## Fred and George Weasley

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FredAndGeorge PM B5C29 PeevesSalutesWeasleyTwinsDeparture 

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Great Beaters, bad tempers. The pair couldn’t keep their cheeky antics from getting in the way of their performance on the pitch from time to time. One example of this was when Fred fouled the Slytherin captain, Marcus Flint, after he had fouled Angelina. Why lower Gryffindor to Slytherin’s dirty tactics? 

Of course this all came to a head when they were banned at the same moment as Harry for attacking Draco, Crabbe and Goyle, and they never played Quidditch for Gryffindor again after leaving the school in a blaze of glory. 

>‘Sorry!’ said Flint, as the crowd below booed. ‘Sorry, didn’t see her!’ 

>Next moment, Fred Weasley had chucked his Beater’s club at the back of Flint’s head. Flint’s nose smashed into the handle of his broom and began to bleed.

>‘That will do!’ shrieked Madam Hooch, zooming between them. ‘Penalty to Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack on their Chaser! Penalty to Slytherin for deliberate damage to their Chaser!’ <br> *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban* </br>

## Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet (tied)

Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet, the old reliables. These two proved that working together well is just as important as flying brilliantly solo. The two Chasers always played a strong game, always scored a few goals to keep under their belts, and quite happily put up with Oliver Wood and Angelina Johnson’s demanding antics. As far as we’re concerned, they were Quidditch saints.

## Cho Chang

The Ravenclaw Seeker knocked Harry for six when she competed against him in [Prisoner of Azkaban](/collection/harry-potter-prisoner-of-azkaban-collection) and seemed to be a very smart flier. In her first match against Harry, she used canny moves to get him to change direction on the pitch. No wonder Harry ended up fancying her off the pitch. If Cho had a better broom (she rode a Comet Two Sixty) and wasn’t so dogged by injury, maybe [Ravenclaw](/collection/characters-ravenclaws) would’ve faired a little higher in their matches.

## Cedric Diggory

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Cedric stands in the maze prepared to take on the horrors that lie within.

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>‘Yes, but you didn’t fall off, did you?’ roared Amos genially, slapping his son on his back. ‘Always modest, our Ced, always the gentleman … but the best man won, I’m sure Harry’d say the same, wouldn’t you, eh? One falls off his broom, one stays on, you don’t need to be a genius to tell which one’s the better
flier!’
<br> *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire* </br> 

Alright, so without taking [Amos Diggory’s](/features/amos-diggory) biased words too seriously, it is still fair to say Cedric seemed like a fantastic Quidditch player during his short-lived time at Hogwarts. The [Hufflepuff](/features/hufflepuff-common-room) captain did indeed beat Harry on the Quidditch pitch (albeit not intentionally) but seemed to show genuinely graceful sportsmanship, even offering a rematch after Harry fell off his broom due to an impromptu Dementor invasion.  

## Oliver Wood

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Oliver Wood and Harry Potter before Harry's first Quidditch match

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Oliver was an excellent and dedicated Keeper, and always did well on the pitch. He was also a passionate captain, and was always coming up with new game plays and strategy that definitely helped lead the team to victory. But he was intense, and at times too intense. Remember when he was happy to risk Harry’s life if it just meant that he could fly his [Firebolt](/writing-by-jk-rowling/firebolt) broomstick? As much as we admired his spirit, there’s a line between wanting to win and being willing to hospitalise your team mates for a shot at the cup.

>‘Bad news, Harry. I’ve just been to see Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. She – er – got a bit shirty with me. Told me I’d got my priorities wrong. Seemed to think I cared more about winning the Cup than I do about you staying alive. Just because I told her I didn’t care if it threw you off, as long as you caught the Snitch on it first.’
<br> *Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban* </br>

## Charlie Weasley 

Harry was compared to Charlie in terms of skill as a Seeker, and it was even suggested that the second eldest Weasley brother could have played the game on an internationally professional level if he hadn’t chosen to take care of dragons instead. Since we know Charlie won at least one championship for Gryffindor during his time at Hogwarts, he ranks more or less on the same level as Harry.

## Harry Potter (and an honorary mention to James Potter)

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Harry Potter WB F2 Harry And Draco In Quidditch Match Still 100615 Land

Harry and Draco race to the snitch in a quidditch match 

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As Ludo Bagman once said, ‘Great Scott, he can fly!’ And indeed, he really could. Harry only ever lost two matches during his time at Hogwarts – once when [Dementors](/features/dementors) infiltrated the stadium, and once when Cormac hit him around the head with a Beater’s club, it was several extenuating circumstances that led to Harry not winning more trophies.

Harry was said to have inherited his Quidditch prowess from his dad, [James](/features/james-potter), and was even known to fly around on a toy broomstick as a baby. Throughout the books, we see Harry adopt several impressive moves on his broom, which seems to come from a genuine, natural flair and passion for flying. His skinny stature also suited him to the Seeker position perfectly, and Harry was often described as nimble and speedy – not to mention the fact he had the best broom going, a [Firebolt](/writing-by-jk-rowling/firebolt). In another life, one not dogged by [Lord Voldemort](/features/lord-voldemort), we wonder if Harry would’ve gone into the Quidditch profession like his future wife did. 

## Angelina Johnson 

After being made captain in her final year, Angelina took it as seriously (and dramatically) as Oliver before her, and yet was very much aware when she took things a little too far – like screaming at Harry at breakfast for getting a detention. As such, we’re going to give her the runner-up place on the list, if not for her attitude towards the game, than for what we learned about her thanks to [Lee Jordan’s ](/features/lee-jordan)commentary (although he does sound a little biased, we must admit).

>‘And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor – what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too –’ 
<br> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* </br> 

## Ginny Weasley

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Ginny playing Quidditch Jessica Roux

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Thank Merlin for Ginny. After Harry got banned from playing the game in book five, and when he was stuck serving detention with [Snape ](/features/severus-snape)in book six, Ginny stepped up and helped take Gryffindor to victory in not one but two Quidditch Cups, one more than Harry! Since she never missed a match when she was needed, always kept a cool head and was clearly talented (so talented she went on to play professionally with the Holyhead Harpies), it seems only fair to give her the top spot.

A blagger’s guide to Quidditch 

PMARCHIVE-A blagger’s guide to Quidditch 

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There are seven players on each team (three Chasers, one Keeper, two Beaters and one Seeker), four balls (one Quaffle, two Bludgers and one Snitch), three hoops (but you can only score the Quaffle in them), ten points per goal, and 150 points if you catch the Snitch, which also ends the game. Also, it’s all played on broomsticks.

See? Entirely and utterly straightforward.

Not everyone can be adamant sports fans, but there are shortcuts along the way should you find yourself in an awkward group discussion about Quidditch. You know, if Quidditch was real. But never mind that. Thanks to our handy guide, look forward to hordes of new admirers as you wow the world with your sudden encyclopedic knowledge. You’re welcome!

## Remember it’s played on brooms

A really important fact not to forget about Quidditch is that it’s played in the sky, unlike your boring ground sports like football and netball. So, when discussing said game, throw in a few references to the fact that you actually know the sport involves flying, otherwise you’ll get a lot of stick. And we don’t mean broomsticks.

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## Don’t pick an obvious favourite team 

In the wizarding world, the likes of the Tutshill Tornados are one of your top dogs in the game, so when you’re embroiled in a match debate, the key sign of a Quidditch expert is to think outside the box, pick an up-and-coming team instead of one everyone has heard of.

For example, Ron Weasley’s favourite team, the Chudley Cannons, may have had their day, but are still a good, realistic team to support. You’ll be respected for staying faithful to a team past their prime, and also get a bit of ribbing for your choice, as is traditional in sports-based banter.

PMARCHIVE-HarryPotter PM B3C15M2 HarryHoldingQuidditchCupInACrowd Moment 4v1UwHMZ7qCKYQQiCYMGIU-b3

HarryPotter PM B3C15M2 HarryHoldingQuidditchCupInACrowd Moment

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## Remember key players’ names

We know it’s difficult to remember the names of people in the same room as you, let alone Quidditch players from across the globe, but you must have a few key names to hand just in case someone says ‘Mullet’ and you think they’re referring to a haircut. (They are, of course, referring to the Chaser from the Irish National Quidditch team.)

A good player to mention is Dragomir Gorgovitch, a popular Chaser who did wonders for the Chudley Cannons during Harry and Ron’s time at school. And by ‘did wonders’ we mean held the record for most Quaffle drops in a season.

If you want to accredit a more classic player, go for Ludo Bagman, a former star of the Wimbourne Wasps who worked for the Ministry of Magic. Not knowing who Ludo Bagman is as terrible a crime as saying ‘Who’s Andy Murray?’

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ViktorKrum WB F4 ViktorKrumFlyingInQuidditchWorldCupFinal Illust 080615 Land

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## Know your Quidditch controversies 

In these epic Quidditch chats you’ll be having, be prepared for huge Quidditch historical references to pop up. Imagine talking about Muggle football and not knowing who won the 1966 World Cup, for example. (It was England, by the way.)

A good example to reference is the 1473 Quidditch World Cup, the final of which was unique in featuring all 700 types of Quidditch foul. So saying, ‘I haven’t seen a game this bleak since 1473’ will win you guaranteed nods from your companions.

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## Don’t get your sports mixed up 

Whatever you do, above all other, do not say something terrible like ‘Red card! Send him off!’ Such a faux pas will make you the laughing stock of your Quidditch-loving friendship group. Although Quidditch does share some facets of other beautiful games, such as goal-scoring and blatant fouling, imagine the embarrassment of saying something like ‘offside’. Tread carefully. 

So there you have it. Absorb these expert tips and you too can be a champion of Quidditch small-talk in a matter of moments. Award yourself one miniature Firebolt (that’s a broomstick) and a palm-sized figure of Viktor Krum. (That’s a player.) 

...Okay, maybe you still have more to learn.

Welcome to our Quidditch collection! We've gathered together articles, quizzes, puzzles and original J.K. Rowling writing that celebrates the wizarding world's favourite sport! 

The Harry Potter x K-Swiss Back to Hogwarts Footwear collection launches 31st July

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The new Harry Potter x K-Swiss shoes – from 31st July

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The Harry Potter x K-Swiss Back to Hogwarts Footwear collection will be available from the 31st July, and is the result of the exciting collaboration between Warner Bros. Consumer Products and K-Swiss, which recently brought you the [limited edition Harry Potter x K-Swiss Firebolt Hypercourt Express 2](https://www.wizardingworld.com/news/k-swiss-reveal-new-quidditch-themed-shoe). The shoe took inspiration in its design from the broom Harry received during his third year at Hogwarts.

We loved that Quidditch theme, and the new Back to Hogwarts collection builds on that by combining two of our very favourite aspects of the wizarding world: the Hogwarts houses and Quidditch! There are two distinct ranges of Harry Potter-inspired shoes to choose from within the Back to Hogwarts collection, so let’s soar in and take a look: 

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## Four distinct Hogwarts House-inspired designs 
Different houses mean different personalities, and this is beautifully reflected by the collection featuring each house-inspired design on a different K-Swiss silhouette. 


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*<center>Gryffindor inspired shoe in the Classic 2000<center>*

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*<center>Hufflepuff inspired shoe in the CR-Terrati<center>*

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*<center>Ravenclaw inspired shoe in the Caprina<center>*

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*<center>Slytherin inspired shoe in the GSTAAD ’86<center>*

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So, whether you’re a brave Gryffindor, a loyal Hufflepuff, a wise Ravenclaw or an ambitious Slytherin, this Harry Potter x K-Swiss collection has a shoe sole-mate for you! Still need to find out which Hogwarts house you belong to? [Take our Sorting Ceremony here](https://my.wizardingworld.com/sorting-hat).

## Re-imagined house Quidditch designs
There’s one competition at Hogwarts that really gets the house spirit going, and that’s the Quidditch House Cup. The second group of designs in the collection all feature on the K-Swiss Court Pro II sneaker, reimagined with the Hogwarts house colours and crests. But that’s not all! These sneakers all hero the magical game of Quidditch too, by boasting burnished leather and ribbed mesh that allude to the uniforms and equipment worn by Quidditch players. 


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*<center>Gryffindor Court Pro II sneaker<center>* 

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*<center>Hufflepuff Court Pro II sneaker<center>*

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*<center>Ravenclaw Court Pro II sneaker<center>*

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*<center>Slytherin Court Pro II sneaker<center>*

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The Harry Potter x K-Swiss Firebolt Hypercourt Express 2 was a Harry Potter Fan Club exclusive, so we hope you managed to catch one of those limited edition pairs, and you can now add to your Quidditch-inspired collection with this new Back to Hogwarts footwear! The shoes will be available for Gold members in the US to buy in the [Wizarding World shop](https://shop.wizardingworld.com/), where they can also enjoy a 20% saving off the purchase price.*



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K-Swiss x Harry Potter Back To Hogwarts Campaign Images - Tier 2 Group (1)

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To be among the first to hear about more Wizarding World collaborations, new products and the latest news and updates, [join the Harry Potter Fan Club – just sign up here](https://www.my.wizardingworld.com/register). 

So, when and where can you find the Harry Potter x K-Swiss Back to Hogwarts collection? It will be available to buy from the 31st July at the [Wizarding World shop](https://shop.wizardingworld.com/) (for Harry Potter Fan Club members in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia), as well as K-swiss.com, Amazon.com, Mason Companies, Off Broadway and Shoe Show. 

*Offer subject to availability. [Terms and conditions apply](https://www.wizardingworld.com/terms/shop-20).


Quidditch

Welcome to our Quidditch collection! We've gathered together articles, quizzes, puzzles and original J.K. Rowling writing that celebrates the wizarding world's favourite sport!

The Harry Potter x K-Swiss Back to Hogwarts Footwear collection launches 31st July

More high-flying reads

Firebolt

Ranked: the best and worst Hogwarts Quidditch players

A blagger’s guide to Quidditch