A seemingly straightforward question about PlayStation sparked a heated debate among The Chase viewers after 20-year-old contestant Max was denied points for an answer many fans believed should have been accepted.
The student appeared confident when host Bradley Walsh asked which console brand basketball superstar LeBron James was associated with as one of its so-called “playmakers”. Max quickly replied, “PS4” — referring to Sony’s PlayStation 4.
But his answer was rejected, leaving some viewers questioning whether the show had been unnecessarily strict over a response that appeared to identify the correct brand.
Student Max was so close, yet so far (ITV)
Why Max’s answer was rejected
During the episode, the contestants faced a series of general-knowledge questions designed to test their knowledge across a wide range of subjects.
When Walsh asked about the console brand, Max supplied the name of a specific product rather than the broader brand the question required.
Walsh explained that the expected answer was “PlayStation”, not “PS4”.
Although the PS4 belongs to the PlayStation family, the distinction between a brand and an individual console model proved decisive. Max was not awarded the point.
For viewers watching at home, however, the difference seemed unnecessarily harsh, particularly because his answer clearly pointed towards the brand in question.
Bradley Walsh wasn’t feeling particularly generous (ITV)
Viewers divided over the decision
The ruling quickly prompted debate online, with some The Chase fans arguing that Max’s answer should have counted.
One viewer wrote: “I was waiting for them to allow that!! PS4 is PlayStation.”
Another agreed, posting: “Surely you’d accept PS4? #TheChase.”
Others, however, sided with Walsh and argued that quiz contestants must answer the question as it is asked.
One viewer explained that PlayStation is the brand behind consoles such as the PS4, while another defended the host’s decision, pointing out that the question specifically requested the brand rather than a particular console.
The disagreement highlighted a familiar problem in quiz shows: should an answer that demonstrates the right general knowledge be accepted if it does not precisely match the wording requested?
For some viewers, Max had shown enough understanding to deserve the point. For others, accepting his response would have undermined the distinction the question was designed to test.
Max’s run ends against Shaun Wallace
Despite the controversy surrounding the PlayStation question, Max’s time on the programme did not end there.
The student progressed to the head-to-head round, where he faced Chaser Shaun Wallace, known as the “Dark Destroyer”.
Wallace ultimately defeated him, ending his hopes of taking home a share of the team’s potential winnings.
His fellow contestants continued their efforts but were unable to overcome the final challenge, meaning the team left without securing the prize.
In the end, the rejected answer became a talking point among viewers, even though it was not the moment that ultimately ended Max’s run.
The debate left fans asking the same question: when an answer is technically different but clearly related to the correct response, should a quiz show stick rigidly to the wording — or allow a little flexibility?