JEOPARDY! has unveiled the matchups, schedule, and format for the hotly anticipated 2024 Tournament of Champions.
Ken Jennings hosts the star-studded $250,000 faceoff with the likes of Hannah Wilson, Ben Chan and Ray Lalonde starting this Friday, February 23.
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Jeopardy! fans waiting for the game show's most buzzworthy tradition are about to have their patience pay off.
The quarterfinal matchups for the 2024 Tournament of Champions have been posted on Jeopardy.com, and fans are all in.
The annual $250,000 faceoff was delayed due to this summer’s WGA strike, and in the meantime, past-player Champions Wildcard and Second Chance contests have ensued.
However, it's back, and with an unprecedented 27 contestants (the largest playing field ever), fans think it will be epic.
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The lineup consists of last season's huge winners, all three-day champions in a major twist (it usually takes four wins to qualify), and the winners of the current season's past player contests.
It also includes 2023 Celebrity Jeopardy! winner Ike Barenholz, who fans spotted got a raw deal regarding his matchup.
Here are the full quarterfinals, featuring familiar faces back at the buzzer.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23
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Emily Sands, the bubbly Champions Wildcard winner from the fall faces Suresh Krishnan, 6 wins and $96,595, and the British Matthew Marcus, 4 wins and $114,200.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26
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21-day winner Cris Pannullo is a former pro poker player who amassed the fifth regular play earnings in history ($748K) last fall.
With the most wins going in, he faces Ben Goldstein 5 wins and (a record low) $49,298, and Jared Watson, 3 wins and $56,202.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27
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Fan-favorite Hannah Wilson, eight wins and $229,801, faces Priest David Sibley, 4 wins and $78,098, and Bowtie-boasting Champions Wildcard winner Yungsheng Wang.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
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Champions Wildcard winner Nick Cascone faces the "annoying" Jake DeArruda, 3 wins and $68,661, and the infamous Yogesh Raut - 3 wins, $96,000 (who went viral for trashing Jeopardy! online after losing).
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29
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Luigi de Guzman, 5 wins and $140,700 faces drag queen Kevin Belle, 3 wins and $42,798, and comeback contest sensation Juveria Zaheer.
FRIDAY, MARCH 1
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Stephen Webb, 8 wins and $184,881, faces Brian Henegar (who changed up his unfortunately viral facial hair), 3 wins and $68,202, and Champions Wildcard winner and math whiz Josh Saak.
MONDAY, MARCH 4
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Ray LaLonde, the second seed with 13 wins, $386,200 and 12/14 on Final Jeopardy, faces Melissa Klapper, 3 wins and $59,100, and 2022 Celebrity Jeopardy! winner Ike Barinholtz.
TUESDAY, MARCH 4
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Power player Ben Chan, 9 wins and $252,600 faces 2023 High School Reunion Tournament winner Justin Bolsen and Emmett Stanton, 3 wins and $72,600.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6
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Pro quizzer Troy Meyer, 6 wins and $214,802, faces the winner of the now-airing Wildcard Group 2 and Long Island "hater" Sean McShane, 3 wins and $80,401.
FANS ARE 'PUMPED'... BUT WORRIED FOR IKE
Fans flooded a Reddit internet thread where they were left with bated breath for the ToC to begin.
One fan wrote: “This will be an epic battle for this edition of Tournament of Champions."
Another wrote: “I am pumped."
A third wrote: “Luigi vs. Juveria is gonna be a banger."
That said, many felt for poor Ike Barenholtz, who got an invite after winning Celebrity Jeopardy! Season 1 only to be pitted against Ray LaLonde.
An additional wrote: “Ike vs Ray..."
To which a fifth commented: “I was wondering when Ike was announced as being in it how well he'd do; I, uh, don't like his chances."
A sixth joked: "I am hoping Ike Barinholtz plays well and makes it to Final Jeopardy at the very least."
Another shady move from producers was that Ben Goldstein was pitted against Cris Pannullo after using a post-game chat to call Cris out: "Cris Pannullo, I'm coming for you, baby!"
As one more fan commented: "Be careful what you wish for!"
WHAT IS: THE FORMAT?
There will be nine quarterfinal games, nine semifinals (meaning the best player of three games advances), and a first-to-two-wins finale.
That means the final three contestants could duke it out over two games or up to five.
The ToC will all conclude in late March, with the victor earning $250,000, a championship belt, and serious bragging rights.
The previous ToC was won by Amy Schneider so it's time to see who will follow in her footsteps.
The winner will also get an invite to the next Jeopardy! Masters in May, so fortune and perhaps even TV fame are at stake.
Regular non-tournament episodes of Jeopardy! return in April, a major break from the norm (in part due to the WGA strike), which has divided fans.
In decades past, there have been just three weeks of tournament play instead of months at the end of tournaments- so it's been quite a shakeup.
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Speaking of shakeups, former champ Ken is now the sole host after Mayim Bialik was fired from the syndicated series in December.
Showrunner Davies broke his silence on the decision last Saturday, saying while Mayim was a "superb host," Ken "really won the job."
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