Semifinals: Vaz/Thompson/Mesko - May 15

Fifteen of the best Jeopardy! players this year have been whittled to nine, as the quest for a title and $250,000 continues.

Another standard two-week affair awaits with an increased minimum guarantee of $100,000 for second place and $50,000 for third.

Semifinalists are guaranteed at least $10,000, while quarterfinalists are guaranteed $5000 for participation. As always, any and all winning accrued depends on how far up the ladder a player goes.

Today, the first of the three semifinals...
 

VIK VAZ Austin, TX Medical student Three days, $72,002	AARON THOMPSON Washington, DC Special assistant Three days, $57,899	BOB MESKO Denver Arts administrator Five days, $68,599

Jeopardy! categories: Nonfiction, An English-Sports Dictionary, OK Computer, Change the World, Bodies of Water, A Category of Categories.

Video Daily Double: $1000 Change the World. Bob ($5000 over Aaron's $4600 and Vik's $2600) bets the level. The clue: Here are the 2 new coins minted by this country in 2004. Bob's response: "What is Iraq" Correct for $6000.

(Thanks, J-Archive.com!)

End of round:
Vik: $2800
Aaron: $6400
Bob: $6000

Double Jeopardy! categories: The Animal Kingdom, Cameo Camera, Historic Amours, Gone Too Soon, Bohemian Rhapsodies; The "Good", the "Bad" & the "Ugly".

Daily Double #1: $800 Gone Too Soon. Aaron ($11,600 over Vik's $9600 and Bob's $8000) bets $3000. The clue: of this athlete, Pres. Clinton said, "We were dazzled by her speed, humbled by her talent & captivated by her style". Aaron's response: "Who is Florence Griffith Joyner?" Correct for $14,600.

Daily Double #2: $1600 The "Good", the "Bad" & the "Ugly". Vik ($11,600 to Aaron's $16,200 and Bob's $9600) goes $4600. The clue: a mischievous sprite in English folklore also called Puck. Vik's response: "What is Pan?" Correct response: Who is Robin Goodfellow? Vik drops to $7000

End of round:
Vik: $9000
Aaron: $17,000
Bob: $10,000

All Aaron has to do is bet $3001 and be right to lock in the win. Vik and Bob will have to bet everything and hope that Aaron is wrong in this...

Final Jeopardy! category: Mythology. The clue: the name of this monster is from the Greek for "she-goat". Correct response: What is the Chimera?

Vik's response: What is chimera? RIGHT. Wager: $9000. Total: $18,000.
Bob’s response: What is Scylla? WRONG. Wager: $8001. Total: $1999.
Aaron's response: What is Medusa? WRONG. Wager: $3001. Total: 13,999.

Vik was not his usual self, but a lucky play in the Final means that he goes onto the Final match. He wasn't as consistent as he was last week. He had better find his oats if he wants to win this one,

Tomorrow, semifinal match 2. See you then.