It all comes down to this. We started with 145 people, all with one goal: $2 million dollars. After some byes, a few stunners, and some moments of zen, we have our final three... Ken Jennings, the recordholder. Brad Rutter, the million-dollar master. Jerome Vered, an early great. One of them will be the new king of quiz with another $2 million pocketed. Second place is guaranteed half a million, while third is guaranteed a quarter-mill, but who will get which check?

The moment three months in the making is upon us. Time for the marquee matchup.

KEN JENNINGS Software engineer Salt Lake City 2004 75-time Champion $26,000	BRAD RUTTER TV quiz show host Lancaster, PA Won $115,000 $38,400	JEROME VERED Writer Los Angeles Won $137,601 $19,600

Jeopardy! categories: Dinosaurs, Women of Country, Webster's New World College Dictionary, Musical Instruments, If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgian.

Daily Double: $600 Musical Instruments. Ken ($2400 to Brad's $8000 and Jerome's $1600)... finally bets it all. The clue: this instrument of the cult of Apollo lent its name to the type of poetry it accompanied. Ken's guess: "What is a lyre?" Correct for the doubler, $4800.

End of round:
Ken - $4600
Jerome - $2200
Brad - $9800

Double Jeopardy! categories: Asian History; Glove, American Style, Poets & Poetry, "G" People, Latin Class, Rocks

Daily Double #1: $1600 Latin Class. Brad ($17,400 over Ken's $6200 and Jerome's $2200) bets $1400. The clue: for most adjectives, adding -issimus to the stem gets you this form. Brad's response: "What is the superlative?" Correct for $18,800.

Daily Double #2: $1600 "G" People. Jerome ($3400 to Brad's $22,400 and Ken's $9800)... oh, Jerome, you might as well... "$3300." Okay. Clue coming: his triumph as Richard III in 1741 made him the leading British actor of his time. Jerome's guess: "Who is Garrick?" Correct for $6700.

End of round:
Ken - $9400
Jerome - $8300
Brad - $23,600

It's all but over for Kenny Gameshow. Even if Ken were to bet everything on Final Jeopardy!, Brad could bet $17,199 and still win the tournament. Not that he would...

Final Jeopardy! category: 20th Century Americans. The answer to end all answers: these names of 2 original Mercury astronauts, who orbited Earth in May 1962 & May 1963, are also occupations. Correct response: Who are Carpenter & Cooper?

Jerome's question: Who are Carpenter & Shepherd? (WRONG) Wager: $7300. Final score: $1000.
Ken's question: Who are Cooper and Shepard? Go Brad! (WRONG, and I think that
was his concession speech). Wager: $801. Final scorel: $8599.

And it's all gravy from here...

Brad's question: Who are Carpenter & Cooper? "And I'll say 'Go Ken' and 'Go Jerome'." (exclamatory RIGHT). Wager: $0. Final score: $23,600.
 

$26,000	$38,400	$19,600
+ 8,599	+23,600	+  1,000
$34,599	$62,000	$20,600

And Brad Rutter is the new King of Quiz! He picks up $2 million for this win, giving him $2,115,400. Added to his previous winnings, it gives him the mantle of richest game show winner ever with $3,270,102.

Ken walks away a close second with $3,022,700. Jerome is now up to $499,102.

But as with all Jeopardy! legends, past and present, no championship EVER goes unchallenged, and no record ever goes unanswered. How long will Brad Rutter's mark stand? Only time will tell.

But for now... Brad Rutter... Best Jeopardy! player... period.

Jeopardy! returns to the dailies tomorrow. Thanks for reading!