In round one, there are 135 players competing in 45 games. The winners of those games will take on nine seeded opponents. The 18 winners then face off for six slots. The two winners of those semifinal games have a date with destiny in the form of one Ken Jennings for a three-day final. The winner of those games wins $2 million. Second place is guaranteed $500,000, while third place is guaranteed $250,000.

No wild cards, no second chances. It's (my favorite words when it comes to Jeopardy! tourneys) win or go home.

ERIK LARSEN Librarian/boxing official Jacksonville, FL 1990 5-time Champion	MARK LOWENTHAL Assistant director of the CIA Reston, VA 1988 '88 TOC Winner	MICHAEL ROONEY College professor Pasadena, CA 1999 5-time Champion

Jeopardy! categories: God Save the British King or Queen, MLB Teams By Stadium, Online Lingo, Grammys 2005, "North" Poll, 4-Letter Words

Daily Double: $1000 God Save the British King or Queen. Michael ($600 over Mark's $200) finds it way early and goes the maximum. The clue: all 3 of the kings with this name died violently. Michael's response: "What is Richard?" Correct for $1600

End of Round:
Erik - $6000
Mark - $2200
Michael - $6800

Double Jeopardy! categories: Ancient Structures, The Moore The Merrier, Balanchine Ballets, Poker Night, Haulin' S, 4-Letter Birds.

Daily Double #1: $1600 The Moore the Merrier. Erik ($9600 to Michael's $16,800 and Mark's $2200) bets $5000. Clue: elected to the US Senate 8 times, his middle name is Moore. Erik's guess: "Who is Strom Thurmond?" Correct response: "Who is Ted Kennedy?"; Erik drops to $4600.

Daily Double #2: $2000 Balanchine Ballets. Erik ($11,800 to Michael's $22,000 and Mark's $2200) bets $5000 again. Clue: the 3 muses that appear in Balanchine's ballet "Apollo" are Polyhymnia, Calliope & this muse of the dance. Erik's guess: "What is Terpsichore?" Correct for $16,800.

End of Round:
Erik - $17,600
Mark - $3800
Michael - $24,000

Remember, runners-up will take home $5000, while the winner is guaranteed at least $15,000.

Final Jeopardy! Category: 20th Century Novels. Answer: it begins, "'To be born again,' sang Gibrel Farishta tumbling from the heavens, 'first you have to die.'" Correct response: What is "The Satanic Verses"?

Mark's question: What is The Prophet? (WRONG) Wager: $3800. Final score: $1.
Erik's question: What is The Satanic Verses? (RIGHT) Wager: $15,000. Final score: $32,600.
Michael's question: What is The Satanic Verses? (RIGHT) Wager: $11,201. Final score: $35,201.

So Michael, after a fierce buzzer war with Erik, goes to the next round with a $35,201 paycheck. He joins Eric Terzuolo, Michael Rankins, Arthur Phillips, David Traini, Bob Harris, Vinita Kailasanath, Bev Schwartzberg, Dan Melia, Mark Eckard, Michael Dupee, Jeff Richmond, John Beck, Tad Carithers, Jerome Vered, Bruce Borchardt, Fred Ramen, Ed Schiffer, Grace Veach, Ryan Holznagel, and Mark Dawson.

Next time, former college cutie Pam Mueller graduates to the big leagues against Michael Day and Jay Rosenberg.