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.

JOSH DenHARTOG Actuarial technician Thousand Oaks, CA 1997 '97 Teen Champion	TREVOR NORRIS Budget analyst Washington, DC 2001 5-time Champion	PHIL YELLMAN Legal assistant Seattle 1992 5-time Champion

Jeopardy! categories: Jon Stewart's America, Jobs in the Arts; Nobel, Pulitzer or Both; I'll Take Manhattan, "Tom", Let's Rock!

Daily Double: $600 "Tom". Trevor ($1200 to Josh's $2400 and Phil's -$400) makes it true. The clue: the witty line "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than" this has been attributed to Tom Waits. Trevor's guess: "What is a frontal lobotomy?" Correct for $2400 and the tie.

End of Round:
Josh - $6000
Trevor - $5000
Phil - $3600

Double Jeopardy! categories: World History, Verbs, "M"-a-Nations; Felix, Nothing More Than Felix; Fashion, Head to Foot; Thank You, I Prefer Not to Rock.

Daily Double #1: $2000 World History. Phil ($5200 to Josh's $6000 and Trevor's $5000) goes $1800. Clue: world leaders met at the Congress of this city in 1815 to decide the fate of Europe after Napoleon's defeat. Phil's guess: "What is Vienna?" Correct for $7000 and the lead.

Daily Double #2: $800 Verbs. Phil ($9400 over Josh's $6000 and Bill's $4600) fronts $1600. Clue: this short form of a biblical name can also mean to banter with or tease. Phil's guess: "No thoughts?" Correct response: "What is Josh?" Phil drops to $7800, still leading.

End of Round:
Josh - $12,800
Trevor - $7800
Phil - $20,600 (augmented prior to the clue reveal)

What a comeback for Phil, who was down 400 early in the game. Remember, runners-up will take home $5000, while the winner is guaranteed at least $15,000.

Final Jeopardy! Category: Children's Literature. Answer: Dr. Seuss wrote this book to win a bet that he couldn't write a book using only 50 different words. Correct response: What is "Green Eggs & Ham"?

Trevor's question: What is Green Eggs and Ham? (RIGHT) Wager: $7800. Final score: $15,600.
Josh's question: What is Green Eggs & Ham? (RIGHT) Wager: $12,800. Final score: $25,600.
Phil's question: What is Green Eggs and Ham? (RIGHT) Wager: $5001. Final score: $25,601.

A close game all around, but in the end, 'twas math that killed the beast. By a dollar, Phil advances to round 2 with $25,601. Can he accomplish the same type of comeback against the likes of 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, Mark Dawson, Michael Rooney, Pam Mueller, Steve Newman, Chris Miller, Leah Greenwald, Jonathan Groff, Brian Moore, Robert Slaven, Shane Whitlock, Michael Daunt, Steve Berman, Eugene Finerman, John Cuthberson, India Cooper, Kyle Hale, Rick Knutsen, Bruce Naegeli, Matt Zielenski, April McManus, Lan Djang, Paul Gutowski, and Lara Robillard? Find out starting next week...

... Meanwhile, look for Steven Popper, David Venderbush, and Scott Gillispie next time on Jeopardy!