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.

STEVEN POPPER Economist orig. Minneapolis/living in Topanga, CA 19988 5-time Champion	SCOTT GILLISPIE Project manager & expectant father Atlanta 1991 '91 College Champion	DAVID VENDERBUSH Lawyer New York City 1993 5-time Champion

Jeopardy! categories: Assassins, The Reel Story, Signs & Symbols, Government, Visualize, World "P"s

Daily Double: $1000 Assassins. Steven ($0 to Scott's $4200 and David's $1400) bets the level. The clue: Ramon Mercader, who killed this man in 1940, was later awarded the Order of Lenin. Steven's guess: "Who was Trotsky?" Correct for $1000.

End of Round:
Steven - $1000
Scott - $4800
David - $4400

Double Jeopardy! categories: Europe, Musicals of the '20s, Novels of the Past, Transplants, City of Birth, Crossword Clues "K".

Daily Double #1: $1200 City of Birth. David ($8800 over Scott's $6000 and Steven's $600) goes $4000. Clue: Frederick the Great & Mike Nichols. David's guess: "What is Berlin?" Correct for $12,800.

Daily Double #2: $1200 Crossword Clues "K". David ($16,000 over Scott's $11,600 and Steven's $10,200) fronts $500. Clue: Shy-sounding swimmers (3). David's guess: "... Kick." Correct response: "What are koi?" David drops to $15,500, still leading.

End of Round:
Steven - $12,200
Scott - $11,600
David - $15,500

We have a game all of a sudden! Remember, runners-up will take home $5000, while the winner is guaranteed at least $15,000.

Final Jeopardy! Category: Arlington's Tomb of the Unknowns. Answer: sentinels at the tomb walk exactly this many steps at a time before they stop & turn. Correct response: What is 21?

Scott's question: What is 13? (WRONG) Wager: $4500. Final score: $7100.
Steven's question: What is 50? (WRONG) Wager: $11,901. Final score: $299.
David's question: What is 10? (WRONG) Wager: $9000. Final score: $6500.

A close game to end, but the Final decides it. Scott gets the backdoor win with $15,000, as he takes his place alongside 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, and Phil Yellman in round 2.

Tomorrow, the final round 1 game with Steve Chernicoff, Ben Lyon, and Roy Holliday.