In round one, 45 players won their games. Now they join nine seeded opponents in Jeopardy! lore for 18 more game. 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.

STEVE CHERNICOFF Technical writer Berkeley, CA Won $21,201 (4/12)	SCOTT GILLISPIE Project manager & expectant father Atlanta Won $15,000 (4/11)	INDIA COOPER Actress/copy editor New York City Won $16,000 (3/28)

Jeopardy! categories: Triangles, Horton Hears the Who, Also a Candy, Gorge, "W", Bush.

Daily Double: $800 "W". Steve ($1400 to India's $1800 and Scott's $1200) bets $600. The clue: when measuring a horse using hands, you measure from the ground up to these, not the ears. Steve's guess: "What are the withers?" Correct for $2000 and the lead.

End of Round:
Steve - $3600
Scott - $3200
India - $3400

Close game gets even closer. Double Jeopardy! categories: Historic Charleston, Reel People, Italian Composers, Mouse Pads, Along the Trans-Canada Highway, "Z" Breeze.

Daily Double #1: $1600 Italian Composers. Steve ($6400 over Scott's $4400 and India's $3800) bets $2000. Clue: Ottorino; he pined for Rome. Steve's guess: "Who is Respighi?" Correct for $8400.

Daily Double #2: $2000 Along the Trans-Canada Highway. Steve ($16,400 over Scott's $9600 and India's $4600) fronts $5000. Clue: the eastern terminus of the Trans-Canada Highway is at this provincial capital. Steve's guess: "What is Halifax, Nova Scotia?" Correct response: What is St. Johns, Newfoundland? Back to a close game as Steve has $11,400.

End of Round:
Steve - $13,400
Scott - $10,800
India - $6600

In round 2, runners-up are guaranteed $10,000, while the winner is guaranteed at least $20,000.

Final Jeopardy! Category: Ancient Cities. Answer: it sided with Sparta in the Peloponnesian War, & the Bible includes 2 letters to its Christians. Correct response: What was Corinth?

India's question: What is Corinth? (RIGHT) Wager: $6600. Final score: $13,200.
Scott's question: What is Corinth? (RIGHT) Wager: $10,700. Final score: $21,500.
Steve's question: What is Corinth? (RIGHT) Wager: $8201. Final score: $21,601.

Once Steve found a groove, he would not let up (save for late in the Double Jeopardy!) round, but still, an ugly win is a win, and Steve will take that, and $42,802, to the quarterfinal, where he will join Dan Melia.

Another triplet of triumvirates tomorrow.