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.

MARK ECKARD Entrepreneur Bedford, MA Won $25,600 (2/21)	VINITA KAILASANATH Consultant San Mateo, CA Won $15,000 (2/16)	BRIAN MOORE Astronomer Houston Won $32,000 (3/17)

Jeopardy! categories: Health & Medicine, Jolly Roger, Califunia, Weather Words & Phrases, There's No Business, Like Show Business.

Daily Double: $600 Jolly Roger. Mark ($800 to Brian's $1800 and Vinita's $400) risks the max of $1000 for the tie. The clue: in 1996, he became the founding chairman & CEO of Fox News. Mark's guess: "Don't know" Correct response: Who is Roger Ailes? Mark is sub-zero with -$200.

End of Round:
Mark - $3800
Vinita - $1200
Brian - $5600

Double Jeopardy! categories: Decorative Arts; 2 Actors, Same Role; Measure Up, Bend It Like Beckett, Capital Cities, "T" Time.

Daily Double #1: $2000 Capital Cities. Brian ($11,200 over Mark's $7000 and Vinita's $1600) fronts a big bet, $6000. Clue: honoring one of the country's famous sons, the Universidad de Belgrano is found in this South American capital. Brian's guess: "What is Buenos Aires?" Correct for $17,200.

Daily Double #2: $1600 Bend It Like Beckett. Brian ($26,800 over Mark's $10,200 and Vinita's $3200) bets $8000. Clue: Beckett is a major dramatist of the "Theatre of" this, which portrays a bewildered & anxious humanity. Brian's guess: "What is Theatre of the Absurd?" Correct for $34,800.

End of Round:
Mark - $11,400
Vinita - $3200
Brian - $37,600

Needless to say, a runaway for Brian. In round 2, runners-up are guaranteed $10,000, while the winner is guaranteed at least $20,000.

Final Jeopardy! Category: Literary Inspirations. Answer: this real man inspired a 1719 novel character & a poem that says "I am monarch of all I survey." Correct response: Who was Alexander Selkirk?

Vinita's question: Who was Richard II? (WRONG) Wager: $327. Final score: $2873.
Mark's question: Who was Louis XIII? (WRONG) Wager: $11,300. Final score: $100.
Brian's question: Who was Louis XIV? (WRONG) Wager: $12,400. Final score: $25,200.

Brian knew he had the game, so he didn't have to wager much. He takes another $25,200, giving him a total of $57,200 as he joins Dan Melia, Steve Chernicoff, Michael Rooney, Michael Daunt, and Shane Whitlock in the quarterfinal.

We're a third of the way to the quarterfinal. Seat number seven is up for grabs tomorrow.