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.

Next, another former recordholder tries his luck.

JOHN BECK Creative director Torrance, CA Won $19,000 (2/24)	BRAD RUTTER TV quiz show host Lancaster, PA 2002 THE Million Dollar Master: $15,000	BRUCE NAEGELI Retired law librarian Phoenix Won $21,600 (3/31)

Jeopardy! categories: What Brought THAT On?, And Doggie Makes Three, Official Alaskan State Stuff, Kennedy Space Center, About Schmidt, On the "Go"

Daily Double: $600 Official Alaska State Stuff. John ($2600 to Brad's $5600 and Bruce's $1400) has no choice but to catch up with the leader. He makes it true. The clue: it was a "crowning" achievement in 1962 when this was named Alaska's state fish. John's guess: "What is the king salmon?" Correct for the doubler, $5200.

End of Round:
John - $6000
Brad - $8800
Bruce - $1400

Double Jeopardy! categories: Geology, Headliners on Tour, Authors' Children, "V", Circus Slang, On the Go

Daily Double #1: $1600 Authors' Children. Brad ($14,400 over John's $4800 and Bruce's $2600) bets $4400. Clue: as an assistant to this author, Samuel Beckett had to fight off the advances of his daughter Lucia. Brad's guess: "Who is James Joyce?" Correct for $18,800.

Daily Double #2: $1600 Geology. Brad ($30,400 over John's $7200 and Bruce's $5400) wagers just the $400. Clue: this crater is formed when a volcano explodes & the cone collapses; Oregon's Crater Lake is an example. Brad's guess: "What is the caldera?" Correct for $30,800.

End of Round:
John - $7200
Brad - $33,200
Bruce - $7000

Looks like it's going to be a fight for second, although both second and third are guaranteed $10,000. Brad may collect here...

Final Jeopardy! Category: British Military History. Answer: he commanded the forces that rescued the survivors of the infamous Black Hole of Calcutta in 1756. Correct response: Who was Robert Clive?

Bruce's question: Who was Clive? (RIGHT) Wager: all-in. Final score: $14,000.
John's question: Who is Nelson? (WRONG) Wager: all-in. Final score: $0.
Brad's question: Who is Kitchener? (WRONG) Wager: $15,000. Final score: $18,200.

Had this been a closer match, Brad may have lost it on the Final, but through the game, he proves to the world why he's the Million Dollar Master, picking up $20,000, $35,000 in the tourney so far, and  joining Dan Melia, Steve Chernicoff, Michael Rooney, Michael Daunt, Shane Whitlock, Brian Moore, Jerome Vered, Robert Slaven, Matt Zielenski, Chris Miller, and Lan Djang in the quarterfinal.

So the big nine breaks through at long last, but how will the next three fare? See you tomorrow!