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.

GRACE VEACH Librarian Lakeland, FL Won $26,200 (3/4)	MICHAEL RANKINS Minister/writer Rohnert Park, CA Won $31,601 (2/10)	BRIAN WEIKLE Consultant Minneapolis 2003 Season 19's top winner: $15,000

Jeopardy! categories: The Civil War, TV Theme Songs, The Name of the Game, That's Element-ary, NASCAR Sponsors, "D" Day

Daily Double: $1000 The Civil War. Grace ($3000 to Brian's $8800 and Michael's $2000) bets the level. The clue: in area, Texas was the largest of the Confederate states; this was the largest of the 24 Union states. Grace's guess: "What is Pennsylvania?" Correct response: What is California? Grace ties Michael's $2000.

End of Round:
Grace - $2000
Michael - $2000
Brian - $11,200

Double Jeopardy! categories: Where Am I?, Sideshow Cinema, American "W"riters, In the Navy, Religion, Quasi-related Pairs.

Daily Double #1: $1600 Religion. Grace ($3600 to Brian's $11,200 and Michael's $2800) bets it all. Clue: a homophone of a weapon, it's the list of books making up scripture. Grace's guess: "What is canon?" Correct for $7200.

Daily Double #2: $1200 American "W"riters. Grace ($7600 to Brian's $13,200 and Michael's $2800) completes the trifecta and wagers everything again. Clue: in the 1940s this epic war novelist served aboard the destroyer-minesweeper Zane. Grace's guess: "Who was Wouk?" Correct for $15,200 and the lead

End of Round:
Grace - $24,000
Michael - $2000
Brian - $24,400

It's a fight between the spoiler and the ringer. The winner is guaranteed $20,000 at least, while the runners-up will get $10,000 each.

Final Jeopardy! Category: 19th Century American Art. Answer: some versions of this painting based on a Bible verse show William Penn making a treaty with the Indians in the background. Correct response: What is "The Peaceable Kingdom"?

Michael's question: What is The Lion and the Lamb? (WRONG) Wager: $0. Final score: $2000.
Grace's question: What is Peaceful Broth? (WRONG) Wager: $500. Final score: $23,500.
Brian's question: What is Crossing the Nile? (WRONG) Wager: $24,000. Final score: $400.

A Hail Mary pass sends Brian to the showers as Grace dances on. She wins $23,500, a two-game take of $49,700, and joins Dan Melia, Steve Chernicoff, Michael Rooney, Michael Daunt, Shane Whitlock, Brian Moore, Jerome Vered, Robert Slaven, Matt Zielenski, Chris Miller, Lan Djang, and Brad Rutter in the quarterfinal.

So the final 18 is not a boys club after all. Three more seats up for grabs. The first plays out Monday.