We started with 135 players fighting for 45 slots. Then we threw in nine of Jeopardy!'s best for fun, whittling the field to 18. Now we're down to the six best - Brad Rutter, the Million Dollar Master; Pam Mueller, the lady of the bunch; Frank Spangenberg, the living legend; John Cuthbertson, the underdog; Chris Miller, the newbie; and Jerome Vered, the guy everyone likes. Two of these players will go on to next week's finals against the reining King of Quiz, Ken Jennings. At stake: $2,000,000 for the winner, $500,000 for the first runner-up, and $250,000 for the third-place finisher.

Today, one seat is booked for next week's big final.

JEROME VERED Writer Los Angeles Won $87,601 $23,100	FRANK SPANGENBERG Police lieutenant Douglaston, NY Won $75,199 $13,500	PAM MUELLER Capitol Hill staffer/entering law student orig. from Chicago Won $82,201 $10,000

First, a correction. Remember Alex saying that Pam did not, nor has she ever had a moustache? Well...

Sorry, Pam. He got you there...

Jeopardy! categories: Chemistry, Quotable Movies 2004, It's a Tough World; Yes, You May; My PC Life; Hey, "Boo".

Daily Double: $1000 It's a Tough World. Jerome ($1800 to Pam's $5200 and Frank's $4400 each) bets all of it. The clue: 2 cities, both named Tripoli, are Libya's largest & this country's second-largest. Jerome's guess: "What is Lebanon?" Correct for $3600.

End of Round:
Jerome - $4200
Frank - $6200
Pam - $5200

Double Jeopardy! categories: Name That Dictator, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, KK, Rossini Opera, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Women, That's So "Lame".

Daily Double #1: $1600 Name That Dictator. Frank ($9400 over Pam's $5200 and Jerome's $2200) is in for $2000. Clue: Indonesia, 1945-1967. Frank's guess: "Who is Sukarno?" Correct for $11,400.

Daily Double #2: $1600 Pulitzer Prize-Winning Women. Pam ($8800 to Frank's $14,800 and Jerome's $7000) goes $6000. Clue: this member of a prominent Boston family won a 1926 Pulitzer for her poetry collection "What's O'clock". Pam's guess: "Who is Amy Lowell?" Correct for $14,800 and the tie for the lead.

End of Round:
Jerome - $7800
Frank - $18,000
Pam - $16,800

Remember, this is a two-day affair. Scores from yesterday will be added to today. The winner is guaranteed at least $50,000, second place is guaranteed $30,000, while third is guaranteed $20,000.

Final Jeopardy! Category: Words from Latin. Answer: some of the periods of time called this occurred in 304 AD (4 years), 1314 (2 years), 1958 (19 days), 1963 & 2005. Correct response: What is interregnum?

Jerome's question: What is interregnum? (RIGHT) Wager: $0. Final score: $7800.
Pam's question: What are conclaves? (WRONG) Wager: $11,901. Final score: $4899.
Frank's question: What (WRONG and pointing to Jerome) Wager: $12,200. Final score: $5800.

$23,100	$13,500	$10,000
+ 7,800	+ 5,800	+ 4,899
$30,900	$19,300	$14,899

Jerome is as surprised as anyone! Cinderella is going to the big dance! Jerome takes into the title match $137,601. Frank leaves with $105,199, while Pam leaves with $102,201.

Two-thirds of the card is set. Who will be the final player to move on, Brad Rutter, Chris Miller, or John Cuthbertson? Find out tomorrow and Friday!