Host | |
Alex Trebek | |
Announcer | |
Johnny Gilbert | |
Photo | |
Packager | |
Sony Pictures Television Studios |
Summary[]
The Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades was a 5-week tournament airing throughout the 30th season to celebrate 30 years of the syndicated version. Fifteen contestants from each decade of Jeopardy! faced off to advance to the quarterfinals. The five winners from each decade faced off in the quarterfinals. From there, the regular tournament format developed by Alex Trebek was used for the 15 quarterfinalists.
Prize[]
Preliminaries | Quarterfinalists | Semifinalists | Finalists (minimum guarantees) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2nd runner-up | 1st runner-up | Winner | |||
$5,000 | $10,000 | $25,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 | $1,000,000 |
Fan Favorite Round[]
The first part of the tournament began on September 30, 2013. Fourteen people who were pre-selected to appear in each decade (the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s) were announced. Five people competed for the 15th spot in each decade over the course of three weeks. Voting took place on the Jeopardy! website, Facebook, and Twitter. The five nominees for the 1980s were:
- Andrew Westney (1991 Teen Tournament winner)
- Diane Siegel (1993 ToC quarterfinalist)
- Eugene Finerman (1987 ToC finalist, Super Jeopardy! semifinalist)
- Michael Rankins (1988 ToC semifinalist)
- Leah Greenwald (1988 ToC quarterfinalist)
The second week of voting took place the following week, with the nominees being kept secret until the voting began. They were:
- Shane Whitlock (1996 College Champion and ToC semifinalist)
- Brian Weikle (2003 ToC finalist, season 19 biggest winner)
- Michael Daunt (1997 International Tournament winner, 1996 ToC finalist)
- Catherine (Fred) Ramen (1998 ToC semifinalist)
- Melizza Zygmunt (1999 ToC quarterfinalist)
The final week of voting for the 2000s took place the next week. The nominees were:
- Tom Nissley (2011 ToC finalist, season 27 biggest winner)
- Erin McLean (Fall 2010 College Champion, 2011 ToC semifinalist)
- Ryan Chaffee (2010 ToC quarterfinalist)
- Kara Spak (2011 ToC semifinalist)
- Joey Beachum (2008 College Champion, 2010 ToC quarterfinalist)
The results were announced on December 3, 2013. Andrew Westney, Shane Whitlock, and Tom Nissley claimed the 15th and final spot for each respective decade, while each decade's alternate was Diane Siegel, Brian Weikle, and Erin McLean.
The other 14 contestants for the 1980s and the early 1990s were:
- India Cooper (1992 ToC and Million Dollar Masters semifinalist)
- Chuck Forrest (1986 ToC winner, Million Dollar Masters semifinalist, season 2 biggest winner, creator of the Forrest Bounce strategy)
- Jim Scott (1991 ToC winner, youngest player to win their ToC at 22)
- Leslie Frates (10th Anniversary Tournament finalist, 1992 ToC semifinalist, 2002 Million Dollar Masters semifinalist)
- Leszek Pawlowicz (1992 ToC winner, had never lost prior to the UToC)
- Richard Cordray (1987 ToC semifinalist); he would decline his winnings due to serving as director of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.
- Tom Nosek (1993 ToC winner, 10th Anniversary Tournament finalist, oldest person to win their ToC at 54)
- Leslie Shannon (Miller) (1993 ToC and Million Dollar Masters semifinalist)
- Phoebe Juel (1993 College Champion and ToC semifinalist)
- Mark Lowenthal (1988 ToC winner)
- Frank Spangenberg (10th Anniversary Tournament winner, 1990 ToC and UToC semifinalist, season 6 biggest winner, top regular games winner of the pre-doubled era, held 5-day earnings record (when unadjusted) for 29 years)
- Tom Cubbage (1989 inaugural College Championship winner, 1989 ToC winner, only College Champion to also win the ToC)
- Jerome Vered (1992 ToC and 2005 Ultimate ToC finalist, season 8 biggest winner, held 1-day record during the pre-doubled era)
- Bob Verini (1987 ToC winner, Super Jeopardy! and Million Dollar Masters finalist)
Among notable past contestants from this decade that were not in the field:
- Bob Blake (1990 ToC winner, 1990 Super Jeopardy! semifinalist, first player to earn over $75,000 in regular games), who declined due to a scheduling conflict.
- Eric Newhouse (1989 Teen Tournament winner, 1989 ToC and 1990 Super Jeopardy! semifinalist, 1998 Teen Reunion Tournament winner, and Million Dollar Masters finalist)
- Bruce Seymour (1990 Super Jeopardy! winner)
- Kate Waits (1988 ToC semifinalist, Super Jeopardy! quarterfinalist, and Million Dollar Masters quarterfinalist)
- Sandra Gore (1988 ToC finalist, first woman to reach the ToC finals)
- Robert Slaven (1992 ToC semifinalist, 1993 Tenth Anniversary Tournament semifinalist, and 2005 UToC quarterfinalist)
- April McManus (1992 Teen Tournament winner, 1992 ToC semifinalist, and 2005 UToC quarterfinalist)
- Michael Galvin (1987 inaugural Teen Tournament winner, 1987 ToC semifinalist)
- Bruce Naegeli (season 4 biggest winner, 1988 ToC finalist), who passed away in 2009.
- Brian Wangsgard (season 5 biggest winner, 1989 ToC finalist)
- Dave Traini (1987 ToC and 1990 Super Jeopardy! finalist, first person to defeat Chuck Forrest and Bob Blake)
- Eugene Finerman (1987 ToC finalist, 1990 Super Jeopardy! semifinalist, first person to defeat Frank Spangenberg)
The mid-1990s and early 2000s contestants were:
- Rachael Schwartz (1994 ToC winner, first woman and 4-day champion to win the ToC)
- Babu Srinivasan (2001 ToC semifinalist, season 17 biggest winner)
- Eddie Timanus (2000 ToC semifinalist, first blind Jeopardy! contestant)
- Dan Melia (season 14 biggest winner, 1998 ToC winner, Ultimate ToC quarterfinalist)
- Pam Mueller (Fall 2000 College Champion, 2001 ToC and Ultimate ToC semifinalist)
- Fritz (Ryan) Holznagel (1995 ToC winner, 1996 International Tournament semifinalist)
- Robin Carroll (2000 ToC and 2001 International Tournament winner, all-time cash winnings leader prior to Million Dollar Masters)
- Bob Harris (1998 ToC finalist, Million Dollar Masters semifinalist)
- Dave Abbott (1999 ToC winner)
- Claudia Perry (1998 ToC and Million Dollar Masters semifinalist)
- Mark Dawson (2003 ToC winner, #2 in all-time cash winnings prior to Ken Jennings’ streak)
- Brad Rutter (2001 ToC, Million Dollar Masters, and Ultimate ToC winner; all-time cash winnings leader)
- Jill Bunzendahl Chimka (2003 ToC semifinalist)
- Mike Dupee (1996 ToC winner)
Among notable past contestants from this decade that were not in the field:
- David Siegel (season 11 top winner, 1995 ToC finalist, and the pre-doubled era's third highest-earning regular play contestant)
- John Cuthbertson (season 10 top winner, 1994 ToC and Ultimate ToC semifinalist)
- Jeff Stewart (1994 College Championship winner, 1994 ToC finalist)
The mid-2000s and early 2010s contestants were:
- Colby Burnett (Fall 2012 Teachers Tournament and 2013 ToC winner, only Teacher’s Tournament winner to also win the ToC)
- Celeste DiNucci (2007 ToC winner, the highest-earning female contestant at the time)
- Vijay Balse (2010 ToC winner)
- Stephanie Jass (2013 ToC semifinalist, longest-reigning female champion at the time)
- Roger Craig (2011 ToC winner, highest single-day cash winnings record holder)
- Larissa Kelly (2009 ToC finalist, season 24 biggest winner)
- Russ Schumacher (2004 ToC winner, only 4-day champion to be invited to the UToC)
- Tom Kavanaugh (2006 ToC quarterfinalist)
- Vinita Kailasanath (2001 College Champion, 2004 ToC semifinalist)
- Keith Whitener (2013 ToC finalist)
- Michael Falk (2006 ToC winner, only 3-day champion to do so)
- Dan Pawson (2009 ToC winner, longest reigning champion of season 24)
- Maria Wenglinsky (2006 ToC semifinalist)
- Ken Jennings (Longest reigning and highest-earning contestant in regular games, Ultimate ToC finalist)
Among notable past contestants from this decade that were not in the field:
- Jason Keller (9-day champion, 2013 ToC semifinalist, season 28 biggest winner)
- David Madden (19 day champion, season 22 biggest winner, and 2006 ToC semifinalist), who declined due to his business relationship with the compliance company Jeopardy! hires to oversee fairness of the rules.
- Chris Miller (2004 ToC and Ultimate ToC semifinalist)
2000s week contestant Vinita Kailasanath was placed in the 2000s-week group, despite originally competing on Jeopardy! in 2001 (which was during the 1990s week's range), as she deferred her Tournament of Champions appearances until 2004.
Qualifier Round[]
- The matchups by order of ranking at the end of the game.
- The five winners advanced to the quarterfinals. Losing players received $5,000, with the exception of Richard Cordray, who turned down the $5,000 due of his duties as a federal employee.
Game | Air Date | Name | Score | Name | Score | Name | Score | Detail |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980s #1 | February 3, 2014 | India Cooper | $2,000 | Chuck Forrest | $33,400 | Jim Scott | $6,200 | # |
1980s #2 | February 4, 2014 | Leslie Frates | $3,999 | Leszek Pawlowicz | $28,000 | Andrew Westney | $27,200 | # |
1980s #3 | February 5, 2014 | Richard Cordray | $5,200 | Tom Nosek | $7,201 | Leslie Shannon | $0 | # |
1980s #4 | February 6, 2014 | Pheobe Juel | $2,100 | Mark Lowenthal | $9,000 | Frank Spangenberg | $7,199 | # |
1980s #5 | February 7, 2014 | Tom Cubbage | $16,801 | Jerome Vered | $10,000 | Bob Verini | $1,999 | # |
1990s #1 | March 3, 2014 | Rachael Schwartz | $7,900 | Babu Srinivasan | $0 | Eddie Timanus | $7,700 | # |
1990s #2 | March 4, 2014 | Fritz Holznagel | $11,603 | Dan Melia | $7,000 | Pam Mueller | $17,000 | # |
1990s #3 | March 5, 2014 | Robin Carroll | $11,200 | Bob Harris | $0 | Shane Whitlock | $7,999 | # |
1990s #4 | March 6, 2014 | Dave Abbott | $5,199 | Mark Dawson | $15,599 | Claudia Perry | $11,600 | # |
1990s #5 | March 7, 2014 | Jill Bunzendahl Chimka | $0 | Mike Dupée | $28,300 | Brad Rutter | $30,600 | # |
2000s #1 | March 31, 2014 | Colby Burnett | $16,201 | Celeste DiNucci | $14,801 | Colby Burnett | $13,400 | # |
2000s #2 | April 1, 2014 | Vijay Balse | $17,600 | Roger Craig | $17,601 | Stephanie Jass | $15,600 | # |
2000s #3 | April 2, 2014 | Tom Kavanaugh | $0 | Larissa Kelly | $14,799 | Russ Schumacher | $15,400 | # |
2000s #4 | April 3, 2014 | Michael Falk | $2,400 | Ken Jennings | $23,600 | Vinita Kailasanath | $1,600 | # |
2000s #5 | April 4, 2014 | Dan Pawson | $12,700 | Maria Wenglinsky | $3,100 | Keith Whitener | $1 | # |
Final rounds[]
- The matchups for the quarterfinals were announced 15 days after taping as part of a press release by Jeopardy! on their Tumblr blog.
Game | Air Date | Name | Score | Name | Score | Name | Score | Detail |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QF #1 | May 5, 2014 | Leszek Pawlowicz | 15,000 | Robin Carroll | 0 | Roger Craig | 22,078 | # |
QF #2 | May 6, 2014 | Tom Nosek | 2,400 | Pam Mueller | 14,798 | Russ Schumacher | 16,700 | # |
QF #3 | May 7, 2014 | Mark Lowenthal | 300 | Brad Rutter | 32,400 | Dan Pawson | 399 | # |
QF #4 | May 8, 2014 | Tom Cubbage | 19,500 | Rachael Schwartz | 7,600 | Ken Jennings | 40,000 | # |
QF #5 | May 9, 2014 | Chuck Forrest | 11,900 | Mark Dawson | 8,600 | Colby Burnett | 11,000 | # |
SF #1 | May 12, 2014 | Ken Jennings | 30,401 | Russ Schumacher | 0 | Chuck Forrest | 26,200 | # |
SF #2 | May 13, 2014 | Brad Rutter | 32,800 | Tom Cubbage | 8,592 | Leszek Pawlowicz | 10,399 | # |
SF #3 | May 14, 2014 | Roger Craig | 12,799 | Pam Mueller | 1,595 | Colby Burnett | 4,099 | # |
Final | May 15, 2014 | Brad Rutter | $10,000 | Ken Jennings | $7,000 | Roger Craig | $0 (-$800) | # |
May 16, 2014 | $11,800 | $599 | $4,000 | # | ||||
Total | $21,800 | $7,599 | $4,000 |