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Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades

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Host
Alex Trebek
Announcer
Johnny Gilbert
Photo
530243b19285a image
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:

The second week of voting took place the following week, with the nominees being kept secret until the voting began. They were:

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, biggest one-day total of season 26)
  • 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 (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)
  • John Kelly (1992 ToC quarterfinalist, fifth-highest regular games winner of the pre-doubled era)
  • 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)
  • Harvey Becker (1986 ToC quarterfinalist)
  • Jerry Frankel (1985 ToC winner), who passed away in 1987
  • Bruce Ikawa (1991 ToC quarterfinalist, tenth-highest regular games winner of the pre-doubled era)
  • Bev Schwartzberg (1993 ToC finalist)
  • Ed Schiffer (season 9 biggest winner, 1993 ToC semifinalist)
  • Steve Rogitz (1985 ToC finalist, Super Jeopardy! quarterfinalist, and 10th Anniversary Tournament semifinalist)
  • Jeff Richmond (1989 ToC quarterfinalist, only contestant to play FJ! in 4-player, 3-player, 2-player, and 1-player modes)
  • Roy Holliday (1988 ToC, 10th Anniversary Tournament semifinalist)
  • Lynne Wexler (1991 ToC quarterfinalist, first woman to earn more than $70,000 in regular games)
  • Doug Molitor (1987 ToC, 10th Anniversary Tournament semifinalist)
  • Mark Born (season 7 biggest winner, 1991 ToC semifinalist)
  • John Ryan (season 3 biggest winner, 1987 ToC semifinalist)
  • Lionel Goldbart (1986 ToC, 10th Anniversary Tournament semifinalist), who passed away in 2010
  • Eric Terzuolo (1990 ToC semifinalist)
  • Paul Rouffa (1986 ToC finalist, alternate for the 10th Anniversary Tournament)
  • Jay Rosenberg (1986 ToC semifinalist), who passed away in 2008
  • Bruce Fauman (1985 ToC finalist), who passed away in 2002
  • Mark McDermott (1989 ToC, 10th Anniversary Tournament semifinalist)
  • Steve Berman (1990 ToC finalist)
  • Paul Boymel (season 1 biggest winner, 1985 ToC semifinalist)

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)
  • 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)
  • Michael Dupée (1996 ToC winner)

Among notable past contestants from this decade that were not in the field:

  • David Siegel (season 11 biggest winner, 1995 ToC finalist, and the pre-doubled era's third highest-earning regular play contestant)
  • John Cuthbertson (season 10 biggest winner, 1994 ToC and Ultimate ToC semifinalist)
  • Jeff Stewart (1994 College Championship winner, 1994 ToC finalist)
  • Matthew Zielenski (1995 Teen Tournament winner, holder of highest-winning tournament score in the pre-doubled era, 1995 ToC semifinalist, and 2005 UToC quarterfinalist)
  • Ben Tritle (2003 ToC quarterfinalist, first 5-time champion in the doubled era)
  • Amy Fine (1994 ToC quarterfinalist, the top regular games winner among women players from the pre-doubled era)
  • Steve Chernicoff (1994 ToC semifinalist, sixth-highest regular games winner of the pre-doubled era)
  • Isaac Segal (1995 ToC finalist)
  • Eric Floyd (season 18 biggest winner, 2003 ToC finalist)
  • Lara Robillard (1999 ToC quarterfinalist)
  • Michael Arnone (2001 ToC quarterfinalist, biggest one-day total of season 17)
  • Doug Lach (season 16 biggest winner, 2001 ToC quarterfinalist, and fourth-highest regular games winner of the pre-doubled era)
  • Jeremy Bate (2000 ToC semifinalist and the alternate for the Million Dollar Masters)
  • Carolyn Cracraft (2000 ToC semifinalist and 1999 College Championship winner)
  • Arthur Phillips (1998 ToC quarterfinalist)
  • Beverly Spurs (1998 Battle of the Area Brains invitee and 1996 ToC semifinalist)
  • Trevor Norris (2003 ToC semifinalist and last 5-time champion of the pre-doubled era)
  • Rick Knutsen (2001 ToC finalist)
  • Grace Veach (1998 ToC semifinalist and Ultimate ToC quarterfinalist)
  • Jonathan Groff (1995 ToC semifinalist)
  • Michael Rooney (2000 ToC semifinalist and Ultimate ToC quarterfinalist)
  • Kim Worth (season 13 biggest winner, 1998 ToC finalist)
  • David Bagley (season 15 biggest winner, 1999 ToC semifinalist)
  • Juliet Wiley (1999 ToC finalist)
  • Paul Thompson (season 12 biggest winner, 1995 ToC semifinalist)
  • Chacko George (1999-B Teen Tournament winner, 2000 ToC semifinalist, and last Teen Tournament winner to be invited to the ToC)

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:

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 Ryan 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 Michael 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

Gallery[]

Intro Logos[]

Contestants[]

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