Jeopardy! Battle of the Decades

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)
• Leszek Pawlowicz (1992 ToC winner, had never lost prior to the UToC)
• Richard Cordray (1987 ToC semifinalist)
• Tom Nosek (1993 ToC winner, 10th Anniversary Tournament finalist)
• 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, held 5-day earnings record (when unadjusted) for 29 years)
• Tom Cubbage (1989 ToC and College Championship winner, only College Champion to also win the ToC)
• Jerome Vered (1992 ToC and Ultimate ToC finalist, season 8 biggest winner)
• 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), who declined due to a scheduling conflict.
• Eric Newhouse (1989 Teen Tournament winner, 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)
• Barbara Lowe was also disqualified due to legal issues.

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 (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, season 14 biggest 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 (1995 ToC finalist and the 1990s' third highest-earning regular play contestant)
• John Cuthbertson (1994 ToC and Ultimate ToC semifinalist)

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

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