In preparation for the upcoming 2026
Jeopardy postseason this week the lineup for the 2025-2026 Second Chance
Tournament was announced. And I think it's time I make my feelings clear.
If you've read my column on the
subject over the last few years you know that I initially hated the idea of it
when it was launched in 2022, was appalled by its role in the endless
postseason of 2023-2024 and was only slightly less kind going into last year.
However, I will confess events of the last postseason have warmed me to it.
For one thing there is how the show
keeps making it very clear that just because you get the Second Chance doesn't
mean you'll get to make a first impression in the Tournament of Champions. If
anything they've made even more difficult this time around even though
paradoxically they're allowing more players to get a second chance this time
around.
For starters there will be 27 players
who have been selected for the Second Chance Tournament this time. They will
follow the model set by last year: nine players will face off in three
semi-final games, with the three winners facing off in a two-game total point
affair with the winner getting $35,000 and a spot in the Champions Wild Card
Tournament that will follow after the Second Chance Tournament is over.
After that those three players will
have to compete in the 2026 Champions Wild Card Tournament (I'll discuss the
format when the lineup for that in the next article) and only the winner
of that Tournament will advance to the Tournament of Champions. So just to get
to the Tournament of Champions any one of the Second Chance Tournament winner
will essentially have to win two tournaments or the equivalent of seven games.
Considering that to be guaranteed a spot in the Tournament of Champions you
usually need to win five games it's now clear that if they get
there, it is more involved than the 'participation trophy' metaphor' that I
initially used. Say what you will about the producers they're not saying that
losing will get you an automatic spot in the TOC.
I'll also admit that last year's
postseason did a lot to assuage my issues. Considering just how charming and
warm Drew Goins was to watch not just through the Second Chance Tournament but
when he managed his way into the TOC it's hard not to argue its value. And
considering Juveria Zaheer's play all the way through last year's Jeopardy
Invitational Tournament and then in the Jeopardy Masters I had to eat a lot of
crow. She managed to defeat Seth Wilson and Ray LaLonde, each of whom had won a
dozen games or more getting to the finals. Then when she was invited she went
toe to toe with some of the greatest Jeopardy players in history and beat them
including Brad Rutter, the all-time biggest money winner in Jeopardy history.
That she also managed to restore a sense of charm and good humor that was
frequently missing from last year's Masters made me love her all the more and
I'm actually glad she managed to make it as far as she did.
Adding to its appeal, I should
mention, is the fact that I no longer believe the producers are having to
stretch the definition of Second Chance players as much as they had too the
first year of its existence. (We'll leave the endless postseason out of it this
time.) The fact that there has been a greater balance of competition in the
last year and a half has actually made it a lot easier to justify giving people
Second Chances then when they seemed to be pushing the term with so many of the
ones that basically seemed to be invited back because they had the misfortune
of facing off against Matt Amodio or Mattea Roach the first year. It was
definitely true of those who came close to beating Adriana Harmeyer or Isaac
Hirsh last year and its definitely more so this year with so many very good but
not quite super-champions in Season 41 and the start of this year.
So in this article I will briefly go
through all 27 members of this Second Chance Tournament and why they earned
their Second Chances. As is often the case some are more deserving then others
but at this point I'm willing to give the producers the slightest benefit
of the doubt.
Evan Argyle
All right he had 25 correct responses
on October 14th and had a sizable lead going into Final Jeopardy. He
was the only player to respond incorrectly. That's the dictionary definition.
I'm not wild about it but I can understand the reasoning.
Abigail Arnold
Abigail faced off against Liam Starnes
on his fourth win of the season. She was way ahead of him for much of the
Jeopardy round but after betting everything on a Daily Double she dropped into
last. She still came very close to defeating him and it came down to the wagers
on a Final Jeopardy both got incorrect but he bet just enough to win. I'd say
she's more than earned it.
Guy Branum
Guy was the contestant in Bryce
Wargin's last appearance on Jeopardy and Mike Dawson's first win. Considering
that he was leading going into Double Jeopardy and was ahead of Bryce going
into Final Jeopardy I expected his appearance.
Bob Callen
I thought there was a good chance Bob
would be picked. Considering that he was ahead of Liam Starnes going into Final
Jeopardy of his second win and that he was the only person who responded
incorrectly that day it was a safe bet he met the parameters.
Ricky Chandak
Ricky was the first player I expected from
Scott Riccardi's original run to be asked back on a Second Chance. Ricky appeared
in Scott's second game and came within $2000 off being ahead of him going into
Final Jeopardy. They both responded correctly to Final Jeopardy so that lead
going in was crucial.
Dondi DeMarco
Dondi more than earned his second
chance. In what was Andrew Hayes' fifth appearance Dondi led Andrew throughout
the game and had a considerable lead going into Final Jeopardy that day.
However Andrew was the only player to come up with a correct response in Final
Jeopardy and that did the trick.
Rachael Gray
This could have changed the course of
last season. Rachael Gray was ahead of Liam Starnes going into the Jeopardy
round of his first appearance and finished Double Jeopardy with a very
impressive $16,200 to his $19,600. However she was the only player to respond
incorrectly on Final Jeopardy and Liam began his impressive run.
Mustafa Hameed
I had a feeling Mustafa was going to
be here. In Josh Weikert's second game Mustafa gave him a hell of a run finishing
with $17,200 to Josh's $21,800. However neither he nor Josh responded correctly
in Final Jeopardy and it came down to wagering. Josh was left with just enough
to retain his title.
Jenna Hayes
This was makes perfect sense. In what
was Laura Faddah's fourth appearance Jenna was dominant from start to finish.
There was never a moment in the first two rounds she wasn't leading. She had
$18,200 and Laura was in a distant third. She needed a miracle.
And then for what was the first time
in her original run Laura responded correctly to Final Jeopardy. Both her
opponents responded incorrectly and Jenna was the subject of what is referred
to as a 'crushing defeat' where the only way she could have lost was because of
how the third place contestant did and the leader responded. She earned this one.
Aaron Himmel
Aaron actually appeared on Who Wants
To Be A Millionaire. That might be a reason to invite him back. A better one is
that he was leading all the way and had a fairly significant margin going into
Final Jeopardy. Unfortunately Christmas did not come early for him as he ended
up responding incorrectly in Final Jeopardy (in joke). I get why he's back even
though there were probably better choices.
Melanie Hirsch
Another from Josh's run this time Game
4. She had a big lead going into Double Jeopardy and because Josh responded
incorrectly on the very last clue of Double Jeopardy was leading by a narrow
margin going into Final Jeopardy. (It didn't help she got both Daily Doubles in
that wrong incorrect.). Then she was in a tough Final Jeopardy which no one got
correct (I did but I really wasn't sure of it) and because she bet the most of
all three contestants she lost and Josh's run went on. Hard to say she didn't
earn it.
Eugene Huang
This is a closer question then the
previous one but the same circumstances apply. In Josh's third appearance
Eugene was trailing most of the game but managed to close the gap to keep Josh
from running away with it. (He might have done better had he not gotten the last
Daily Double of the game incorrect on the very last clue of play.) Still he
gave Josh a run for his money.
Emily Johnson
I'm willing to give the producers the
benefit of the doubt. Emily did manage to give 20 correct responses on her
March 11th appearance and she finished Double Jeopardy with $20,800.
That was only good enough for second place as James Corson finished with
$29,000. James's winning total of $42,000 was the highest of Season 41 to that point.
I can see the reasoning.
Pete Johnston
A veteran of Scott's ninth game he was
the last player to seriously challenge him until Scott's defeat at the end of
the season. It wasn't as close a call as some of the others but Scott didn't
have a lot of close ones.
Erin Li
Apparently there was an immense amount
of backlash online during Erin's appearance against Mike Dawson. I'll let this
one go.
Ivanna Lopez
This is a little close considering
Ivanna appeared on Scott's tenth victory and it was a runaway. That said, it
was a lot closer than the majority of Scott's wins so I'll let it go
Molly Murray
This one makes perfect sense. Just two
weeks ago Molly looked like she was going to end Allegra Kuney's streak before
it even started thanks to two correct Daily Doubles halfway through Double Jeopardy.
But then Allegra turned on the gas and managed to catch and pass Molly by the
end of the round. And she had to because both of them correctly responded to Final
Jeopardy. Molly more than deserves it.
Erik Nielsen
Apparently Erik is a successful
comedian who appeared on such shows as Community. More on point he
finished ahead of Steven Olson during what was his final appearance and was
doing well until Vickie Tavola went all in on a Daily Double. I guess this
qualifies under 'fan favorite'
Keegan Olson
Keegan earned his second chance in the
sense that he really blew his first one. He was ahead going into the Double
Jeopardy round in what would be Ben Ganger's final appearance and then on two
consecutive Daily Doubles bet big and lost everything. That being said, he did
respond correctly on Final Jeopardy and Sarah Gillis who won didn't so there's
clearly logic to this.
Dan Puma
Dan's appearance doesn't shock me in
the least. Dan faced off against Scott in his fourth game actually got both
Daily Doubles in Double Jeopardy ahead of him and got them both right. Thing is
he did so by the fifth clue of the round.
He played as well as Scott: he got 23 correct responses and Scott got 24 but he
made eight incorrect responses as opposed to Scott's 2 and that was his
undoing. You come at the king, you better not miss and Dan didn't miss by much.
Ryan Sharpe
I completely expected this. In Paolo
Pasco's fourth appearance Ryan had his number from the start of the Jeopardy
round to the end of Double Jeopardy. At the end of it he had $27,600 to Paolo's
$16,800. I have no doubt Paolo thought he was through. But then Paolo was the
only one in Final Jeopardy to know unfriend once referred to 'not a Quaker' and
Ryan thought that it was a troll. (Again hard to blame him.) I would love to
see him again.
Michelle Tsai
This ones questionable. To be sure
Michelle did play brilliantly with 22 correct responses and only one incorrect
on in her May 8th appearance. No one responded correctly in Final
Jeopardy and Michelle could have won had Dan Moren wagered anything. But
honestly she's borderline.
Chris Turner-Neal
Chris is who the Second Chance
Tournament was designed for. He led TJ Fisher from the start of the Jeopardy
round until Double Jeopardy was over. He was ahead by $300. He got Final
Jeopardy correct! But unlike TJ he bet conservatively and TJ lived to fight another
day. If that doesn't rank a second chance what does.
Andrew Wang
This guy made Scott Riccardi sweat
blood in his seventh appearance. He was ahead at the end of the Jeopardy round.
He maintained his lead throughout Double Jeopardy. It was only because Scott
went on a run and got the last six out of eight clues correct that he was in
first place at all. And he had to be because Andrew and his opponent also got Final
Jeopardy correct. I figured Andrew would be back.
Dave Widmayer
Absolutely logical. Dave appeared in
Andrew Hayes second game and was in charge from start to finish. He was leading
with $20,200 to Andrew's $13,000. He needed to respond correctly in Final
Jeopardy and when he did, he actually seemed surprised he was correct. Dave
didn't know it allowing Andrew to continue his run.
Allison Willard
Poor girl. Ending up between Bryce Wargin
and Josh Weikert. And she did very well against both of them. 19 correct
responses, including a Daily Double, finishing with a respectable $11,000 in
third place. But she didn't know the correct response so she told the world she
loved her mother. I get why they picked her and she earned it.
Jasmine Zhou
Practically had to go back to the
beginning for the end. Way back in Ashley Chan's fourth appearance she was
leading her going into Double Jeopardy and played extraordinarily well with
$15,600 to Ashley's $18,800. (The third player Jordan Peterson was just as
good. It came down to wagering and its worth noting that if Jasmine had been a
little less conservative she could have beaten Ashley. It's completely
reasonable.
Honestly this is a decent group. There
might have been one or two people from Scott's run I would have included but as
much of this is the producer's call I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
And considering how huge this field is and how badly they messed it up with the
extended postseason of 2023-2024 I'm counting this as an improvement.
We will be seeing them starting
December 15th. As to the
Roster for Champions Wild Card 2026 I'll be dealing with that tomorrow.
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