Ken Jennings

Ultimate Tournament of Champions

On December 28, 2004, Sony sent out a press release announcing their 15-week, 75-show, Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions. It featured Tournament of Champions Champions, College Championship, and Teen Tournament winners from the show's 21-year run, as well as over 100 undefeated five-time champions.

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December 28 - Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions

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This equaled a total of 145 players, including Jennings. The Ultimate Tournament of Champions offered a substantial purse, with a grand prize of $2,000,000 to the winner, $500,000 for second, and $250,000 for third. Guaranteed prize money will be offered to all contestants. The tournament was taped in early 2005 and the tournament began airing on February 9. The three-day finals concluded the event on May 23, May 24 and May 25.

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2005 - February 9 - May 23 - May 24 - May 25

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Harry Friedman, Executive Producer of the show, said in the release, "The 2003 rule change, which allows Jeopardy! players to keep playing until they're defeated, raised the question about how other five-time champions might have played under this rule. This tournament is an opportunity to give those past champions another chance to shine." On May 25, Ken Jennings finished second in the Ultimate Tournament of Champions, winning half a million dollars but has been replaced as the number one overall winner of money on a gameshow by Brad Rutter, the two million dollar winner of the Ultimate Tournament of Champions.

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May 25 - Brad Rutter

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