‘Jeopardy Masters’: Semifinals began with Yogesh Raut moving into the top spot (2024)

The “Jeopardy Masters” semifinals began Friday, following the departure of Matt Amodio and Mattea Roach, who didn’t earn enough match points to continue in the tournament. The May 17 episode once again featured two games, each with three players.

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But with only four contestants left at this stage, that meant some players competed in both games. Vancouver’s Yogesh Raut played in both games. In the first, Raut, a cognitive and behavioral scientist, played with fellow masters James Holzhauer, the Las Vegas-based, self-described “Final Boss” of “Jeopardy!,” and Victoria Groce, a writer and television personality from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

At the beginning of the round, host Ken Jennings announced that all the match points contestants had previously earned have been wiped clean, so, “it’s a level playing field.” At the end of the quarterfinals, Groce had been at the top of the “Jeopardy Masters” leaderboard, followed by Raut, Holzhauer, and Amy Schneider, a writer from Oakland, California.

Though four players compete in the semifinals, only three will move on to the finals, where they will compete head-to-head for the $500,000 grand prize and Trebek Trophy.

At the end of the first game, Raut had 24,400; Groce had 18,000; and Holzhauer had 13,000. The “Final Jeopardy” category was “Native American Language.” The clue: “In 1612 John Smith published a Powhatan word list including these two words familiar to us today, one worn in pairs and one wielded.”

Holzhauer had the right answer with, “What are moccasins and a tomahawk?” He wagered 98, which brought his total to 13,098. Groce had a wrong answer with, “What are hatchet and moccasins?” She wagered 8,001, reducing her total to 9,999.

Raut had the correct response, and his wager of 11,601 earned him a total of 36,001, and the win. As the winner, he earned three match points. Holzhauer, in second, earned one match point, and Groce’s third-place total left her with zero match points after the first semifinals game.

But Groce’s fortunes changed in the second game of the episode. In that game, Groce competed with Raut and Schneider. Though Raut and Groce traded being in the lead, by the time “Final Jeopardy” arrived, Groce had a big lead, with 27,200. Raut had 13,200, and Schneider was at minus 3,000, which meant she couldn’t play in the “Final Jeopardy” round.

The “Final Jeopardy” category was “Also Seen at the Circus.” The clue: “FDR gets credit for implementing this as a concept in the U.S. and the metaphor was used by FDR Jr., running for office in 1966.”

Raut guessed, “What is big tent?” which wasn’t correct. He wagered 13,199, which dropped his total down to 1. Groce couldn’t muster a guess.

The right answer, Jennings said, was “the safety net,” the term that applies to New Deal programs, such as Social Security.

Groce bet zero, which left her with her 27,200 total, and the win.

The leaderboard at the end of the Friday game showed Raut at the top, followed by Groce, Holzhauer and Schneider.

But, as Jennings pointed out, Holzhauer and Schneider both had only played in one game at that point, “so this is still anybody’s game.”

“Jeopardy Masters” continues Monday, May 20, at 8 p.m. on ABC.

— Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist

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