‘Jeopardy James’ Holzhauer to return for ‘Jeopardy! Masters’

(L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
James Holzhauer is returning to the game show that made him popular.

The Las Vegas-based expert sports bettor, aka "Jeopardy James," will compete in "Jeopardy! Masters" starting at 8 p.m. Monday on ABC (KTNV-13).

Six of Jeopardy!'s highest-ranked champs will contend in the Masters tournament, which will air as 10 hourlong episodes including two half-hour games. Reveals also will air Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and the winner will stroll off from the last episode May 24 with $500,000 and the Trebek Trophy.

The other candidates are Amy Schneider, Matt Amodio, Andrew He, Mattea Roach and Sam Buttrey. All five competed in the 2022 Tournament of Champions won by Schneider.

Holzhauer poked fun at the field for the occasion when he retweeted a poster with the returning champs supporting host Ken Jennings.

" This poster screams ‘‘ We know you saw this competition in 2015 but a new supervillain has signed up with the cast for the sequel!' and I am here for it," he wrote on Twitter (@James_Holzhauer).

Holzhauer won $2.46 million on "Jeopardy!" during a 32-game winning streak in 2019, making him the show's second-biggest money winner in routine play behind Jennings, who won $2.52 million during a 74-game win streak in 2004.

Holzhauer also won $250,000 for winning the 2019 TOC and $250,000 for placing 2nd to Jennings in the 2020 Greatest of All Time competition.

But he stopped short of announcing himself the preferred to win the Masters.

" Statistically I'm the most accomplished player, however I believe the other candidates might have an advantage from having actually played more just recently," he informed the Review-Journal in an email. "The stage still seems like house to me, however I may have some ring rust."

Schneider has the second-longest win streak in the program's history at 40 video games. She is the most effective lady and transgender entrant to complete on the program with $1.6 million in jackpots.

Amodio has the third-longest win streak at 38 video games and $1.5 million in earnings.

In the early rounds, the winner of each video game receives 3 standings points, with one point for second place and none for third. After 7 episodes (14 games), the top four players will advance to the semifinals prior to one more player is removed. The champion culminates with the leading three gamers competing in a two-game total point match.

2nd place receives $250,000, third $150,000, 4th $100,000, fifth $75,000 and 6th $50,000.

" The most amazing part of this competition for me is that the winner gets to donate $100,000 to the charity of their option," Holzhauer stated. "I hope I can bring that money home for Project 150."

Task 150 is a regional charity that provides complimentary assistance and services to homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school trainees in Nevada.

For the 2nd straight year in August, Holzhauer will help run the Game Show Boot Camp in Las Vegas to benefit Project 150. The camp consists of seminars on how to get cast on a video game show and be a great contestant. For more details, see wheatridgefoundation.org/gameshowbootcamp.

Contact press reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 on Twitter.