Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament Lineup Released

The Jeopardy! Fan is reporting on the Jeopardy Invitational Tournament, the final breath of the Writer’s Strike-inspired never-ending tournament carousel on Jeopardy!. The lineup is stacked with returning fan favorites and high-level players.

The Jeopardy Invitational Tournament is a 12- to 14-episode ordeal in which the below competitors compete to win $100,000 and a bump to join the Jeopardy! Masters primetime series on ABC. Very exciting people to note: Brandon Blackwell returns to the Jeopardy! stage since his appearance in the Teen Tournament in 2008; Arthur Chu, an outspoken and infamous competitor known for his aggressive style; Game Show Marathon and BuzzerBlog friend and bridge enthusiast Ben Ingram; and BuzzerBlog friend and podcast subject Victoria Groce! I have a renewed excitement for this, seeing some great high-quality players in a tournament. Who are you looking forward to seeing return?

Thanks to The Jeopardy! Fan, here’s the roster of returning competitors:

Brandon Blackwell, a 2008 Teen Tournament semifinalist and current competitor on ABC’s The Chase originally from Jamaica, N.Y.

Colby Burnett, a 2012 Teachers Tournament winner, 2013 Tournament of Champions winner, Battle of the Decades semifinalist and All-Star Games second runner up (as part of Team Colby) from Chicago, Ill.

Sam Buttrey, a 2021 Professors Tournament winner, 2022 Tournament of Champions second runner up and 2023 Jeopardy! Masters participant from Pacific Grove, Calif.

Lilly Chin, a 2017 College Championship winner and 2017 Tournament of Champions semifinalist from Decatur, Ga.

Arthur Chu, a Season 30 11-game champion and 2014 Tournament of Champions first runner-up originally from Cleveland, Ohio

Leonard Cooper, a 2013 Teen Tournament winner and All-Star Games competitor (as part of Team Austin) from Little Rock, Ark.

Celeste DiNucci, a Season 22 five-time champion, 2007 Tournament of Champions winner and Battle of the Decades participant from Philadelphia, Pa.

Chuck Forrest, a Season 2 five-game champ, 1986 Tournament of Champions winner, Super Jeopardy! quarterfinalist, Million Dollar Masters tournament semifinalist, Ultimate Tournament of Champions Nifty Nine finisher and Battle of the Decades from Marino, Italy

Dhruv Gaur, a 2018 College Championship winner and 2019 Tournament of Champions semifinalist from Cambridge, Mass.

Victoria Groce, a Season 22 one-game champion and current participant on ABC’s The Chase from Pittsburgh, Pa.

Andrew He, a Season 38 five-game champion, 2022 Tournament of Champions first runner-up and 2023 Jeopardy! Masters fourth place finisher from Concord, Calif.

Ben Ingram, a Season 29 eight-game champion, 2014 Tournament of Champions winner and All-Star Games participant (as part of Team Julia) from Florence, S.C.

Matt Jackson, a Season 32 13-game champion, 2015 Tournament of Champions first runner-up and All-Star Games first runner-up (as part of Team Ken) originally from Washington, D.C.

Alex Jacob, a Season 31 six-game champion, 2015 Tournament of Champions winner and All-Star Games competitor (as part of Team Buzzy) from Tulsa, Okla.

MacKenzie Jones, a Season 36 eight-game champion and 2021 Tournament of Champions quarterfinalist from Tulsa, Okla.

Sam Kavanaugh, a Season 35 five-game champion and 2021 Tournament of Champions winner from Minneapolis, Minn.

Larissa Kelly, a Season 24 six-game champion, 2009 Tournament of Champions first runner-up, Battle of the Decades participant and All-Star Games winner (as part of Team Brad) from Richmond, Calif.

Alan Lin, a Season 33 six-game champion, 2017 Tournament of Champions first runner-up and 2019 All-Star Games second runner-up (as part of Team Colby) from Los Angeles, Calif.

David Madden, a Season 21/22 19-game champion, 2006 Tournament of Champions semifinalist and All-Star Games winner (as part of Team Brad) from Ridgewood, N.J.

Pam Mueller, a 2000 College Championship winner, 2001 Tournament of Champions semifinalist, 2005 Ultimate Tournament of Champions Sweet Six finisher, Battle of the Decades semifinalist and All-Star Games second runner-up (as part of Team Colby) originally from Chicago, Ill.

Terry O’Shea, a 2014 College Championship winner and 2014 Tournament of Champions semifinalist from Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dan Pawson, a Season 24 nine-game champion, 2009 Tournament of Champions winner, and Battle of the Decades quarterfinalist from Arlington, Va.

Jennifer Quail, a Season 36 eight-game champion and 2021 Tournament of Champions first runner-up from Dowagiac, Mich.

Austin Rogers, a Season 34 12-game champion, 2017 Tournament of Champions second runner-up, and All-Star Games participant (as part of Team Austin) from New York, N.Y.

Amy Schneider, a Season 38 40-game champion, 2022 Tournament of Champions winner, and Jeopardy! Masters fifth place finisher from Oakland, Calif.

Monica Thieu, a 2012 College Championship winner, 2013 Tournament of Champions quarterfinalist and All-Star Games first runner-up (as part of Team Ken) from Atlanta, Ga.

Jason Zuffranieri, a Season 35/36 19-game champion and 2021 Tournament of Champions semifinalist from Carrollton, Texas