‘Jeopardy!’ champs tourney features Oviedo attorney
The Tournament of Champions on “Jeopardy!” starts Nov. 4, runs 10 days and features an attorney from Central Florida.
Eric R. Backes, a lawyer and government relations professional from Oviedo, will compete on Thursday, Nov. 7. He won four games and collected $105,602 in season 35.
The tournament also brings back James Holzhauer, who earned $2,462,216 by winning 32 games, also in season 35. The professional sports gambler from Las Vegas electrified the public with his aggressive approach to the game.
Fifteen players take part in the tournament’s first week.
“Jeopardy!” is in its 36th season in syndication and airs at 7 p.m. weeknights on WFTV-Channel 9.
Here’s the lineup:
■ Nov. 4: Gilbert Collins, a university administrator from Princeton, N.J.; Anneke Garcia, an instructional design consultant from Salt Lake City; and Kyle Jones, a music teacher from Aurora, Colo.
■ Nov. 5: Dhruv Gaur, a student at Brown University from Gainesville, Ga.; Rachel Lindgren, an astronomy interpreter from Bend, Ore.; and Rob Worman, an engagement manager from Edina, Minn.
■ Nov. 6: Holzhauer; Alan Dunn, a software development manager from Johns Creek, Ga.; and Lindsey Shultz, a physician and healthcare analyst from Pittsburgh.
■ Nov. 7: Backes; Emma Boettcher, a user experience librarian from Chicago; and Josh Hill, a network engineer from North Little Rock, Ark.
■ Nov. 8: Francois Barcomb, an 11th grade physics teacher from New Paltz, N.Y.; Ryan Fenster, a graduate student from Seatac, Wash.; and Steven Grade, a sports industry consultant from Atlanta.
The semifinals run Nov. 11-13, and the two-day finals air Nov. 14-15.
The winner earns the $250,000 grand prize, the second-place finisher receives $100,000, and third place collects $50,000.