When Jeopardy! Masters hit the 2025 TV schedule final week, longtime followers had been stoked to see Brad Rutter — the most important winner in Jeopardy! historical past — return to the Alex Trebek Stage. After he turned down provides to look within the JIT for the previous couple of years, this was Rutter’s first time behind the rostrum since Ken Jennings beat him in 2020’s GOAT Match, and apparently we’ve their fellow GOAT contestant James Holzhauer to thank for bringing these previous rivals face-to-face.
The three finalists from final 12 months’s Masters — Victoria Groce, Yogesh Raut and James Holzhauer — had been among the many 9 invited to compete on the third season of the elite match on ABC (and streaming with a Hulu subscription). Nevertheless, a lot to my huge dismay, Holzhauer was lacking from the lineup. As govt producer Michael Davies explained in a behind-the-scenes weblog:
James Holzhauer, the 2023 Jeopardy! Masters champion and final 12 months’s third-place finisher, declined our invitation to take part. Graciously, he really helpful that we attain out to the one who has received more cash enjoying Jeopardy! than any human (or laptop) alive: Ken’s rival of 20 years, Brad Rutter.
I had no concept it was truly James Holzhauer’s concept to get Brad Rutter to return out of his five-year hiatus, and I’m so grateful that he did. (In an ideal world, we might have had them each, since they’ve Jeopardy! beef as nicely, however I digress.)
Jeopardy! greats Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter have shared the stage a number of instances as rivals, together with when Rutter beat the would-be host within the 2005 Final Match of Champions, after they had been each beat by IBM’s Watson in 2011, when Rutter bested Jennings within the 2014’s Battle of the A long time, and when Group Brad beat Group Ken in Jeopardy! All-Star Video games in 2019. Michael Davies continued:
So, if you noticed that lighthearted trade between Brad and Ken within the opening introductions — ‘I know you’re delighted to see me, Ken’ — take into consideration what number of video games, years, and a long time went into the formation of that second. Even a supercomputer was concerned.
While you take a look at what number of instances Brad Rutter has come out on prime of Ken Jennings through the years, it’s no marvel Jennings has been ducking a GOAT rematch. In truth, it wasn’t till 2020’s Biggest of All Time Match that Jennings lastly received revenge on his richer however less-famous counterpart. He received the primary sport, turning into the primary human to ever beat Rutter, with James Holzhauer taking Recreation 2, then Jennings ending the best-of-3 sequence with victories in Video games 3 and 4.
I completely beloved seeing these two come collectively once more, and you’ll inform Brad Rutter’s able to reignite the pleasant rivalry, as he gave Ken Jennings hell for mentioning the 2020 match and stated he deliberate to “make enjoyable of” the host a bit whereas he’s there.
It could have been Brad Rutter’s first sport in 5 years, however Michael Davies definitely didn’t ease him again into the competitors upon his long-awaited return. Rutter was instantly pitted towards final 12 months’s Masters champ Victoria Groce (full with inexperienced jacket) and runner-up Yogesh Raut. Rutter struggled on the buzzer, which isn’t actually a shock, and he completed in third place for no match factors.
I’m nonetheless completely happy to have him again on the Alex Trebek Stage, particularly reuniting with Ken Jennings. I do want James Holzhauer was there with them, however I will simply stay grateful that the sport present villain determined to make use of his powers (and his absence) for good this time round.
Jeopardy! Masters continues at 9 p.m. ET Wednesdays on ABC and streaming the following day on Hulu.
