‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Suggest Making This Change to ‘Masters’

Brittany Sims
6 Comments
KEN JENNINGS, YOGESH RAUT, JUVERIA ZAHEER, VICTORIA GROCE JEOPARDY! MASTERS – “The Finals” – Hosted by Ken Jennings, top-ranked contestants compete for the $500,000 grand prize. The finals feature Yogesh Raut, Victoria Groce and Juveria Zaheer. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC.
Disney/Christopher Willard

Jeopardy! Masters is back for another season, but this time with a shortened format. Some fan-favorites are returning, along with some tournament winners, but fans have an idea for another change to the show: bring back the Greatest of All-Time (G.O.A.T.) players.

Beginning August 25, six fan favorites will return to the Alex Trebek stage to find out who will be the Masters champion. Reigning Jeopardy! Masters champion Yogesh Raut will return alongside finalists Juveria Zaheer and Victoria Groce. Groce won Season 2, while James Holzhauer was the first winner. Also competing are 2026 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner Paolo Pasco, 2026 Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament winner Andrew He and runner-up Long Nguyen.

But fans have a different idea for who should compete in the next tournament. “Should Jeopardy! Masters change to a GOAT format?” a Reddit user asked. “Hear me out. The winner of the previous year. JIT champ. TOC champ. GOAT format.”

Although the tournament sort of follows that now, it does also feature runners-up, but winners from the Second Chance Tournament, Champions Wildcard, and Celebrity Jeopardy!, as well as multi-champions from the past season, could also be included.

“Not too bad of an idea,” a fan replied.

“I like that more than what Masters is now,” another said.

“No, because Victoria and Yogesh are so far ahead it would likely be a whitewash for the two newer players (at least while they are still at the top of their games),” one Reddit user pointed out.

“I think if we come down to Victoria/Yogesh/ Third Person this year, then maybe, but I’d probably be more in favor of an automatic retirement rule for anyone who wins Masters twice,” a fourth added.

'Jeopardy! Masters' Season 4 Clip Teases Tears, a Big Shock & a 'Crazy' Battle (Exclusive)
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'Jeopardy! Masters' Season 4 Clip Teases Tears, a Big Shock & a 'Crazy' Battle (Exclusive)

“I mean, we all just have to wonder how they’d do against Ken [Jennings] right now,” a fan added about the host and former 74-game champion.

“I kinda wish more people, not less, were there in masters. It offers more variation, and I get to see more people play,” one last fan said.

The first four episodes of Season 4 will air on ABC from Tuesday, August 25, through Friday, August 28, at 8/7c. Episodes 5 through 8 will air on Tuesday, September 1, through Friday, September 4. The Season 4 finale will premiere on ABC on Tuesday, September 8. New episodes will stream the next day on Hulu.

Aside from the glory and the title of Jeopardy! Masters champion, the winner of the season receives $500,000 and the Alex Trebek trophy. The show also donates $100,000 to the charity of their choice.

What do you think of this format change? Let us know in the comments.

Jeopardy!, Season 43, September 2026, weekdays, check local listings

Jeopardy!Jeopardy! Masters



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  1. J

    Jim

    Why oh why do you keep bringing back Raut. He may know his trivia, but no one is more acidic, ill-mannered, and pompous than he is. I love all the various Jeopardy formats, but I will never again watch one in which he is a player. Bad, bad choice to have him return!!!

    1. B

      Bob

      Totally agree. I love Jeopardy but he is arrogant and ill mannered. He may know his trivia but I've stopped watching anytime he is included.

  2. C

    Chapter7

    I want to see Cris Panullo in this tournament. Yogesh and Victoria destroy the competition

    1. Y

      yormc

      Right now, I don't see Cris as among the most elite. Still, he should be invited back for the next JIT. For the next JIT, I also hope to see new contestants, particularly others from at least a decade ago who also have impressive stats but are mostly forgotten:

      • Emma Boettcher, Mark Runsvold, etc.;

      • Pre-2000 greats---e.g., Leszek Pawlowicz, Bob Verini, Jerome Vered, etc.; AND/OR

      • Other former contestants who also partake in World Quizzing, particularly those who improve a lot over time

  3. M

    Mytri

    I’m in complete agreement with Jim and everyone who has ever wanted to eliminate Raut! There have been my favorite players and those I’ve not cared for(Jamie), but there is absolutely nothing likeable about Raut.

  4. Y

    yormc

    Problem is how to change the format to be presentable on TV. We saw last year's poor setup (Masters: Season 3) in terms of qualification and racial composition.

    Anyway, I side with fans' common idea here about adding in the GOATs; my personal concern is Brad Rutter, whose prime days seem to be over after he was eliminated very early in Masters: Season 3. He's becoming less likely to be a finalist. Still, I consider him among the elites, who maintains sharp speed & solid knowledge; and more importantly, he's already a well-accomplished Hall of Famer on the Jeopardy! stage.