JEOPARDY! fans have predicted that one contestant has what it takes to outplay James Holzhauer in the show’s upcoming Masters special.

Ken Jennings hosts the six-legend competition, which airs in primetime on ABC starting May 1.

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Jeopardy! Masters is back for its second installment beginning May 1, Deadline announced.

The six current highest-ranked Jeopardy! contestants will play in the primetime tournament, facing off in two games per hour-long episode.

The showdown will feature Jeopardy! Masters Season 1 champion James Holzhauer, returning contestants Matt Amodio and Mattea Roach, and newcomers Yogesh Raut and Victoria Groce.

The sixth and final contestant is a mysterious Producer’s Pick, which is currently anyone’s guess.

Victoria punched her ticket to Masters by winning the $100,000 Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament earlier this week in a breeze.

The Queen of The Chase will now face James, with whom she co-stars on the ABC sister show.

‘RUN FOR HIS MONEY’

Now, fans think the professional trivia player has the best shot at taking out James and preventing him from winning Masters in perpetuity.

“I am anxious to see James play Victoria…she should give him a run for his money,” one fan wrote on Facebook.

“Victoria is really good and watching her in the JIT made me think she might be the best,” wrote another.

“They should pit James, Ken, and Victoria against each other,” longed a third.

“Victoria and James are heavy favorites to make the Finals of Masters,” a fourth agreed.

“I am very firmly team Victoria for masters this year. They’re all awesome, but I always have a personal pic,” wrote a fifth.

“What a great player and pleasant person. Hopefully she wins the Masters,” one more added.

HOW VICTORIA IS PREPPING

Victoria beat out Amy Schneider and Andrew He in the recent JIT, dazzling fans considering she’s a trivia expert but only won one game on Jeopardy! back in 2005.

Victoria told Vulture after the win how she’s preparing to face James.

“He may try to trash-talk me, but I probably won’t trash-talk back.

“You may have figured out that’s not my style. I’m very much a mom. Imagine your mom trying to come for James Holzhauer. It just doesn’t work,” she said.

She added, “I had very limited time to prepare, because I got called for the Invitational about three weeks before it taped, which was the same for everyone.

“You can’t become a whole different player in that amount of time. You can absolutely train yourself into being a frightening Jeopardy! player, but it takes more than a few weeks.”

“I’ve been trying to work on wordplay stuff mostly,” she added on her prep.

“I’m hoping that if I can buzz in on more wordplay and fact clues that I wouldn’t have gotten without study, I’ll be pleased with myself. That’s not unrealistic for the amount of time I have.”

On the Inside Jeopardy! podcast after her win, Victoria was also asked about the Masters Tournament and who she’s sizing up.

She was quick to name-drop James and, humorously enough, no one else.

The JIT champion said that James is “terrifying on the buzzer,” and she’ll be focusing on perfecting her speed.

“That’s going to be what it’s going to be and there’s a limit you can prepare for that outside the studio,” she told the hosts.

Executive Producer Michael Davies mentioned the other contestants that Victoria would be facing off against.

“And beyond James, Matt Amodio and Mattea Roach – you’ve obviously seen them play,” he said.

“I have seen them play and I know they’re particularly strong,” Victoria responded.

“Particularly Mattea on the buzzer,” Davies said, reminding her there were even other players involved.

“Oh, yes! Mattea. They were able to keep up with James which is no small feat,” Victoria ended.

James tore through Masters Season 1 and only lost one match all special. That said, Mattea pushed him to the brink and nearly defeated him in the finals, so he’s not invincible.

DETAILS ON MASTERS SEASON 2

Masters is an annual event that determines the best Jeopardy! contestant in any given year.

The ultimate grand prize is $500,000, a glitzy trophy, and the title of Jeopardy! Masters Champion.

The sixth mystery contestant who will round out the lineup is still unannounced.

The show’s producers will announce the last contestant at an Inside Jeopardy! event at Hudson Yards in New York City today, on Friday, April 12.

Fans on Reddit are floating who they think the Producer Pick will be, many naming Brad Rutter since he’s the third G.O.A.T contestant.

Others predicted 21-day champ Cris Pannullo who faceplanted in the 2024 Tournament of Champions (and was last year’s Masters alternate).

Others yet think Troy Meyer or Ben Chan would make winning additions as they put up a ferocious fight in the 2024 ToC finals.

Even though Troy placed third to Ben, he was statistically a stronger player.

SCHEDULE FOR MASTERS SEASON 2

Here is the schedule for Masters Season 2 in primetime on ABC:

Wednesday, May 1
8:00-9:00 p.m. – Jeopardy! Masters: (201) (Season Premiere)

Monday, May 6
8:00-9:00 p.m. – Jeopardy! Masters: (202)

Wednesday, May 8
8:00-9:00 p.m. – Jeopardy! Masters: (203)

Friday, May 10
8:00-9:01 p.m. – Jeopardy! Masters: (204)

Monday, May 13
8:00-9:00 p.m. – Jeopardy! Masters: (205)

Wednesday, May 15
8:00-9:00 p.m. – Jeopardy! Masters: (206)

Friday, May 17
8:00-9:01 p.m. – Jeopardy! Masters: (207)

Monday, May 20
8:00-9:00 p.m. – Jeopardy! Masters: (208)

Wednesday, May 22
8:00-9:00 p.m. – Jeopardy! Masters: (209) (Season Finale)

MASTERS GETTING READY

Some of the Masters contenders are already taking to social media, mentally prepping for the event.

Mattea wrote on X earlier this week, “Just spent a good portion of my day rifling through my (straight!) brother’s closet looking for cool sh** I can wear on Jeopardy Masters.”

Meanwhile, Matt wrote before Victoria’s JIT win, “The level of #Jeopardy play in the JIT has definitely delivered.

“Whoever wins is going to be lively competition for me in the Masters… will I be able to take ’em?”

But fear not, show traditionalists, as Masters will not interfere with regular episodes. The normal show with new contestants continues on syndication until Season 40 ends in July.

Jeopardy! airs at 7 p.m. ET on ABC – check your local listings.

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