The 2004 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions was the 18th edition of the Tournament of Champions in the Alex Trebek era of Jeopardy!, held during the syndicated show's 21st season.
Eligibility lasted from May 19, 2003 (first regular play game after the 2003 ToC) to June 2, 2004 (Ken Jennings' first game).
This was the first ToC to hold eligibility with the unlimited rule in place.
John Beck was the last 5-time champion under the prior rule.
It is the first ToC in which two or more 3-time champions participated.
It is the first ToC in history with 5-time+ champions.
At the time, Ken Jennings' solo system continued, so relatively this ToC has a sense of being buried. The reason why Jennings appeared in UToC instead of ToC this time seems to be speculation that it will easily end with a solo system[1].
Walsh became the first 6-Day+ champion to reach the finals of the ToC before losing to Russ Schumacher.
Vinita Kailasanath, the College Championship champion before the clue values were doubled on November 26, 2001, was unable to participate in the previous ToC due to college studies.
Ken Jennings, Season 21's biggest winner, did not appear in this year's and the next year's Tournament of Champions because of his UToC Finals appearance.
Schumacher, Kailasanath, Ryan, Walsh, Beck, Keith Williams, and Chris Miller later appeared on the UToC, Miller advanced to the semifinals. Kailasanath and Beck reached the second round, the latter losing to eventual champion Brad Rutter. Walsh and Ryan were eliminated in the second round, though both received first round byes.
Schumacher performed well at the 2014 BoTD, reaching the semifinals. Kailasanath was eliminated in the first round by Jennings.
References[]
↑However, at the UToC, Ken Jennings lost to Brad Rutter and finished runner-up, and then took revenge and won the championship at the 2020 primetime. Also, in the next ToC, 19-win champion David Madden was eliminated in the semifinals, and it took 15 years time for a Superchampion to win the ToC. Maybe even if Jennings appeared in this ToC, he would have won. It seems that it could not be guaranteed.
