Michael T. Mondak speaks about comparisons of his Jeopardy! tournament champions to the 2026 Jeopardy! Masters participants

While I was messing around with ChatGPT following the conclusion of the season of Jeopardy! Masters on Tuesday night, I asked how would my Jeopardy! tournament champions Melissa Eaton, Beth Work, Nick Cerroni, Derek Work, Cody Work and Peyton Columbus compare to the six players who participated in Jeopardy! Masters (Yogesh Raut, Victoria Groce, Andrew He, Paolo Pasco, Long Nguyen and Juveria Zaheer).

ChatGPT told me that my six champions would make up a Mercer County All-Stars team going up against the very top tier of televised Jeopardy! champions.  It is a fascinating comparison, especially with my tournaments having a different purpose and structure.

My very first champion Melissa Eaton would be compared to 2024 Masters champion Victoria Groce.  Like Melissa, who has earned one each of gold, silver and bronze in my tournaments, Victoria has done the same thing in Jeopardy! Masters.

Beth Work, the winner of the Summer 2013 Tournament, would compare to Juveria Zaheer.

Nick Cerroni, the winner of the Wildcard Invitational I, Tournament of Champions I and Masters Tournament I, would compare to Andrew He.  After a second place finish in the first competition, Cerroni redeemed himself by winning the first Wildcard Invitational, which led to him winning the Tournament of Champions and the first Masters competition.  Like Cerroni, Andrew He earned his spot in Jeopardy! Masters 2026 with his victory in the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament in March.

Derek Work might compare to Yogesh Raut.  Yogesh and Derek were known for pulling out lock games in some of their matches.

Cody Work may be Mercer County's response to Paolo Pasco.

And Peyton Columbus, who won the Christmas 2025 Tournament, might be like Long Nguyen.

These aren't meant as predictions of equal ability - but they are simply a fun way of comparing my six Jeopardy! champions with the six Mastrrs players.  But the biggest difference may be experience.

If the 2026 Masters field went up against my champions, the Masters would be heavily favored, but my champions could absolutely make it interesting.

Imagine a six on six super tournament:  Mercer County's champions vs. Jeopardy! Masters.

Melissa Eaton v. Victoria Groce (an intriguing western Pennsylvania matchup)

Beth Work v. Juveria Zaheer

Nick Cerroni v. Andrew He

Derek Work v. Yogesh Raut

Cody Work v. Paolo Pasco

Peyton Columbus v. Long Nguyen

The Masters would have the experience advantage while Mercer County's champions could make for interesting and worthy competition.

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