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Updates

August 08, 2023

Here are the final rankings for the 5x5 tournament at the Game Show Bootcamp 2.

At the end of each game, a player received ranking points based on where they finished in that game.

1st place: 10 ranking points
2nd place: 8 ranking points
3rd place: 6 ranking points
4th place: 4 ranking points
5th place: 2 ranking points

In the event of a tie in score, the ranking points for those tied players were averaged.

Twenty players advanced to the semi-finals. Every winner of at least one game advanced. The twenty players were ranked based on the following criteria:

Criteria 1: Number of wins.
Criteria 2: Number of ranking points in the two games.
Criteria 3: Total points scored in the two games.
Criteria 4: Most correct answers in the two games (excluding the 5xFinals).
Criteria 5: Least incorrect answers in the two front games (excluding the 5xFinals).

In this tournament, it only took the first two criteria to determine the top 20.

RankNameWinsRanking PointsTotal ScoreTotal CorrectTotal WrongAverage Reaction Time
1JONATHAN H2204400002100.1495
2JOE TRELA2203050002400.1075
3JONATHAN MARGULIES2202910001400.1275
4RYAN LUCHS220990001000.2345
5MARTIN OCON1183050001700.2265
6DALTON TOMLIN1181230001210.0935
7GARRETT VONK11878000930.2285
8LORI BAILEY117900001010.1785
9MATT SCHIFFLER1163140001720.09
10TROY MEYER116126000800.112
11DANIEL ENCE116770001230.1645
12MATTHEW SINCLAIR1141220001210.196
13CAL LIN114108000410.2485
14BEN PARKER11456000820.2885
15HARVEY SILIKOVITZ01698000910.1505
16STEVEN WRIGHT01696000510.1535
17WADE WHITEHEAD01642000400.2285
18JOHN HILLMAN0141040001300.177
19JON BARILONE014660001010.171
20JASON HERNANDEZ01357000500.2155
21JOHN PALAGYI01291000900.2385
22ROBERT COOPER01239000710.1475
23AARON BROWN0127000750.2655
24KYLE HIGHFIELD0
August 05, 2023

HERE IS THE SEMIFINAL GRID



August 04, 2023

See you all tomorrow bright and early!  Registration opens at 0745 and the first seminar on "How to be a Great Contestant" is at 0830.


Bottled water will be available in all the meeting rooms

Notes on food: Do not bring hotel breakfast food into any of the meeting rooms.


You can bring food into ONLY Salon A at ONLY at lunchtime (not Fiji or Tahiti rooms).  There are some nearby fast food places, and the hotel has a small store area.  While we cannot sell food, we will have a number of sealed package sandwiches, salads, fruit, and snack bars available for which you could make a donation of any amount you wish to How You Can Help – Project 150 (project150lv.org)  


We will clear the room after the semifinals during the dinner break for technical practice - you cannot reserve seats as we have some VIP donors for the charity to accommodate.   The doors will open again at 1915.


UPDATE TO GRID

We had a couple of late scratches, and Jason Hernandez and Tom Zulewski have stepped into the vacated spots as follows:

Round 1


Round 2

and the schedule again just for grins

remember we are at

Hampton Inn Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel  (hilton.com)

4975 Dean Martin Drive 



August 03, 2023

You can get your questions answered about questions with Terry McDonnell after his game show writing session with 5 minute 1:1 meetings between 1445 and 1615 on Saturday.  Whether you're looking to be a writer for TV shows, pub quizzes, 5x5, or other purposes, bring your top 3 questions for review - limited spots available, sign up at registration in the event center foyer.



There's still time to get more 5x5 games in for Open Mic to be played late Saturday and until 3pm Sunday in the Fiji room.  If you plan to play Knodgeball, on Sunday at UNLV complete the waiver ahead of time

August 01, 2023

We have 42 of 45 campers acknowledging the tournament rules at link: https://forms.gle/912VUi4RpCjr6oiM6


At least one of the three remaining is considering transfer of registration to another person, with no response yet from the other two (their registration packet may be incomplete at check in but will still be available)


Here's a link to a map of campers (to a generic city spot) for each reported from or originally from location

https://ucboulder.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/basic/index.html?appid=381c2fd0b526469f99af3c2df93980b9


Zoom, pan, and click on symbols for more information - sometimes there may be multiple within a selection so hit the > to see the next record.


Image of map








July 30, 2023

The batons are completed - one for the winner of the Boot Camp tournament, with the potential for them to pick up the Titan Throwdown against some formidable opponents!




A few people have not completed the form to acknowledge their name and game times - please do this ASAP as we are preparing the registration packets.


After reading, acknowledge these tournament rules and your participation at this link: https://forms.gle/912VUi4RpCjr6oiM6


Thank you for attending the Game Show Bootcamp.



Note: We are shooting a video of the event and interviewing various participants. The material will be used to market future Game Show Boot Camps and to develop a potential documentary series on the world of trivia. The idea has not been pitched or sold to a TV network.



Your participation is optional. If you do consent and we do interview you, we’ll ask basic questions like “How did you get started in the world of trivia,” or “What do you hope to get out of the Game Show Bootcamp?” Once again, the material is for promotional purposes only and will not air on a streamer, broadcast, or cable network or appear on a social media platform. If you would like to participate in an interview, we would appreciate your signing a simple release form that grants us permission to shoot video of you and use your image in our promotional materials.



The qualification round games will be held at the Hampton Inn Tropicana, in Salon A, Fiji, and Tahiti Rooms on Saturday August 5th, 2023. Round 1 will take place between 10:30 and 12:00 (after the morning seminars 08:30-10:10) , and Round 2 will take place between 15:00 and 16:30 (after the afternoon seminars 12:30-14:55). There will be 3 games taking place with the same material 3 times in each round. 9 games per round, 18 total games.

Each player is assigned a time and a place for each game in advance. The placement is as follows:


(note this has some name updates vs July 26 edition)


If you find that you will not be able to attend, please let us know at [email protected] with WITHDRAW in the subject line as soon as you know.



If you wish to transfer your registration to another person, that is possible prior to noon Pacific time, Friday August 4, and that person will take your same place in the grid, as long as they agree to the code of conduct. GSBC will not be involved in brokering or wait listing any such transfers – the replacement will need to be acknowledged by the original registrant which will be verified by a phone call.



If you withdraw, you may not rejoin the competition, but may attend in the audience if your registration has not been transferred, or if you buy an audience Titan Throwdown ticket (if available). If you can’t attend your first round game, you may still play your second round game and vice versa.



Players need to arrive at their room immediately after the previous game scheduled (if any) and be ready in the room at least 5 minutes prior to the start of their game. Players may remain in any room along with other audience members before or after their match. A game may proceed with less than 5 players, where one or more missing players will automatically be assigned to the lowest ranking spot or lowest average ranking.



Anyone may leave a room during a match, but no one may enter a room while a match is underway.

Electronic devices must be silenced and not used during a game – anyone needing to take or make a call or use applications including texting must leave the room.

Please review the rules of the game here https://www.wheatridgefoundation.org/gsbc2-5x5.html



The player with the highest score at the end of the Five by Final round is awarded the win. In the event of a tie for the lead at the end of a game, the tie is broken by greatest number of correct answers in the front game (the part before 5xFinal, then by fewest incorrect answers.

At the end of each game, a player receives ranking points based on where he or she finished in that game.

• 1st place: 10 ranking points

• 2nd place: 8 ranking points

• 3rd place: 6 ranking points

• 4th place: 4 ranking points

• 5th place: 2 ranking points

In the event of a tie in score, the ranking points for those tied players are averaged.



Twenty players advance to the semi-finals. Every winner of at least one game will advance to the semifinals.

The twenty players will be ranked based on the following criteria:

Criteria 1: Number of wins.

Criteria 2: Number of ranking points in the two games.

Criteria 3: Total points scored in the two games.

Criteria 4: Most correct answers in the two front games.

Criteria 5: Least incorrect answers in the two front games.

Players 21-24 are alternates who play in the event there are any no-shows.



The semi-final games are played at 17:00.

Now that there is a ranking established among the players that won 2 games at the highest rank, followed by those that won 1 game, and those that placed second twice, etc. 4 alternates will also be selected. The semifinal grid will be published in a subsequent update showing where the ranked players are placed.



All semifinal matches take place simultaneously with the same material. That will expand the locations for games to add the green room being used by Titans for practice. Due to size and access restrictions, that room will not accommodate audience members.



Each game will determine a winner. If the score is tied between two or more players, the tiebreakers will be a) greatest number of correct answers in the front game, b) fewest incorrect answers in the front game, c) Average reaction time for first buzz. This will result in 4 of the 5 spots for the final.



The last spot in the final will be among all those who placed second in the semi-final. The first tiebreaker is ranking points (as some may be diluted for ties for second place.) Among those who were the only second place finisher in their game, the first tiebreaker is a) total points, followed by b) total greatest number of correct answers in the front game, then c) total fewest incorrect answers in the front game, d) average reaction time for first buzz.


After reading, acknowledge these tournament rules and your participation at this link: https://forms.gle/912VUi4RpCjr6oiM6
































































































































July 29, 2023

Campers,


Here's a map to your deployment one week from today.


The event starts at 0830, with registration open at 0745 in the foyer by Salon A



Tactical Coordinates

Event Center Salon A https://w3w.co/steps.achieving.novel 

Hotel Entrance https://w3w.co/mental.bricks.agenda 

Tahiti Meeting Room https://w3w.co/chin.clean.sooner

Fiji Meeting Room https://w3w.co/fields.glow.rarely


For those who attended last year - we are not using the Bora Bora room.

July 26, 2023

5x5 Tournament Rules for the Game Show Boot Camp

After reading, acknowledge these tournament rules and your participation at this link: https://forms.gle/912VUi4RpCjr6oiM6


Thank you for attending the Game Show Bootcamp.


Note: We are shooting a video of the event and interviewing various participants. The material will be used to market future Game Show Boot Camps and to develop a potential documentary series on the world of trivia. The idea has not been pitched or sold to a TV network.



Your participation is optional. If you do consent and we do interview you, we’ll ask basic questions like “How did you get started in the world of trivia,” or “What do you hope to get out of the Game Show Bootcamp?” Once again, the material is for promotional purposes only and will not air on a streamer, broadcast, or cable network or appear on a social media platform. If you would like to participate in an interview, we would appreciate your signing a simple release form that grants us permission to shoot video of you and use your image in our promotional materials.



The qualification round games will be held at the Hampton Inn Tropicana, in Salon A, Fiji, and Tahiti Rooms on Saturday August 5th, 2023. Round 1 will take place between 10:30 and 12:00 (after the morning seminars 08:30-10:10) , and Round 2 will take place between 15:00 and 16:30 (after the afternoon seminars 12:30-14:55). There will be 3 games taking place with the same material 3 times in each round. 9 games per round, 18 total games.



Each player is assigned a time and a place for each game in advance. The placement is as follows:



ROUND 1




ROUND 2




If you find that you will not be able to attend, please let us know at [email protected] with WITHDRAW in the subject line as soon as you know.


If you wish to transfer your registration to another person, that is possible prior to noon Pacific time, Friday August 4, and that person will take your same place in the grid, as long as they agree to the code of conduct. GSBC will not be involved in brokering or wait listing any such transfers – the replacement will need to be acknowledged by the original registrant which will be verified by a phone call.


If you withdraw, you may not rejoin the competition, but may attend in the audience if your registration has not been transferred, or if you buy an audience Titan Throwdown ticket (if available). If you can’t attend your first round game, you may still play your second round game and vice versa.



Players need to arrive at their room immediately after the previous game scheduled (if any) and be ready in the room at least 5 minutes prior to the start of their game. Players may remain in any room along with other audience members before or after their match. A game may proceed with less than 5 players, where one or more missing players will automatically be assigned to the lowest ranking spot or lowest average ranking.



Anyone may leave a room during a match, but no one may enter a room while a match is underway.


Electronic devices must be silenced and not used during a game – anyone needing to take or make a call or use applications including texting must leave the room.



Please review the rules of the game here https://www.wheatridgefoundation.org/gsbc2-5x5.html


The player with the highest score at the end of the Five by Final round is awarded the win. In the event of a tie for the lead at the end of a game, the tie is broken by greatest number of correct answers in the front game (the part before 5xFinal, then by fewest incorrect answers.



At the end of each game, a player receives ranking points based on where he or she finished in that game.

• 1st place: 10 ranking points

• 2nd place: 8 ranking points

• 3rd place: 6 ranking points

• 4th place: 4 ranking points

• 5th place: 2 ranking points

In the event of a tie in score, the ranking points for those tied players are averaged.



Twenty players advance to the semi-finals. Every winner of at least one game will advance to the semifinals. 


The twenty players will be ranked based on the following criteria:

Criteria 1: Number of wins.

Criteria 2: Number of ranking points in the two games.

Criteria 3: Total points scored in the two games.

Criteria 4: Most correct answers in the two front games.

Criteria 5: Least incorrect answers in the two front games.

Players 21-24 are alternates who play in the event there are any no-shows.

The semi-final games are played at 17:00.



Now that there is a ranking established among the players that won 2 games at the highest rank, followed by those that won 1 game, and those that placed second twice, etc.  4 alternates will also be selected.  The semifinal grid will be published in a subsequent update showing where the ranked players are placed.


All semifinal matches take place simultaneously with the same material. That will expand the locations for games to add the green room being used by Titans for practice. Due to size and access restrictions, that room will not accommodate audience members.



Each game will determine a winner. If the score is tied between two or more players, the tiebreakers will be a) greatest number of correct answers in the front game, b) fewest incorrect answers in the front game, c) Average reaction time for first buzz. This will result in 4 of the 5 spots for the final.



The last spot in the final will be among all those who placed second in the semi-final. The first tiebreaker is ranking points (as some may be diluted for ties for second place.) Among those who were the only second place finisher in their game, the first tiebreaker is a) total points, followed by b) total greatest number of correct answers in the front game, then c) total fewest incorrect answers in the front game, d) average reaction time for first buzz.



The final 5x5 training tournament game will take place a bit after 19:30 (after some evening greetings and introductions). It will feature the 4 semifinal winners and the highest ranked second place finisher.



This game will determine the player that receives the GSBC Baton of Victory, and that advances to the Titan Throwdown at 21:10 vs Brad Rutter, James Holzhauer, Jason Zuffranieri, and the winner of the Titan Qualifier game. If the score is tied between two or more players, the tiebreakers will be a) greatest number of correct answers in the front game, b) fewest incorrect answers in the front game, c) average reaction time for first buzz. The next highest ranked player from the training tournament finals will serve as the alternate for the Titan Throwdown.


After reading, acknowledge these tournament rules and your participation at this link: https://forms.gle/912VUi4RpCjr6oiM6











July 25, 2023

There remain a couple of things to polish up in the detailed 5x5 Training Tournament Rules, which will publish tomorrow, Wednesday, July 26, for registrants to acknowledge by Sunday evening, July 30.

In the meantime, review the rules of the game at 5x5 (wheatridgefoundation.org)

July 19, 2023

Thanks to everyone getting registered for the boot camp early we have been able to work on a couple of added bonuses to raise more money for Project150.org


5x5 Open Mic will have games written by campers presented post-workshop, post-throwdown after 10pm Saturday August 5 and through 3pm Sunday August 6.  There is a linked template you can fill out with questions and answers, and you can announce your game, or have one of the existing hosts present your creation.  This will be a continuation of the use of one of the meeting rooms at the Hampton Inn Tropicana where the workshop and throwdown take place.


Speaking of throwdowns...


Knodgeball returns at 10am to 1pm at the UNLV Student Recreation and Wellness Center which is about 2 miles east of the event hotel.


If you have friends who are kicking themselves for not signing up for the Boot Camp, then you can let them know if they buy an audience ticket for the Titan Throwdown, that they can take part in the post-workshop activities.  We hope to increase the audience size with this offer, and we understand that some of you may have existing travel plans that may conflict with parts of the post-workshop activities, but even then you can contribute open mic games to 5x5 or lists to Knodgeball and still be helping out Project150!  All this stuff is now linked on the main gameshowbootcamp.org page.

July 14, 2023

Remember, the Titan Throwdown as part of your Boot Camp Registration, but you can let others know to buy audience tickets to see the show and help Project150.org !

Titans of Trivia Buttrey, Roach, & Kavanaugh at the Game Show Boot Camp

see Press Release

Sam Buttrey, Mattea Roach, and Sam Kananaugh join legends James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter, Matt Amodio, Amy Schneider, and Jason Zuffranieri for the Titan Throwdown at the Game Show Boot Camp.
?Sam Buttrey, an associate professor of operations research from Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California won the Jeopardy! 2021 Professors tournament, was bronze medalist in the  2022 Jeopardy Tournament of Champions, and also played in the 2023! Jeopardy Masters tournament. A fan favorite with the trademark “Bring It” for the final clue on a board also says "To me, the joy of trivia is not in memorizing unrelated facts; it's in deducing connections among things. This is particularly true in Jeopardy, where so many clues require that you find a way to the answer, rather than just ask for the answer directly. Follow those connections and you'll be both intellectually satisfied and good at Jeopardy!" 
Mattea Roach, a writer and podcaster from Toronto, Ontario, Canada,.was runner-up in the 2023 Jeopardy! Masters tournament after having a 23-game winning streak on Jeopardy! in 2022 and appearing in the Tournament of Champions. They note “So much of what it takes to succeed on a show like Jeopardy goes beyond knowledge - it’s about getting in the right headspace to deal with the unexpected, both good and bad. There’s no better way to prepare for your turn on the stage than hearing directly from people who’ve done it before.”

Sam Kavanaugh, a teacher from Minneapolis, Minnesota won the 2021 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions, at a time fraught with the vestiges of a pandemic.  He credits his success at that time to his ability to not be overwhelmed in an overwhelming environment, and to his lucky pair of socks.  "It's well-documented how great the Titans are on the Jeopardy stage. What this event may show is how our diverse skills match up under different circumstances and a different format. As a competitor I am quite excited to play. However, as a fan of these other Titans, I am even more excited to see what they can bring to the competition."

Sam B. (a.k.a. “Old Sam”), Mattea, and Sam K. (a.k.a. “Young Sam”), will join James, Brad, Jason, Amy, and Matt in activities with boot campers, including seminars, games, and panel Q&As, and will be featured in the Saturday night TITAN THROWDOWN, where the victorious camper from the training tournament will match wits with the experts in a game show-style contest.


July 10, 2023

To clarify - the TITAN THROWDOWN event Saturday evening August 5th IS INCLUDED in Game Show Boot Camp registration (and we have sold all 45 of those spots for the seminars and training).  There are additional audience only tickets available directly from Project150 to raise additional funds for the charity at titan23.givesmart.com


July 09, 2023

Boot Camper Background (Requested)


The 5x5 Training Tournament will have a published bracket of players for the first round of scheduled games.  We appreciate information about your background such that we can establish fair competition.  The result of the first game will determine the next distribution of players such that they will not play any of the same players from the first game in the second game.?


Complete the two field form on or before Tuesday July 25

https://www.wheatridgefoundation.org/gsbc2background.html


Homework for the Contestant Seminar (optional)


Please complete this ten field form before you travel to the Boot Camp to have items to discuss in the How to be a Great Contestant seminar.

https://www.wheatridgefoundation.org/gsbc2contestant.html


At the bottom portion of the page is the form - about 6 of 45 campers have completed this optional form thus far (and you don't need to repeat if you have already done it unless you want to revise information)


July 08, 2023

see GSBC2 Press Release 3a (wheatridgefoundation.org)

Matt Amodio, Amy Schneider, and Jason Zuffranieri join legends James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter for the Titan Throwdown at the Game Show Boot Camp.
The Game Show Boot Camp includes workshops and advanced training for those who want to learn from the best how to get on their favorite show and win. It’s happening in Las Vegas on August 5, 2023.  While the workshop is fully booked, audience tickets are still available for the Titan Thowdown competition that evening.
 
Matt Amodio was a finalist in the 2023 Jeopardy! Masters tournament.  He was getting his PhD in computer science from Yale University when he achieved the third-highest number of wins and dollars in Jeopardy! regular-season play during the summer and fall of 2021.  Known for his unconventional strategies and lawyer-like approach to the rules, he attributes much of his success at trivia to his ruthlessly logical way of thinking.  “Learning how to think about facts is far more valuable than learning any particular specific facts.  With the right intellectual framework and organization, the seemingly impossible becomes achievable.”
 
Amy Schneider won the 2022 Jeopardy Tournament of Champions, after a remarkable 40-game winning streak on Jeopardy! in 2021-22. It’s the second-longest streak ever in the show’s history, and her earnings are the fourth-highest among all regular-season totals. She is the winningest female Jeopardy! contestant of all time and a player in the 2023 Jeopardy! Masters. “One of the keys to my success on Jeopardy was the behind-the-scenes information I was able to get from former contestants,” says Amy. “Game Show Boot Camp is a great chance to get those tips that can make all the difference on game day.”
 
Math teacher and puzzle expert Jason Zuffranieri tried for 25 years to get onto Jeopardy! and finally made it in 2019, winning 19 games and over $500,000, and 2022 he became the first Titan Throwdown Champion at Game Show Boot Camp. He credits his preparation for taking what could have been merely a pleasant experience and turning it into a life-changing one.  “Everyone who makes it to the stage knows plenty of facts,” he says, “so the player who is most comfortable up there and knows what to expect will have the edge.”
 
Matt, Amy, and Jason will join James & Brad in activities with boot campers, including seminars, games, and panel Q&As, and will be featured in the Saturday night TITAN THROWDOWN, where the victorious camper from the training tournament will match wits with the experts in a game show-style contest.
 
The Titan Throwdown and Game Show Boot Camp will be held just off the Las Vegas Strip at the Hampton Inn Tropicana, 4975 Dean Martin Drive.
 
The Titan Throwdown and Game Show Boot Camp is a fundraiser for a very good cause: Project 150 (project150.org), a Las Vegas non-profit providing free support and services to homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students.
Links for tickets to attend the Titan Throwdown LIVE gameshow event, which includes meet & greet and autograph signing are available by texting TITAN23 to 76278 or directly at titan23.givesmart.com

June 21, 2023

Game Show Boot Campers and friends of the GSBC,

 

Here’s some good news about the Jeopardy! team’s participation in this year’s Game Show Boot Camp. Since many of our registered campers are already in the Jeopardy! contestant pool, the Jeopardy! team has decided to take a look at all campers during the 5x5 training tournament on Saturday instead of holding separate auditions on Sunday. 


Here’s a message from Jeopardy! contestant producer Megan Miguez:


"It seems to us that many of you have already done your due diligence and taken the anytime test. Some of you are already in the contestant pool, which is great! Due to this, we’ve decided to step back from holding auditions this year and simply come to observe the training camp. We very much look forward to seeing you all on August 5th!"


Campers who have taken the anytime test and qualify will still be contacted for the normal Zoom audition process. The 5x5 competitions will now be an added opportunity for potential contestants to be seen by the Jeopardy! staff.

Given this development, Maggie Speak is also adjusting her "How To Be A Good Contestant" discussion to cover how to best come across in online interviews.  She notes, “I will also be on the sidelines to offer advice and encouragement during the 5x5 tournament.”


Feel free to send me questions. We’re looking forward to seeing you on August 5!


Best,

Paul Bailey

Conference Coordinator

[email protected]

June 04, 2023

There are 8 spots left in the Boot Camp!  If you're only on the mailing list and not registered yet it's time to act!


For those who are registered, please let us know if you are NOT attempting to audition for Jeopardy! (such as those who are already in the pool, or have already been on the show, or are otherwise using the Boot Camp for general fun game show practice), let us know via email at [email protected] with TRAINING ONLY in the subject line.


For those who ARE attempting to audition for Jeopardy!  you must complete the AnytimeTest  on or before June 30 in order to possibly qualify for the Zoom tests to take place in July. Select the Game Show Boot Camp from the drop down menu when you take the test.  If you already took the test prior to registering for Boot Camp, or otherwise did not indicate the event in the drop down menu,  please send an email to [email protected] and copy to [email protected] to say that you’ll be at the Game Show Boot Camp. That way, if you passed the test, the staff will know to invite you to one of the GSBC group tests online during July.  Even if you don't pass the test, you will get valuable training at the boot camp to appear on any show, while helping a great cause, Project150.org

May 27, 2023

Quick update - There are 11 spots left for the Game Show Boot Camp as of May 27 at 10pm MT, 9pm PT.  If you know others that are interested you may want to let them know.