Note: After the show airs in your area feel free to put spoilers in the comment section for discussion. Read at your own risk.
Today’s the day we’ve been waiting all sea…well ten weeks for. Today is the final day of Who Wants to be a Millionaire’s Tournament of Ten. Sam Murray, seed eight of ten, has held onto the million dollar check for two weeks. The only person stopping Sam is number one seed Jehan Shamsid-Deen, a non-profit program officer from Concord, North Carolina. In her extremely tense and exciting first game she won $250,000 (the only person to do so this season thus far). It’s earned her the top spot in the Tournament. All Jehan has to do is answer her million dollar question and she becomes the first person to claim $1,000,000 on Millionaire since 2004.
Jehan does have to risk $225,000 to answer it, though. Given not even $50,000 winners would risk $25,000 if they weren’t positive, I somehow doubt Jehan will. But I am really pulling for her. She’s been by far the most impressive player the show has had in two or three years. One question in the category of “Extremely Rare,” which is ironically how often we get millionaires on the show, stands between her and the prize. If she goes for it and misses, or walks away, Sam Murray walks away with the $1,000,000 check.
We got to chat with each of them a bit today. The part I was most interested in was if Sam Murray actually knew his question or if he just had a hunch and unlike the other eight had the guts to go for it. Sam told us, “To be honest with you when I saw that question I was just like, “Wow.”…But I already had said in my mind, “Even if I take home $25K it’s more than I had.” I figured if I had an idea I’d take the risk and luckily I figured it out.”
It was especially amazing that Sam stuck around so long given he had so many people that can beat him. Sam wasn’t that worried, though, saying, “I wished everyone the best. Everyone who was in the tournament…I mean I just had a great time with these people. And I thought, especially after I answered it, you know, if they beat me I still have $50,000.”
Arguably the toughest decision of the Tournament goes to Jehan, though. Again, she has a $225,000 risk here; $200,000 more than Sam. She said, with the amount of money she has, though, there’s not going to be any crazy gambling. “You remember from my first game I took quite a few risks,” Jehan says, “but on a question of that level and with the risk involved I decided that if I didn’t know it that I would not risk it.”
So there we have it. The big day is today so if you’re a Millionaire fan don’t miss it. Realistically, unless Jehan answers and misses it, no one is a loser. Either Sam walks with his original $50,000 and Jehan jumps to a million or Jehan keeps her $250,000 and Sam wins a million. It’s a win-win for everyone.
- Sam Murray Wins $1,000,000 on “Millionaire” Tournament of Ten
- Sam Murray Qualifies for “Millionaire” Top Prize; Tournament of Ten Day Four Features Robin Schwartz
- “Millionaire”’s Tournament of Ten Day Three: Sam Murray
- “Millionaire”’s Tournament of Ten Begins Today; The Top Ten Are…
- “Millionaire” Tournament of Ten Day Five: Ralph Cambeis
40 Responses
It's going to be Sam. Just too much of a risk for Jehan to seriously want to go for it. I'll be very surprised if she does.
Posted on November 20th, 2009 at 8:55 am
It's going to be Sam. Just too much of a risk for Jehan to seriously want to go for it. I'll be very surprised if she does.
Posted on November 20th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Me too, my friend. My head says Jehan, but my heart says Sam. I'll go with my heart & hope Sam gets that million.
Posted on November 20th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Me too, my friend. My head says Jehan, but my heart says Sam. I'll go with my heart & hope Sam gets that million.
Posted on November 20th, 2009 at 10:16 am
SPOILER: Read at your own risk.
Sam Murray has totally made Philadelphians such as myself forget the Phillies losing the World Series. I couldn't be happier for a fellow Philadelphian and add on to the fact that he was seeded #8 (Underdog BOOYOW!!!). I'm even happier that Jehan kept her $250,000. I'm a gambler myself but I don't think I would even have the guts to risk $225,000. Once again, congradulations Sam Murray. You've made Philadelphia proud.
Posted on November 20th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
SPOILER: Read at your own risk.
Sam Murray has totally made Philadelphians such as myself forget the Phillies losing the World Series. I couldn't be happier for a fellow Philadelphian and add on to the fact that he was seeded #8 (Underdog BOOYOW!!!). I'm even happier that Jehan kept her $250,000. I'm a gambler myself but I don't think I would even have the guts to risk $225,000. Once again, congradulations Sam Murray. You've made Philadelphia proud.
Posted on November 20th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
SPOILER:
Not be a buzz kill (Congrats Sam!, you made Philly proud), but if Sam did not go for the million and no one else risked the money, what would have happened? Would the entire tournament been a bust?
Posted on November 20th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
WAAAHHHH!!!! I was rooting for Jehan so badly!! I just identified with her more I guess. Oh well, they're both winners. I wonder if the producers told her to take all the time for drama?
But yeah, WHAT would have happened if Sam never answered…
Posted on November 20th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
WAAAHHHH!!!! I was rooting for Jehan so badly!! I just identified with her more I guess. Oh well, they're both winners. I wonder if the producers told her to take all the time for drama?
But yeah, WHAT would have happened if Sam never answered…
Posted on November 20th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
My friend, I feel you. I don't think it was rigged, but it did feel hollow. Millionaire shouldn't have to resort to stunts like this to give away the million. When I see a person see the million dollar question, it's with the general understanding that they went through 14 questions prior to see it. Here, not the case. That's why I feel like this million was a deluded victory, with all due respect to Sam. He deserves every penny of it.
That said, I just feel like this was not as satisfying as the other million dollar winners, due to the tournament format. It felt like cheating. Not that there was, but it felt like it. The only way I would feel like this was earned would if someone got a $500,000 question right, then passed on the million, still qualifying for the tournament, but setting up the situation for what I feel is a genuine win, with as much risk in a regular format as that situation would have provided. But we had people with $50,000, $100,000, and $250,000 look at the question. It just feels hollow, and ultimately, to this game show fan, unsatisfying.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 1:52 am
Freaking un-be-leaveable that he held on to that check for so long. Also unbeleaveable that there was only one person willing to pull the trigger out of ten, seven of which would have won.
Posted on November 20th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
After watching the entire tournament, i have to say while it was exciting, it wasn't as eventful as other million dollar runs such as Carpenter's, Christy's, or Bob O's, or (especially to the seven that could've won) as heartbreaking Ogas's or Basin's. It would've been much more exciting if more people went for it though.
Next time if your in desperation for a millionaire though, just dumb down the questions in the regular game. While it does make a lot of complainers, It's worked before and many more viewers will consider the wins legitimate compared to this. Watch the U.S. primetime, early U.K., and Japanese versions of Millionaire and you'll know what i'm talking about.
Oh and Daniel, stop being so butthurt and take out that tin foil hat. The show is not rigged. Jesus. And i thought that this site had problems for having such a European bias already.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 2:41 am
Yes. Nobody would have gotten the money.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 1:24 am
SPOILER ALERT.
====
I saw the moment. And guess what? IT. FELT. RIGGED. Why was Sam the only one to get the correct answer? Why weren't those who had $50,000 willing to risk half that for $950,000?
I swear this Tournament was rigged — Sam Murray's question was the ONLY one that was easy! Look at Jehan's face when the correct answer was revealed — she was like "I'm gonna kick Davies for telling me to walk!"
It's not like I've watched the show at all in the past few months, but to make the whole Tournament feel like it was rigged isn't exactly helping. The odds of SEVEN people walking away from a $1,000,000 check and getting the question right is too high to be a coincidence.
I'm sorry, but that's how I feel. There's just way too many elements that suggest this whole thing was rigged from top-to-bottom.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 1:30 am
SPOILER ALERT.
====
I saw the moment. And guess what? IT. FELT. RIGGED. Why was Sam the only one to get the correct answer? Why weren't those who had $50,000 willing to risk half that for $950,000?
I swear this Tournament was rigged — Sam Murray's question was the ONLY one that was easy! Look at Jehan's face when the correct answer was revealed — she was like "I'm gonna kick Davies for telling me to walk!"
It's not like I've watched the show at all in the past few months, but to make the whole Tournament feel like it was rigged isn't exactly helping. The odds of SEVEN people walking away from a $1,000,000 check and getting the question right is too high to be a coincidence.
I'm sorry, but that's how I feel. There's just way too many elements that suggest this whole thing was rigged from top-to-bottom.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 1:30 am
My friend, I feel you. I don't think it was rigged, but it did feel hollow. Millionaire shouldn't have to resort to stunts like this to give away the million. When I see a person see the million dollar question, it's with the general understanding that they went through 14 questions prior to see it. Here, not the case. That's why I feel like this million was a deluded victory, with all due respect to Sam. He deserves every penny of it.
That said, I just feel like this was not as satisfying as the other million dollar winners, due to the tournament format. It felt like cheating. Not that there was, but it felt like it. The only way I would feel like this was earned would if someone got a $500,000 question right, then passed on the million, still qualifying for the tournament, but setting up the situation for what I feel is a genuine win, with as much risk in a regular format as that situation would have provided. But we had people with $50,000, $100,000, and $250,000 look at the question. It just feels hollow, and ultimately, to this game show fan, unsatisfying.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 1:52 am
My friend, I feel you. I don't think it was rigged, but it did feel hollow. Millionaire shouldn't have to resort to stunts like this to give away the million. When I see a person see the million dollar question, it's with the general understanding that they went through 14 questions prior to see it. Here, not the case. That's why I feel like this million was a deluded victory, with all due respect to Sam. He deserves every penny of it.
That said, I just feel like this was not as satisfying as the other million dollar winners, due to the tournament format. It felt like cheating. Not that there was, but it felt like it. The only way I would feel like this was earned would if someone got a $500,000 question right, then passed on the million, still qualifying for the tournament, but setting up the situation for what I feel is a genuine win, with as much risk in a regular format as that situation would have provided. But we had people with $50,000, $100,000, and $250,000 look at the question. It just feels hollow, and ultimately, to this game show fan, unsatisfying.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 1:52 am
I had a day off from work today and, for the first time, had the chance to check out Tournament of 10. The whole process, to me, looked underwhelming. Yes, it was exciting to have a contestant correctly answer the million dollar question correctly. But it's not interesting television to watch nine other contestants pass on their questions in a two-week period. It also cheapens the importance of the $1M question — such questions should be event television, not something that wears out its welcome after a handful of episodes.
If WWTBAM wants to do this again, they need to find a better way.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 1:53 am
I had a day off from work today and, for the first time, had the chance to check out Tournament of 10. The whole process, to me, looked underwhelming. Yes, it was exciting to have a contestant correctly answer the million dollar question correctly. But it's not interesting television to watch nine other contestants pass on their questions in a two-week period. It also cheapens the importance of the $1M question — such questions should be event television, not something that wears out its welcome after a handful of episodes.
If WWTBAM wants to do this again, they need to find a better way.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 1:53 am
After watching the entire tournament, i have to say while it was exciting, it wasn't as eventful as other million dollar runs such as Carpenter's, Christy's, or Bob O's, or (especially to the seven that could've won) as heartbreaking Ogas's or Basin's. It would've been much more exciting if more people went for it though.
Next time if your in desperation for a millionaire though, just dumb down the questions in the regular game. While it does make a lot of complainers, It's worked before and many more viewers will consider the wins legitimate compared to this. Watch the U.S. primetime, early U.K., and Japanese versions of Millionaire and you'll know what i'm talking about.
Oh and Daniel, stop being so butthurt and take out that tin foil hat. The show is not rigged. Jesus. And i thought that this site had problems for having such a European bias already.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 2:41 am
After watching the entire tournament, i have to say while it was exciting, it wasn't as eventful as other million dollar runs such as Carpenter's, Christy's, or Bob O's, or (especially to the seven that could've won) as heartbreaking Ogas's or Basin's. It would've been much more exciting if more people went for it though.
Next time if your in desperation for a millionaire though, just dumb down the questions in the regular game. While it does make a lot of complainers, It's worked before and many more viewers will consider the wins legitimate compared to this. Watch the U.S. primetime, early U.K., and Japanese versions of Millionaire and you'll know what i'm talking about.
Oh and Daniel, stop being so butthurt and take out that tin foil hat. The show is not rigged. Jesus. And i thought that this site had problems for having such a European bias already.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 2:41 am
Nothing suggests it was rigged. It isn't hard to imagine why people for whom it was a bigger risk chose not to gamble; THAT'S precisely the double-edge sword of being a higher seed and what made how they did things interesting.
So people had gut instincts and didn't take the bet. We've seen it counteless times before; that it happened in this format isn't all that unusual. These were smart folks, but only one was willing to pull the trigger.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 3:19 am
Nothing suggests it was rigged. It isn't hard to imagine why people for whom it was a bigger risk chose not to gamble; THAT'S precisely the double-edge sword of being a higher seed and what made how they did things interesting.
So people had gut instincts and didn't take the bet. We've seen it counteless times before; that it happened in this format isn't all that unusual. These were smart folks, but only one was willing to pull the trigger.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 3:19 am
I'll go along with the last 2 responses. I wish Daniel would think about what he sees in this show that makes him THINK it's rigged when it really WASN'T. Sure, the remaining 7 players thought they had the right answer, but didn't pull the trigger. That's the chance you're being offered in these high-stakes situations,
And, BTW, Congrats, Sam! You make me very happy & nake me forget 3 weeks ago.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 9:56 am
I'll go along with the last 2 responses. I wish Daniel would think about what he sees in this show that makes him THINK it's rigged when it really WASN'T. Sure, the remaining 7 players thought they had the right answer, but didn't pull the trigger. That's the chance you're being offered in these high-stakes situations,
And, BTW, Congrats, Sam! You make me very happy & nake me forget 3 weeks ago.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 9:56 am
I agree that it wasn't as exciting as it should have been, and that more should have gone for it, but please don't use the phrase "stop being so butthurt".
And I'm not European, for the record. And I'm pretty certain the show isn't rigged, but stuff like this Tournament isn't helping my view of the show.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I agree that it wasn't as exciting as it should have been, and that more should have gone for it, but please don't use the phrase "stop being so butthurt".
And I'm not European, for the record. And I'm pretty certain the show isn't rigged, but stuff like this Tournament isn't helping my view of the show.
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 7:02 pm
To respond to comments — I know the show isn't rigged (or at least, I really hope it isn't), but the way this Tournament played out isn't helping my viewpoint toward the show not being rigged.
And yeah, it felt hollow — much like the winners on "Deal Or No Deal".
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
To respond to comments — I know the show isn't rigged (or at least, I really hope it isn't), but the way this Tournament played out isn't helping my viewpoint toward the show not being rigged.
And yeah, it felt hollow — much like the winners on "Deal Or No Deal".
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
It's not a rigging, but something is very, very wrong with the new format that nobody seems to get.
There is a drastic, and I mean DRASTIC, decrease in the amount of money that has been risked on the final question since the clock came through. There is one anomaly known as Ken Basin, who did this outside of the T10 but in the clock era.
If we divide the 1M questions seen so far into T10 and natural 1M questions, 12 out of 38 normal contestants have played without the clock, where an average of $468,736.84 was at risk and the odds return was 1.067:1; but in the T10, 1 out of 10 contestants risked an average of $65,000, where the odds return was 14:1!
If we divide them into clock and non-clock 1M questions, 11 out of 37 non-clock contestants risked an average of $468,567.59 and the odds return was still 1.067:1 (within this accuracy), but with the clock, 2 out of 11 contestants risked an average of $102,272.73, with an odds return of 8.553:1!
Posted on November 21st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
You sound butthurt to me. And that European bias was not directed to you, it was directed to Alex.
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
As long as it doesn't resort to name-calling, disagreements are acceptable with respect to each other's opions. I'm not sure how you interpert European bias without resorting to name-calling & nasty remarks. There are other places to go if you don't like what we say here sometimes. I guess some can misconstue something & turn it into some serious bashing of some kind. We all need to consider what we say so that respect must be honored for every opion that is posted here. Sure, we may say things that may sound awkward, but that's the way it is sometimes. We just have to deal with it.
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 at 10:54 am
As long as it doesn't resort to name-calling, disagreements are acceptable with respect to each other's opions. I'm not sure how you interpert European bias without resorting to name-calling & nasty remarks. There are other places to go if you don't like what we say here sometimes. I guess some can misconstue something & turn it into some serious bashing of some kind. We all need to consider what we say so that respect must be honored for every opion that is posted here. Sure, we may say things that may sound awkward, but that's the way it is sometimes. We just have to deal with it.
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 at 10:54 am
What you've forgotten is that some of them may have not risked it on the principle that the million dollar win was NOT a sure thing because a higher seed could come back and win it later.
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 at 11:39 am
What you've forgotten is that some of them may have not risked it on the principle that the million dollar win was NOT a sure thing because a higher seed could come back and win it later.
Posted on November 23rd, 2009 at 11:39 am
Who won the million dollars? I turned to the show on Friday at the usual time (in Alberta, Canada) and all I got was a basketball game. Now that was a nasty prank, what happened there!! I like basketball but not as much as the millionaire FINALS.
Posted on November 25th, 2009 at 3:30 am
Sam Murray won the whole ball of wax when Jehan didn't risk her $250K.
Yeah, I HATE it when something like that pre-empts a game show. Was there a college basketball game going on there that day? That's what I'm guessing here.
Posted on November 25th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Sam Murray won the whole ball of wax when Jehan didn't risk her $250K.
Yeah, I HATE it when something like that pre-empts a game show. Was there a college basketball game going on there that day? That's what I'm guessing here.
Posted on November 25th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Trust me, not rigged. They tell in a legal briefing what happens to cheaters on game shows. Sorry if some out there think my question was easy, but it wasn't while sitting in the hot seat. Thanks to WWTBAM for giving me the chance in the first place!
Posted on January 31st, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Trust me, not rigged. They tell in a legal briefing what happens to cheaters on game shows. Sorry if some out there think my question was easy, but it wasn't while sitting in the hot seat. Thanks to WWTBAM for giving me the chance in the first place!
Posted on January 31st, 2010 at 7:36 pm
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