The last 3 contestants talk about “Jeopardy!” Masters Final

NEW YORK — It all comes down to the grand finale of the “Jeopardy! Masters” tournament tonight!

James Holzhauer, Matt Amodio and Mattea Roach go head-to-head in a best-of-two competition.

Holzhauer led the pack in points, but in tonight’s final the points are reset for that leg of the game.

“I love American sporting events, the Heat. The Heat can probably go from game to final, but it’s just an amazing race that you don’t get if you don’t have that playoff at the end,” Holzhauer said.

Roach reached the final via a tiebreaker with competitor Andrew He in the semi-finals and was unsure who earned the right to the grand final.

“His presentation alone really surprised me. Andrew had been so, so strong throughout the quarter-finals,” Roach said. “You may not initially be the strongest player in the initial season or the quarter-finals in this case, but if you have a hot streak in the playoffs later on that can propel you and I guess that’s what that happened to me.”

Amodio said his strategy changed a bit before the final as he believed he always had to aim for the biggest possible amount on a “Daily Double”.

“I was a bit more aggressive because we’re all going to the same issues, so I have to take some risks and it may or may not pay off,” he said.

As competitive as this trio is, they have great respect for each other and all say they have developed a unique friendship.

“They’re all fabulous people, and we’re all friends now,” Holzhauer said. “We live in different parts of the country, but whenever I’m in their part of the country, I pick them up.”

One thing is certain, there are huge bragging rights, not just with the prize money, but with the coveted Trebek Trophy presented to the champion in honor of the late “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek.

“Alex Trebek has always been an icon and a legend to me and just knowing I’m playing on his stage, playing his game on his stage is a great feeling,” Amodio said.

“Jeopardy! Masters ‘The Finals'” airs Wednesday, May 24 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.