CULVER CITY, CALIF. (May 21, 2010) - Jason Zollinger, a 40-year-old engine assembler from South Dayton, N.Y., placed second in the prestigious "Jeopardy!" Tournament of Champions, taking home $100,000 in cash winnings. Zollinger played a variety of impressive games earning him a spot in the finals of the tournament.

"I spent my entire adult life trying to get on ‘Jeopardy!,'" Zollinger said.  "As rewarding as it has been, at the same time I knew, win or lose, the Tournament of Champions was the end of the road for me.  Now I have to find some other impossible dream to chase."

Zollinger competed in the two-day final competition against Vijay Balse, a chemical engineer from Chatham, N.J., and Stefan Goodreau, a video game tester from Los Angeles.

When asked what he will do with his winnings, Zollinger replied, "I have the luxury of being able to expect an early and much more comfortable retirement.  Therefore, I'm not planning on spending much of the money in the short term."  He added jokingly, "The most extravagant thing I've done is upgrade my cable package to include Showtime!"

The New York native first appeared on "Jeopardy!" in January 2010, accumulating $148,404 as a six-day champion.  When he's not busy, Zollinger enjoys spending his free time playing pool and darts as part of a local pub league.

Balse finished first in the tournament, winning $250,000, and Goodreau finished third, pocketing $50,000. The six players eliminated in the semi-finals each took home $10,000; players eliminated in the first round received $5,000.

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"Jeopardy!," the winner of 28 Emmy awards since its debut in 1984, was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most awards won by a TV Game Show. The series is the #1-rated quiz show in syndication with nearly 9 million daily viewers.  "Jeopardy!" is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company. It is distributed domestically by CBS Television Distribution and internationally by CBS Television International, both units of CBS Corp.