By Lauren Bishop
Enquirer staff writer

Remember Dave Abbott? He was the Sharonville resident who was a five-day champion on Jeopardy! in 1998 and who won the game show's $100,000 Tournament of Champions in 1999. So what does he think of Ken Jennings, the 30-year-old software engineer from Utah who's won more than $1 million on the game show?

"I think I could take him," he says.

When Abbott appeared on Jeopardy!, players were limited to five appearances in one season. The show changed that rule this season, paving the way for Jennings' unprecedented winning streak.

Even though all the practice Jennings has picked up has made him unbeatable so far, Abbott says it wouldn't be impossible. Jennings has missed a few Final Jeopardy! questions, Abbott points out, and a foolish wager could end it all. Also, there's likely a cap on Jennings' winnings, he says.

"I'm happy for the guy," he says. "He hit a crease in the rules. I think if he has any illusions of ever getting on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, he should probably forget them because they'll never take him."

Abbott should know. He says he's auditioned for Millionaire three times and qualified every time, but the show's producers said "no thanks" when they found out he won big on Jeopardy!

Today, 48-year-old Abbott still works for General Electric, but in a different capacity - he's now the director of technology licensing. He also moved to his parents' house in Fort Thomas after his father passed away.

In his spare time, he plays the tuba - he just finished a concert series with the Frank Simon Band - and sings at Christ Church Cathedral downtown and at weddings.

"It's supposed to be fun and he's making it fun," Abbott says. "When it ceases to be fun, I don't know what they're going to do."

— Lauren Bishop