Reston’s Lowenthal Returns to ‘Jeopardy’ Wednesday

Reston’s Mark Lowenthal returns to Jeopardy tonight as he seeks to move on — and win big — in the show’s Battle of the Decades.

Lowenthal, who first competed on the show in 1988, returned to Jeopardy as a Battle of the Decades winner in February.

He earned a come-from-behind victory, along with $17,000, to advance to the quarterfinals. Both rounds were taped last year, Lowenthal says. He is sworn to secrecy about the results.

Overall, Lowenthal, a former State Department and CIA official and noted U.S. intelligence analyst, has won $163,901 in his four Jeopardy appearances since ’88. He is also the co-author of a book, Secrets of the Jeopardy Champions.

But the competition will be stiff in this next round. He will go up against Brad Rutter of Lancaster, Pa., who has won $3,385,702 in his Jeopardy appearances, and Dan Pawson of Brooklyn, NY, who has won $433,602. Ken Jennings, who holds the show’s record for longest winning streak (74 games in a row in 2004), will compete in the quarterfinal round on Thursday.

The Battle of the Decades will continue with the semifinals and final next week.

Jeopardy airs on WJLA (Channel 7) at 7:30 p.m.