What an extraordinary conclusion to Season IX of IntoBridge’s flagship Ranked Games! American quiz show champion James Holzhauer has captured his first Ranked Games title with a commanding performance, accumulating an impressive 9,004 IntoBridge Points (IBPs), above the Ace rank, to secure the title. The season ran from March 13th through May 13th, 2025, featuring intense competition with over 4,000 players who collectively played over one million boards!
James Holzhauer’s victory represents a breakthrough moment for the quiz show champion, who brought his strategic mindset from Jeopardy! success to the bridge table with remarkable results. His margin of victory exceeded 1,900 IBPs over second-place finisher Benjamin “benz” Zeidenberg from Canada, demonstrating sustained excellence throughout the two-month season.
(Read more about James on his Wiki page HERE)
Canadian stalwart Ben Zeidenberg claimed the silver medal, continuing his streak in the top 10.
Defending champion Aleksandar “Sorsi” Avramov from Bulgaria rounded out the podium, earning the bronze medal. While this represents a step down from his Season VIII championship, maintaining a top-three finish demonstrates remarkable consistency at the highest level of competition.
Interesting Facts from Season IX
☆ Despite the U.S. having the most participants in every season, this is the first time an American has won an official Ranked Games season! (Steve Weinstein won the Beta Season back in Nov. 2023.)
☆ There had never been more than three players from the same country in the top 10—until now! This season, the U.S. placed five.
☆ This marks Ben Zeidenberg’s 7th consecutive appearance in the top 10. He reclaimed the silver medal he earned in the previous season and added to the three bronze medals he’s won in the past.
☆ Three players made it into the top 10 for the first time: Venkatesh “benky” Ramaratnam from India (4th), Stephen “SteveSv” Svelmoe from the U.S., and Aleksey “avgera” Gerasimov from Russia.
☆ Gene “gene” Kuehneman nearly lost his amazing top-10 streak but managed to finish 10th. This marks his 6th appearance among the frontrunners. His best finishes are 2nd in Season V and 3rd in Season VIII.
☆ Bill “RuflRabbit” Segraves earned his 4th consecutive top-10 finish. His highest placing so far is 3rd in Season VII.
The Infographics Summarizing Season IX
Ranked Games | IntoBridge
Ranked Games | IntoBridge
Ranked Games | IntoBridge
Season X is underway, and it’s already shaping up to be exciting.
The two players with the longest top-10 streaks—benz and gene—are battling it out in pursuit of their first gold medal. Both seem more determined than ever to win this season. Greyboots and RuflRabbit are just as hungry, and they’re two of the most experienced Ranked Games players.
Meanwhile, other familiar names are also in the chase, including the reigning champions from the past two seasons, Sorsi and JamesHolz. Joining them is a mix of seasoned veterans and fresh contenders, all making their mark.
Over 50 players have already achieved an Ace rank!
Can you improve on your rank from last season?
