In the beginning of this season of “Millionaire”, it’s become a rule that contestants face a choice of playing a “classic game” of 15 questions, 3 lifelines and 2 milestones; or they could now choose the “risk version” with 4 lifelines but only 1 milestone (the contestant chooses where he wants the milestone to be). In the risk version, there is a popular “Double Dip” lifeline which guarantees a correct answer if used with a 50:50.
It looks very easy and fair – the contestant can judge his chances and then select the money level where he thinks he can get to easily. Usually, those who choose the new version of game play (about 80% of players, according to the host) make a sum of 50,000 to 400,000 roubles their “safe haven”. And because in Russian “Millionaire” ordinary contestants swap places with celebrities every show, the stars tend to take a bigger risk.
Yesterday’s game showed just how cruel the new game play can be. This time, all of the contestants have been on the show previously. The first pair – figure skater Tatiana Navka and singer Alexey Vorobiev chose 200,000 roubles as their milestone, and so did the second player – singer Alexander Marshal. Unfortunately, everyone left the studio empty-handed. It was the first Russian “Millionaire” in which none of the players earned money.
