The champion went to whoever had the highest score at the end of the game, won a prize and advanced to the bonus round. If the game ended in a tie, one final toss-up question was asked. If a contestant at least 1,000 points in the first four seasons, the podium would read 999, but Bill would tell the contestant's actual score, as the scoreboards in the first four seasons could only display three digits. However in 1987, the scoreboards displayed four digits.
