The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion explained

Bgcolor:
  1. 000000
Season Name:Battle for a New Champion
Season Number:39
Module1:
Num Contestants:24
Winner:Emanuel Neagu
Num Episodes:21 (including the two-part Reunion special)
Network:MTV
Prev Season:Ride or Dies
Next Season:40: Battle of the Eras

The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion is the thirty-ninth season of the MTV reality competition series The Challenge, featuring alumni from The Challenge, Are You the One? (US.), Big Brother (UK and U.S.), Ex on the Beach (UK and U.S.), Survivor (Romania, Turkey and U.S.), Love Island (U.S.), So You Think You Can Dance, The Mole Germany, Exatlón Estados Unidos, Ibiza Weekender, The Bachelor & The Bachelorette (Australia), 12 Dates of Christmas, The Circle (U.S.), The Only Way Is Essex, Shipwrecked, and The Royal World competing for a share at up to a $500,000 prize. It is the first season without a full-time contestant from The Real World and the first flagship season without a first-time contestant; the season also features no prior winners.

The season premiered on October 25, 2023 with a simulcast on MTV2,[1] [2] preceded by a launch special titled "Countdown Begins" which aired on October 18, 2023.[3]

Format

Battle for a New Champion features 24 contestants who have previously competed on The Challenge but have not won a season. The season's prize pot starts at $300,000, however, money can be earned or lost based on the outcomes of certain challenges and eliminations throughout the season.

The season has three formats (or "phases") called Control, Chaos, and Conquest.[4]

After all three phases, the final seven contestants compete in the Final Challenge to determine the champion of the season.

Twists

Contestants

nowrap Male contestants[5] Original seasonFinish
Emanuel NeaguSurvivor România 1Winner
Corey Lay12 Dates of Christmas 1
nowrap Justin "Jay" Starrettnowrap
James LockThe Only Way Is Essex 24
Horacio GutiérrezExatlón Estados Unidos 5
Kyland YoungBig Brother 23
Ed EasonThe Circle US 1
Asaf Gorennowrap So You Think You Can Dance 12
Callum IzzardIbiza Weekender 7
Ciarran StottThe Bachelorette Australia 5
Hughie MaughanBig Brother UK 17
nowrap Chauncey Palmer
Original season Finish
Nurys MateoAre You the One? 6
Colleen SchneiderThe Mole Germany
Berna CanbeldekSurvivor Turkey 8
Moriah JadeaThe Challenge: Ride or Dies
Olivia KaiserLove Island USA 3
Michele Fitzgerald
Zara ZoffanyThe Royal World
Ravyn RochelleThe Challenge: Ride or Dies
Melissa ReevesEx on the Beach UK 2
Tula "Big T" FazakerleyShipwrecked: Battle of the Islands
Sofia "Jujuy" JiménezDancing with the Stars Argentina 2018
Jessica BrodyThe Bachelor Australia 7

Champions

Although not in contention to win the season, ten former champions of The Challenge appeared during the season to compete in elimination rounds against contestants.[6] [7]

Championsnowrap Original season Episode featured
Jordan WiseleyEpisode 5
Kaz CrossleyLove Island UK 4Episode 6
nowrapDevin Walker-MolaghanAre You the One? 3Episode 7
Kaycee ClarkBig Brother 20Episode 8
Tori DealAre You the One? 4Episode 9
Darrell TaylornowrapEpisode 10
Laurel StuckyThe Challenge: Fresh Meat IIEpisode 11
Cara Maria SorbelloEpisode 12
Brad FiorenzanowrapThe Real World: San Diego (2004)Episode 13
nowrapChris "CT" TamburelloEpisode 14
Champion of

Gameplay

The Challengers are first brought to the Arena where they must figure out that they must team up to complete a series of puzzles in order to unlock cots, food, and alcohol for an overnight stay in the Arena.

Challenge games

Arena games

Final Challenge

The final seven contestants compete in the Final Challenge which has three phases – Control, Chaos and Conquest – mirroring the phases of the season.

Day one

For the Control phase, players work as a group to complete a challenge. If they are successful, the prize pot remains at $356,000; otherwise, the pot is reduced by $16,000. Afterwards, contestants vote for one player (of either gender) to compete in an elimination. The player who receives the most votes then calls out any player as their opponent.

For the Chaos Phase, players compete in a challenge where winner earns the power to select one contestant to compete in an elimination. The selected contestant then participates in the Draw by selecting between six covered poles to determine their opponent in the elimination. Four of the poles contain the names of the non-immune finalists while two poles allow the selected player to choose any player as their opponent.

Day two

For the Conquest Phase, players complete the Conquest Challenge which consists of three checkpoints. The first player to finish all three checkpoints and cross the finish line is declared the winner of Battle for a New Champion and receives $250,000 from the prize pot; second place receives $60,000; third place receives $30,000.

Final results

Game summary

Control Phase
EpisodeGenderChallenge typeResultArena contestantsArena gameArena outcomePrize Pot
ChallengeVoted inCalled outWinnerEliminated
1Hole ControlCollectiveFailedJessicaBig TFall OutBig TJessica$300,000
2Ball ControlFailedChaunceyJamesMight LightJamesChauncey$306,000
3Control TowerPassedRavynJujuyDirty DeedsRavynJujuy$356,000
4Under ControlMalePassedHughieKylandHow I RollKylandHughie$406,000
Chaos Phase
ChallengeGenderChallenge typeWinnersWinners' pickVoted inChampionCalled outArena gameWinnerLoserPrize Pot
5Upside Down WhirledMaleMale/Female pairsCorey & RavynAsafCiarranJordanKing of the HillsJordanCiarran$396,000
6Bingo BangoFemale2 teams of 6 & 1 team of 7MelissaBig TKazLoaded BarrelBig TKaz$396,000
7Working the AnglesMale5 teams of 3 & 1 team of 4Team 5EmanuelCoreyDevinCallumTotally MentalDevinCallum$386,000
8Tower of PowerFemale2 teams of 9Orange TeamMelissaBig TKayceePole in the StormKayceeBig T$376,000
9Doom SticksFemaleMale/Female pairs & 1 team of 3Asaf, Ravyn & ZaraMelissaColleenToriGoing UnderToriMelissa$366,000
10Sky BallMale2 teams of 8Orange TeamKylandJamesDarrellFire WalkerKylandDarrell$366,000
11Banquet of ChampionsFemale4 teams of 4Team 1RavynZaraLaurelChain ReactionRavynLaurel$366,000
12We All Fall DownFemale4 teams of 4Team 4ColleenRavynCara MariaMicheleBlock HeadMicheleCara Maria$366,000
13Getting TankedMale4 teams of 4Team 4HoracioKylandBradWhat's Going DownKylandBrad$366,000
14Off in the DistanceMale4 teams of 4Orange TeamHoracioCTAsafMind GrindCTAsaf$356,000
ChallengeChallenge typeWinnerNot savedElimination gameWinner(s)EliminatedPrize Pot
15Dark TideIndividualEdRavyn$356,000
HoracioKylandZaraConquest EliminationHoracioZara
Kyland
16End of the LineJayEd
HoracioKylandNurysConquest EliminationNurysHoracio
Kyland
17Drum RollBernaMichele
JamesNurysOliviaConquest EliminationNurysJames
Olivia
18/19Final ChallengeCollective
→ Pairs
→ Individual
Emanuel2nd: Nurys; 3rd: Colleen; 4th: Corey; 5th: Berna; 6th: Moriah; 7th: Jay$340,000
Bold indicates the contestant was selected in the Draw to compete against a champion in the Arena.

Episode progress

ContestantsEpisodes
ControlChaosFinale
1234567891011121314151617
EmanuelSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINNOMWINSAFEWINSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINNER
NurysSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESECOND
ColleenSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFESAFENOMWINWINNOMSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFETHIRD
CoreySAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFENOMWINSAFESAFEWINSAFEWINSAFESAFESAFESAFEFOURTH
BernaSAFESAFE SAFESAFESAFEWINSAFEWINSAFESAFESAFEWINWINSAFESAFESAFEWINFIFTH
MoriahSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFEWINWINSAFESAFEWINSAFESAFESAFESIXTH
JaySAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFEWINSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFESEVENTH
JamesSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFENOMWINSAFESAFEWINSAFESAFEOUT
OliviaSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFESAFESAFEOUT
MicheleSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFESAFE
HoracioSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINWINSAFESAFEWINSAFEWINNOMNOMOUT
KylandSAFESAFESAFESAFEWINWINSAFESAFESAFESAFEWINOUT
EdSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINWINSAFEWIN
ZaraSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEWINSAFEWINWINWINNOMWINSAFESAFEOUT
RavynSAFESAFESAFEWINSAFESAFEWINWINWINNOMSAFESAFE
AsafSAFESAFESAFESAFENOMSAFESAFESAFEWINWINSAFESAFESAFEOUT
MelissaSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFENOMSAFENOMOUT
Big TSAFESAFESAFESAFEWINOUT
CallumSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFEOUT
CiarranSAFESAFESAFESAFEOUT
HughieSAFESAFESAFEOUT
JujuySAFESAFEOUT
ChaunceySAFEOUT
JessicaOUT
Color key:

The contestant completed the Final Challenge and won

The contestant completed the Final Challenge and lost

The contestant was eliminated during the Final Challenge

The contestant won the daily challenge and was immune from elimination

The contestant was nominated for the Arena and saved by not being chosen to compete

The contestant was not selected for the Arena

The contestant won the elimination in the Arena

The contestant lost in the Arena and was eliminated

The contestant placed last in the daily challenge and was eliminated

Team progress

Episodes 5-14: Chaos Phase
Each challenge is played in pairs or in teams. For paired challenges, teams are randomly selected. For team challenges, teams are randomly selected or determined based on where contestants are standing.
Episodes 18-19: Final Challenge
Throughout the Chaos portion of the Final Challenge, players were required to play with a teammate throughout the five checkpoints. Teams were selected randomly by TJ.

ContestantsEpisode
567891011121314151617Finale
EmanuelBernaTeam 2OrangeBernaOrangeTeam 2Team 3Team 1TurquoiseIndividual
Game
ColleenBernaMoriahNurysCorey
NurysJamesTeam 4OrangeHoracioTeam 4Team 3Team 3YellowCoreyMoriahColleenEmanuelBerna
ColleenCallumTeam 1EdOrangeTeam 1Team 1Team 2YellowEmanuelCoreyNurysBernaMoriah
CoreyRavynTurquoiseTeam 6OrangeOliviaTeam 1Team 3Team 4TurquoiseNurysColleenBernaMoriahEmanuel
BernaEmanuelTeam 6OrangeEmanuelTeam 2Team 4Team 4TurquoiseMoriahEmanuelCoreyColleenNurys
MoriahKylandTurquoiseTeam 4OrangeJayOrangeTeam 1Team 2Team 1OrangeBernaNurysEmanuelCoreyColleen
JayMelissaTurquoiseTeam 1OrangeMoriahOrangeTeam 3Team 1Team 3Yellow
JamesNurysTurquoiseTeam 2OrangeMelissaTeam 1Team 2Team 3Orange
OliviaEdTurquoiseTeam 1CoreyTeam 3Team 3Team 4
MicheleAsafTeam 3KylandTeam 4Team 2Team 2Orange
HoracioBig TTeam 5NurysOrangeTeam 2Team 4Team 2
KylandMoriahTeam 5MicheleTeam 4Team 2Team 1Orange
EdOliviaTeam 4ColleenTeam 4Team 4Team 4Yellow
ZaraCiarranTeam 3OrangeAsafRavynOrangeTeam 2Team 4Team 1
RavynCoreyTeam 6OrangeAsafZaraOrangeTeam 3Team 1Team 3Turquoise
AsafMicheleTeam 4RavynZaraOrangeTeam 3Team 1Team 2
MelissaJayTurquoiseTeam 2James
Big THoracioTurquoiseTeam 5
CallumColleenTeam 3
CiarranZara

Voting progress

Winners' pickAsaf
Melissa
Emanuel
Melissa
Melissa
Kyland
Ravyn
Colleen
Horacio
Horacio
Nurys
House voteJessica
Chauncey
Ravyn
Hughie
Ciarran
Big T
Corey
Big T
Colleen
James
Zara
Ravyn
Kyland
StalemateCorey
colspan=1
ChampionJordanKazDevinKayceeToriDarrellLaurelCara MariaBradCTcolspan=2
Called outBig T
James
Jujuy
Kyland
Callum
Michele
Asaf
Jay
colspan=1
Draw pickCiarranBig TBig TMelissaKylandRavynKylandMoriah
VoterEpisodes
1234567891011121314Finale
EmanuelJessicaRavynHughieMelissaCoreyMelissaMoriahKylandZaraRavynKylandEdEdNurysNurys
NurysJessicaJayHughieCiarranBig TCoreyMelissaBernaJamesZaraRavynEmanuelEmanuelEmanuelCorey
ColleenJessicaChaunceyEmanuelHughieCiarranMelissaCoreyBig TKylandRavynRavynKylandEdEdNurys
CoreyJessicaChaunceyRavynAsafAsafBig TCoreyMelissaColleenJamesRavynRavynHoracioEdCoreyCorey
BernaJessicaChaunceyAsafHughieCiarranMelissaCoreyMelissaColleenJamesZaraRavynHoracioEdEdCorey
MoriahJessicaChaunceyJamesHughieEmanuelBig TCoreyMelissaKylandBernaRavynKylandHoracioCorey
JayJessicaChaunceyRavynHughieCiarranBig TCoreyMelissaColleenKylandZaraRavynKylandEdEdCorey
JamesJessicaCiarranRavynCallumBig TCoreyMelissaColleenEdRavynRavynKylandHoracio
OliviaJessicaChaunceyEdHughieCiarranBig TCoreyBig TJamesZaraRavynEmanuelEmanuel
MicheleJessicaChaunceyCallumHughieBig TCoreyBig TColleenJamesZaraRavynKylandHoracio
HoracioBig TChaunceyRavynHughieCiarranMelissaEmanuelBig TColleenZaraColleenJayEmanuelEmanuel
KylandJessicaHughieRavynHughieCiarranRavynEmanuelBig TEdZaraMoriahJay
EdJessicaChaunceyRavynHughieCiarranBig TCoreyBig TJamesZaraColleenHoracioEmanuelJay
ZaraJessicaChaunceyCiarranCoreyEmanuelMelissaCoreyMelissaMelissaKylandZaraColleenJayEmanuelEmanuel
RavynJessicaHughieRavynHughieAsafBig TCoreyMelissaMelissaKylandZaraRavynJayEmanuelEmanuel
AsafJessicaRavynHughieCiarranBig TCoreyBig TMelissaKylandZaraRavynKylandEdEd
MelissaJessicaKylandEmanuelEmanuelBig TCoreyBig T
Big TJessicaCoreyHoracioEmanuelRavynEmanuelBig T
CallumJessicaChaunceyRavynHughieBig TCorey
CiarranJessicaJamesRavynHughieCiarran
HughieJessicaRavynKyland
JujuyJessicaHoracio
ChaunceyJessicaChauncey
JessicaJessica

Selection progress

Episode 151617
Challenge
winner
EdJayBerna
1EmanuelMicheleCorey
2BernaOliviaColleen
3ColleenMoriahEmanuel
4CoreyJamesJay
5MicheleEmanuelMoriah
6JayBerna
7MoriahColleen
8JamesCorey
9Nurys
10Olivia
Elimination
nominees
Horacio
Kyland
Zara
Horacio
Kyland
Nurys
James
Nurys
Olivia

Episodes

Reunion special

The two-part reunion special aired on February 28 and March 6, 2024 and was hosted by entertainment personality Maria Menounos. Cast members attended in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Caruso. Nick. The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion Cast Includes Cara Maria and CT, Plus One Major Twist — Get Premiere Date. TVLine. September 13, 2023. September 12, 2023.
  2. Web site: Shows A-Z The Challenge. The Futon Critic. October 29, 2023.
  3. Bucksbaum. Sydney. Watch first teaser for The Challenge season 39, featuring an entire cast with no previous winners. Entertainment Weekly. October 20, 2023. September 12, 2023.
  4. Web site: Weiler. Lauren. MTV's 'The Challenge' Season 39 Format and Twist, Explained. Showbiz Cheat Sheet. December 11, 2023. October 25, 2023.
  5. Web site: Falcone. Dana Rose. CT Tamburello, Cara Maria Sorbello and More Vets Return for 'The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion'. People. September 16, 2023. September 12, 2023.
  6. Web site: Longretta. Emily. 'The Challenge' 39 Cast: Cara Maria, CT and More Legends Return to Help Crown a New Champion. Variety. September 18, 2023 . September 12, 2023.
  7. Bucksbaum. Sydney. The Challenge showrunner addresses concerns over season 39's cast of no champions. Entertainment Weekly. October 22, 2023. September 18, 2023.
  8. Bucksbaum. Sydney. The Challenge: Battle for a New Champion runner-up reveals what wasn't shown in the final. Entertainment Weekly. 22 February 2024. 21 February 2024.