James X

**James X** was a male contestant that competed on ***The Royalty Challenge***. He first appeared on the third season, The Royalty Challenge: Brain vs. Brawn vs. Beauty, with his team **Beauty** where he finished in 2nd place. He was also awarded Player of the Season. He returned in The Royalty Challenge: Cold Zone where he finished in 2nd place with Kay Opondo. He was also awarded Fan Favorite and Player of the Season.

In **Brain vs. Brawn vs. Beauty**, James started the game representing Team Beauty. James began the season re-connecting with Veteran Nick Miller, who he had played with previously in another game, and absorbed information from him about other players whilst strategically taking on as the role of follower. He became a part of Nick's majority alliance Beautiful Name Beautiful People on Beauty whilst also warming to fellow Brit Isabel Banks. Following Beauty's losing streak, James joined his team in targeting inactive players Max Tshife and Callie Jones whilst also being included in cross-team alliances with some of OG Brawn. Alongside his group alliances, James' true allegiance was with duo Joshua Williams in The Newark Twin Twist; with Joshua being someone he met at University. Contributing to Beauty's first daily win of the season, James formed the Leaders with Nick and alliance member Ny Love. After hearing through Parzi Valentine that Vicky Vaccaro is a traitor, James and Joshua discussed using this as bait to Parzi so he'd think he'd have power over them; but secretly wanted Vicky to take out her opponent in elimination so Joshua was secure on Brain. Wanting to weaken Brawn, James' options were limited due to his cross-team alliance; ultimately targeting Ellie Smash as she'd lost an elimination in her previous season before winning.

During Isabel's second elimination, James guided her and advised her to eliminate Kay Opondo if she wanted a chance of staying in the game. James gained his second Leader win during the swap with Knife Weston and Liam Lovelis; but was left frustrated when they ignored him and left him out of their plans; leading to a new rivalry after a confrontation with Liam. Feeling frustrated and hopeless with the way the OG Brawn and their allies were dominating the game, James and Joshua created The Revolution alliance and pitched a plan to take down OG Brawn if they wanted a shot at winning the game. Ny and Tommy Fairfax executed their first plan by putting in Otto O'Reilly and Liam against Knife and Julien Hiraga. After losing close ally Isabel and making it through the season without entering elimination, James became a target for OG Brawn and was voted into the final elimination of the season against former winner Lex Quinn and rival Liam. James crushed the elimination and secured himself a spot in the finale. During the finale with team members Otto and Rhea Sunshine they just lost-out and finished as the runners-up of the season.

In **Cold Zone**, James returned to the game worried about his lack of connections; but he instantly hit it off with Devin Tauruan due to his ability to hold a conversation. The two of them formed the Frost Giants duo alliance. However, he was wary of Devin's social dominance and questioned whether Devin was doing this with multiple other players. James was worried Kay would hold a grudge against him due to what had happened in their previous season. He also bonded with Dorian Washington and joined her majority alliance Ice Ring; but had mixed feelings on the other players she included. After being saved by Devin on the chain in Round 1, James was upset to lose TN Tea as he was one of the few players he had held strong conversations with. During Round 3, James joined Devin's The Inner Circle alliance alongside Dorian, Caoimhe Mulcahy and Remi Rowan; as well as forming an official trio with Devin/Kay called British Oreo (Team Supermodel) after getting closer to her on call. Winning his first daily of the season, James felt frustrated in his options being to target Anojan Thaseelan or the younger group of Izel Bitcherzina, Sierra Castillo and Sylvia Riah. He felt the bigger threats were rookies Danielle George, Ryan Matthew and Zaire Langill; but was unable to convince Devin that this was the right time for a move against them. Bonding with fellow Brit Sylvia, he joined her alliance The Skinnier Legends in which she created to save herself from the house-vote. Joining her in voting Ryan in, their plan failed and she was sent into elimination against Anojan. Seeing Izel as a messy game player, James leaked to Devin that Izel didn't trust him; leading to a heated Devin setting on a path to target Izel. Surviving the purge, James got closer to the Danielle/Ryan duo and agreed with Devin that they should work together as a four moving; forming the Mystery Inc alliance. Winning the Round 6 daily challenge, James joined the majority in sending Izel into elimination, due to him excelling in the game, whilst portraying to the younger group that he had no choice. He also started to feel that the older players were treating the younger players unfairly.

Finding himself aligned with with both sides and the majority of the house, James' position went undetected and during an intense battle for power during the Round 7 daily challenge, secretly plotted against the younger players as he needed one of them out of the game. With Zaire aligned with the younger players and the worry of her throwing the challenge to them so that they could make a move, James successfully convinced her that they need to win and secure safety. James was shocked when Izel took a bold move in dragging Devin into the double elimination with himself and Sierra; consoling and preparing Devin for the fight. After losing Devin, he began to question Kay's loyalty and whether or not she had an alliance with Donald G/Dorian. Despite his suspicions, he joined an alliance with her and Ryan called Canuk. After winning the Round 9 daily challenge, James once again voted to send Izel into elimination; knowing that getting him eliminated would free-up Sylvia's loyalty to him. Seeing Fergus Crowe as a physical threat after he took out Izel, James joined Ryan/Zaire as the daily winners in sending him into his second elimination in-a-row; subsequently leading to Fergus' elimination at the hands of Sylvia. Still wanting Zaire out of the game, James was frustrated to see her win the Round 11 daily challenge. Seeing no other option, he voted in Caoimhe against her ally Remi. During the final round, James' team lost the daily challenge. With Dorian in elimination, James convinced Kay to send him into elimination against Dorian as he believed she would have an even shot against him over Sylvia; and if there was a power to choose pairs in the finale, would rather he or Dorian had it. Winning his first elimination of the season, James secured his position in his second finale. Being paired up with Kay, the pair of them tried their best but were unable to beat eventful winners Ryan/Zaire; finishing as the runner-ups.

## **Trivia**

* James is the highest placing challenger from the UK.
* James is first two-time runner-up of ***The Royalty Challenge***.
* James was tied for the most daily wins in **Cold Zone** with 5.
* James is the first male challenger to get both the Fan Favorite and Player of the Season awards in one season.
	+ He is also the first male player to get Player of the Season twice.
* James was approached to play the first All-Veteran season, **Temple of Time**, but joined the hosting team instead.
* James is the highest earning non-winner with the most statistical money in his account.
* James is the third player to join the hosting team after playing in a season.