Double Elimination

The **Double Elimination** is a game-changing twist that forces a tribe to vote out multiple contestants at one Tribal Council. A Double Elimination is different from a Double Tribal Council in several ways: it is not always revealed beforehand, individual immunity is not always offered, and only one tribe is involved in a Double Elimination. In this way, two members of one tribe go home consecutively.

## History

This twist first appeared in *Survivor: Cook Islands*, when host Jeff Probst announced that the tribe that lost the Day 24 Immunity Challenge would receive a message in a bottle, to be opened after Tribal Council. After Rarotonga eliminated one member, they opened the bottle, expecting the merge. Instead, they were instructed to vote out an additional tribe member.

The twist was later modified and appeared in both *Survivor: Redemption Island* and *Survivor: South Pacific*. In both seasons, the twist was used after the merged tribe had already voted someone out. An impromptu Immunity Challenge was held in between the votes before another member of the merged tribe was voted out.

The latest variant of the twist was introduced in *Survivor: Ghost Island* with further appearances in *Survivor: Island of the Idols* and every season since *Survivor 41* sans *44*. Jeff Probst announced during the Immunity Challenge that the merged tribe would temporarily be divided into two teams, with one person from each team winning immunity. The two teams then attended separate Tribal Councils, with the team of the person who lasted the longest in the Immunity Challenge going second, thereby having the knowledge of who had been voted out in the first Tribal Council.

## Appearances

In *Cook Islands*, Rarotonga was forced to vote out two members consecutively, after receiving a message in a bottle, for losing the Day 24 Immunity Challenge. After Rarotonga eliminated Rebecca Borman, they opened the bottle, expecting the merge. Instead, they were instructed to vote out an additional tribe member, and Jenny Guzon-Bae was eliminated.

In *Redemption Island*, the merged Murlonio tribe received a mysterious package that they were to only open after voting out one member. After voting out Ralph Kiser, they then competed in another Immunity Challenge, won by Rob Mariano, and voted out Steve Wright, eliminating the remaining former members of Zapatera.

In *South Pacific*, the merged Te Tuna tribe was surprised when an impromptu Immunity Challenge was held at Tribal Council, immediately after voting out Dawn Meehan. Sophie Clarke won her second consecutive Immunity Challenge, and the tribe unanimously voted out Whitney Duncan, eliminating the remaining loyal members of Savaii.

In *Ghost Island*, the merged Lavita tribe was informed that they would temporarily be divided into two teams of five during the Immunity Challenge, with one person from each team winning immunity and the two teams attending separate Tribal Councils, with the team of the person who lasted the longest in the challenge earning the right to vote second. Chelsea Townsend won immunity on the purple team, while Domenick Abbate won immunity on the orange team. Domenick lasted the longest in the challenge, thereby ensuring that the orange team would vote second. The purple team voted out Jenna Bowman in the first Tribal Council, and the orange team voted out Michael Yerger in the second Tribal Council.

In *Island of the Idols*. the merged Lumuwaku tribe was informed that they would temporarily be divided into two teams, one of five, and the other of six, during the Immunity Challenge. In addition, the person who lasted the longest in the challenge would also win a reward of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for their team. Noura Salman won immunity on the purple team, while Elaine Stott won immunity on the orange team. Elaine lasted the longest in the challenge, winning reward for the orange team and ensuring that they would vote second. Prior to Tribal Council, the orange team returned to the Lumuwaku camp, while the purple team was sequestered at the old Lairo camp for the afternoon. The purple team voted out Aaron Meredith in the first Tribal Council, followed by the orange team voting out Missy Byrd in the second Tribal Council.

In *Survivor 41*, the merged Viakana tribe was informed that they would temporarily be divided into two teams of five during the Immunity Challenge. The person who lasted the longest in the challenge would also win a reward of chicken and beef stew for their team. Erika Casupanan won immunity on the yellow team, while Xander Hastings won immunity on the blue team. Xander lasted the longest in the challenge, winning reward for the blue team, allowing his team to vote second. Prior to Tribal Council, the blue team returned to the Viakana camp, while the yellow team was sequestered at the former Yase camp, preventing cross-communication between the teams. The yellow team voted out Naseer Muttalif at the first Tribal Council, while the blue team voted out Evvie Jagoda at the second Tribal Council.

In *Survivor 42*, the merged Kula Kula tribe was informed that they would temporarily be divided into two teams of five during the Immunity Challenge. The person who lasted the longest in the challenge would also win a reward of beef and vegetable kebabs for their team. Hai Giang won immunity on the orange team, while Jonathan Young won immunity on the blue team. Jonathan lasted the longest in the challenge, winning reward for the blue team, allowing his team to vote second. Prior to Tribal Council, the blue team returned to the Kula Kula camp, while the orange team was sequestered at the old Taku camp for the afternoon. The orange team voted out Rocksroy Bailey at the first Tribal Council, while the blue team voted out Tori Meehan at the second Tribal Council.

In *Survivor 43*, the merged Gaia tribe was informed that they would temporarily be divided into two teams of five during the Immunity Challenge. The person who lasted the longest in the challenge would also win a reward of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for their team. Karla Cruz Godoy won immunity on the blue team, while Cody Assenmacher won immunity on the red team. Cody lasted the longest in the challenge, winning reward for the red team, allowing his team to vote second. Prior to Tribal Council, the red team returned to the Gaia camp, while the blue team was sequestered at the old Vesi camp for the afternoon. The blue team voted out James Jones at the first Tribal Council, while the red team voted out Ryan Medrano at the second Tribal Council.

In *Survivor 45*, the newly merged Dakuwaqa tribe was informed that they would temporarily be divided into two teams of six during the Immunity Challenge. The person who lasted the longest in the challenge would also win a trip to the Survivor Sanctuary for their team. To raise the stakes, the person voted out from the losing team would not become a member of the jury. Kellie Nalbandian won immunity on the blue team, while Dee Valladares won immunity on the red team. Dee lasted the longest in the challenge, winning reward for the red team, allowing her team to vote second and guaranteeing that everyone on her team would make it to the jury phase. Prior to Tribal Council, the red team returned to the Dakuwaqa camp, while the blue team was sequestered at the old Lulu camp for the afternoon. The blue team voted out Sifu Alsup at the first Tribal Council, while the red team voted out Kaleb Gebrewold at the second Tribal Council.

## Trivia

* Each time this twist has appeared post-merge, two people won individual immunity that day.
	+ In *Redemption Island* and *South Pacific*, there was an individual Immunity Challenge between votes.
		- Both times, it was won by the eventual Sole Survivor.
	+ In *Ghost Island*, *Island of the Idols*, *Survivor 41*, *42*, *43*, and *45* each of the two temporary teams had one person win immunity.
* Dawn Meehan is the only contestant to be voted out during this twist and return for another season.
* A double elimination allowed Sophie Clarke to become the first and currently only contestant to win individual immunity twice in one day.
* Rob Mariano, Sophie Clarke, and Erika Casupanan are the only winners to win individual immunity during a Double Elimination.
* *Survivor 41* is the only season where the eventual winner went to the first Tribal Council of the Double Elimination in the split team iteration of the twist.
* Coincidentally, both contestants with "Meehan" as a last name have been voted out at a Double Elimination.
* Until *Survivor 42*, the winner of the Final Immunity Challenge in each season that featured a Double Elimination also won immunity during that Double Elimination.