TF1 to air special 'Combat des Maîtres' showdown on Les 12 Coups de Midi, Aug 21

TF1 will broadcast a prime‑time edition of the daily quiz show Les 12 Coups de Midi on Friday 21 August 2026 at 21:10. The event, titled “Combat des Maîtres”, pits the programme’s most successful masters – including record holder Émilien, Xavier, Cyprien, Céline, Paul El‑Karrat and Timothée – together with twelve popular former contestants (“Chouchous”) in paired teams. The teams compete for a €25,000 prize and a viewer‑drawn jackpot of €500,000 that will be awarded to a lucky audience member.

Earlier in the month, on 1 August, a Belgian candidate named Steven disrupted the set with an improvised stand‑up routine, prompting host Jean‑Luc Reichmann to intervene and comment on the incident. The episode highlighted the show’s lively interaction between the presenter and participants.

Meanwhile, recent master Floris, who became a master on 27 June 2026, saw his winnings rise to about €162,000 after his 34th appearance on 2 August, aspiring to emulate the long‑standing champion Émilien.