‘Jeopardy!’ Error Alters Jamie Ding’s Double Jeopardy Score – Is Trouble Ahead?
On April 10, Jamie Ding returned to the Alex Trebek Stage for his 21st appearance on the beloved quiz show, Jeopardy! With a remarkable 20-day total of $572,600, Ding aimed to further solidify his status as a champion. His competitors on this episode were Xaque Williams, a writer from Knoxville, Tennessee, and Kathi Fitzgerald, an English teacher from Williamsburg, Virginia.
Jamie Ding’s Impressive Journey
During the opening, host Ken Jennings highlighted Ding’s achievements. “Yesterday marked win No. 20 for our super champion Jamie Ding, a milestone shared with Jeopardy! legend Julia Collins,” Jennings stated. Only six contestants in the show’s long history have surpassed this record. Ding’s earnings also positioned him sixth on the leaderboard for highest winnings in regular-season play, topping Mattea Roach’s total.
Game Highlights
The game began with Ding selecting “Case in Point” for $800. His first response, “What is beer?” gave him an early lead. The first Daily Double appeared under the category “One Piece.” Ding wagered all of his $1,800 on the clue regarding a popular leather outfit, correctly answering with “What is a catsuit?” This kept him in control of the game.
While Ding consistently excelled, Williams found success in the music category and shared his love for ’60s psychedelic bands during the chat segment. Fitzgerald discussed her experience in the Navy and her transition to teaching. By the end of the first round, Ding had advanced to $13,000, leaving Williams at $1,800 and Fitzgerald with $1,000.
Double Jeopardy Changes the Game
As the game progressed into Double Jeopardy, Fitzgerald began with a question about World War I, which Williams answered correctly. Ding soon found a Daily Double under the category “1826,” betting $4,400 on the clue about a newspaper sharing its name with an opera character. After responding correctly with “What is Figaro?”, Ding’s total surged to $23,000.
He quickly found another Daily Double but misjudged a question related to a city in Montana, mistakenly answering “What is Big Rapids?” instead of the correct “What is Great Falls?”, reducing his total to $18,000. Nonetheless, Ding ended Double Jeopardy with a significant lead of $24,800, while Williams had $8,200, and Fitzgerald trailed with $200.
Final Jeopardy and the New Record
Final Jeopardy’s category was “Around the World,” with a clue about a river named after the sacred lotus flower. Fitzgerald answered incorrectly, retaining her total at $200. Williams, however, correctly identified “What is the Bay of Bengal?” and raised his total to $15,200. Ding also answered correctly and wagered $9,600, bringing his total to an impressive $36,400.
With this win, Jamie Ding became a 21-game champion, raising his total winnings to $609,000. Even he seemed surprised by his continued success on the show. To catch the latest episodes of Jeopardy!, viewers can check local listings or stream the show on Hulu and Peacock.
