Returning champion Drew Goins, a journalist from Honolulu, continued his winning streak on Jeopardy! Monday night, effortlessly securing a spot in the upcoming Champions Wildcard tournament. While challengers Jen Feldman, a high school teacher, and Joey DeSena, a development engineer, put up a good fight, Goins’s command of the board proved insurmountable. He dominated from the first clue, quickly amassing a considerable lead.
The first Daily Double, tucked away in the “Museums” category, tripped up DeSena early in the game. He incorrectly guessed the British Museum when asked for the London museum of decorative arts designed by Sir Aston Webb (the Victoria and Albert Museum). This misstep left him trailing as Goins steadily built his score, demonstrating a broad knowledge base across categories ranging from “Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.” to “British Sitcoms.” By the first commercial break, Goins had already pulled ahead with $4,200, leaving Feldman with $1,400 and DeSena at $0.
Goins maintained his momentum going into Double Jeopardy!, further solidifying his lead with correct responses in categories like “French Geography” and “Broadway.” Feldman found her footing, capitalizing on the Daily Double in “18th Century Writing” to identify Voltaire’s Candide. She wagered boldly, adding $5,000 to her total and narrowing the gap. Goins, unfazed, snatched the next Daily Double in “Psychology,” correctly identifying the term “curling parents,” and wagering $4,000. This strategic move effectively sealed his victory heading into Final Jeopardy!.
With Goins enjoying a comfortable lead, Final Jeopardy! presented a Cold War challenge: “A U.S. Navy website says its journey from New London to Norway in 1957 opened up Arctic Waters previously ruled by the Soviets.” While both Feldman and Goins answered incorrectly, Goins’s $0 wager secured him the win. DeSena, however, correctly identified the USS Nautilus, a fitting end to his Jeopardy! run.
Will Goins’s strategic gameplay and breadth of knowledge continue to dominate in the Champions Wildcard tournament? Tune in to Jeopardy! weekdays to find out. Check your local listings for showtimes.