Nikhil Joshi clinched his second straight Jeopardy! win on Friday, surviving a sharp challenge from two first-time players and walking away with a two-day total of $20,199.
The New Jersey-born veterinarian entered Final Jeopardy! with a strong lead that ultimately carried him through, even as software engineer Elizabeth Hawkins nailed the correct response in the “NAME THAT -ISM” category with “What is optimism?” Her conservative $0 wager left her locked in third with $1,200—an outcome that could’ve flipped had she risked even a modest sum.
Brian O’Heron, a graduate student out of St. Louis, came in second with $1,399 after a pair of Daily Double swings stalled his momentum. Joshi ended the night with $14,799 and a clear runway to Monday’s game.
The match turned tactical early. Brian’s misses on big-money clues pushed him behind the pace, while Elizabeth played clean but couldn’t close the gap. Nikhil, steady on the buzzer and selective with his wagers, kept control throughout.
The game’s Triple Stumper came on a Bible trivia clue involving Noah, Methuselah’s grandson, who reportedly lived to 950 years. None of the three buzzed in with the answer.
Joshi will return next week to defend his streak and try to build on what’s so far been a cautious but effective approach to the game.
