Matt Amodio, the quantitative researcher from New York City, put on a clinic in the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament on Monday, March 3, 2025. While his competitors, Emily Sands and Luigi de Guzman, struggled to keep pace, Amodio demonstrated the strategic gameplay and deep knowledge that characterized his original run on the show.
The first round saw de Guzman take an early lead, racking up 6,800 points compared to Sands’ 4,200 and Amodio’s 1,800. However, the tides turned dramatically in Double Jeopardy!. Amodio, trailing significantly, pounced on the first Daily Double, doubling his score to 4,400. He then seized the next two Daily Doubles, wagering big and converting each time to catapult himself into the lead. Going into Final Jeopardy!, Amodio held a commanding 22,800, with de Guzman at 16,400 and Sands trailing with 11,400.
The Final Jeopardy! category, CABINET MEMBERS, presented the clue: “In order of fame, the first Cabinet was Jefferson (later Prez), Hamilton (‘My Shot’ guy), Knox (of Fort fame), this Attorney General.” Only Amodio correctly identified Edmund Randolph, wagering 10,001 to finish with a runaway score of 32,801. De Guzman guessed incorrectly, wagering everything and ending with 1. Sands answered incorrectly as well, dropping to 11,000.
Amodio’s decisive victory demonstrates he is a force to be reckoned with in the tournament. His aggressive Daily Double strategy and broad knowledge base make him a formidable competitor.
