Returning champion Josh Weikert, a politics professor, almost saw his two-day reign on “Jeopardy!” come to a screeching halt thanks to a hefty wager in Final Jeopardy!. While his knowledge across the board proved strong enough to carry him through, his betting strategy nearly backfired, making for a nail-biting finish to Monday’s game.
Facing off against Geraldine Rodriguez, an interlibrary loan assistant coordinator, and Mustafa Hameed, an attorney, Josh started strong, building a substantial lead throughout the game. He displayed a knack for Daily Doubles, successfully converting one in the “Jeopardy!” round about Pope Pius XII and the bones of St. Peter, and another in Double Jeopardy! about the Yucca genus.
Geraldine, however, had a less fortunate encounter with a Daily Double in Double Jeopardy!, losing a substantial $4,200 on a question about 17th-century London and the plague. It was a gamble that didn’t pay off, setting her back significantly. Mustafa, meanwhile, maintained a respectable score, keeping the pressure on Josh.
But it all came down to Final Jeopardy!, and the clue about an acting family who changed their surname after leaving a religious group proved tricky. Geraldine was the only contestant to correctly identify the Phoenix family. Josh, wagering a hefty $12,601, incorrectly guessed “What is Arquette?”. Luckily for him, Mustafa also missed the mark, and his even larger $10,000 wager knocked him out of contention. A smaller bet by Mustafa would have had him winning.
Josh squeaked by with a final score of $9,199, bringing his two-day winnings total to $32,800. While his knowledge base is clearly impressive, perhaps a more conservative approach to Final Jeopardy! betting is in order if he hopes to continue his winning streak.
Jeopardy airs weekdays in Syndication. Check local listings.
