Returning champion Stevie Ruiz, an assistant front office manager from Montauk, New York, faced off against two new challengers: Gloria Nastas, a retired healthcare policy analyst from Troy, Michigan, and Kimberley Debus, a Unitarian Universalist minister from Takoma Park, Maryland. Ruiz began the game with a one-day total of $17,987, hoping to extend his winning streak.
Ruiz took an early lead, capitalizing on a Daily Double in “Fast Fashion.” While the contestants struggled with a World History category, Ruiz highlighted his pop culture knowledge, further solidifying his lead. Going into Double Jeopardy!, Ruiz held a comfortable advantage with $7,600, followed by Debus with $3,000 and Nastas with $1,200.
Double Jeopardy! saw Ruiz maintain his momentum, strategically wagering on Daily Doubles to widen the gap. Debus, despite a strong performance, faltered on a Daily Double in “A Real Sob Story,” dropping $4,000 from her score. Ruiz continued to dominate, ultimately entering Final Jeopardy! with a commanding $18,000, compared to Debus’s $8,600 and Nastas’s $1,600.
The Final Jeopardy! category was “The 20th Century.” The clue: “This country’s national radio launched in 1925; 14 years later, it fell into a long silence following a piano nocturne.” Both Ruiz and Nastas correctly answered “What is Poland?,” while Debus missed the mark. Ruiz, already holding a significant lead, wisely bet $0, securing his second victory with a two-day total of $35,987.
Jeopardy! airs weekdays on syndicated television.
