In a thrilling upset, four-day “Jeopardy!” champion Alex DeFrank was unseated by newcomer Cameron Berry, a data analyst and college administrator from Brighton, Massachusetts. Thursday’s game saw Berry take an early lead and maintain his dominance throughout, displaying a cool confidence that foreshadowed his victory.
Berry’s gameplay was a masterclass in “Jeopardy!” strategy. He found both Daily Doubles in the Jeopardy! round – often a crucial turning point – and capitalized on both, further solidifying his lead. His command of categories ranging from “Poets & Poetry” to “TV Show by Google Search” (yes, really) kept him ahead of the pack.
Going into Final Jeopardy!, Berry held a comfortable advantage. The category, “U.S. Cities,” seemed straightforward enough. However, the clue proved tricky, with all three contestants missing the correct response of Lexington, Kentucky. Berry, smartly wagering a conservative amount, secured his victory despite the incorrect answer. Ironically, DeFrank was the only contestant to correctly answer the Final Jeopardy! clue, but his wager wasn’t enough to overcome Berry’s substantial lead. Cameron ended up with $24,600, Alex scored $8,000 and Hillary Hess, an export policy analyst from Arlington, Virginia, rounded out the field in third place but left with a score of $0.
Even a Triple Stumper – when none of the contestants could identify Pennsylvania artist Andrew Wyeth – couldn’t derail the momentum of the game. Berry’s win marks a new chapter in the “Jeopardy!” saga. One wonders if he has the staying power to build a streak of his own. “Jeopardy!” airs weekdays. Check local listings.
