Returning champion Eric Weldon-Schilling, a bar manager and sommelier from Houston, Texas, began Thursday’s game with $21,000. He faced two new challengers: Laura Faddah, a manager from Memphis, Tennessee, and Neal Bowling, a journeyman lineman from Mackinaw, Illinois. While Weldon-Schilling initially held a slight lead, the game quickly became a three-way battle for the top spot, with each contestant demonstrating strong knowledge across various categories.
The first round featured a mix of easy wins and surprising stumbles. Neal Bowling struggled in U.S. History, hitting a Daily Double that set him back significantly. Meanwhile, Faddah showcased a knack for literary clues, consistently outpacing her competitors in the “Poetic Women” category. Going into Double Jeopardy!, Faddah held a comfortable lead.
Double Jeopardy! saw the competition intensify. Bowling rebounded from his earlier setbacks, finding a Daily Double in “A Word in a Shakespeare Play” that boosted his score considerably. Weldon-Schilling, facing a narrowing gap, strategically wagered on a late Daily Double in “Initials from Greek God to Roman God,” bringing him back into contention. However, it was Faddah who ultimately secured a narrow lead going into Final Jeopardy!, thanks to a well-timed correct response on the last clue of the round.
The Final Jeopardy! category, “Super Bowl History,” presented a deceptively challenging clue about the only pre-moon-landing team to have not returned to the Super Bowl. All three contestants missed the correct response, “Who are the New York Jets?” While Weldon-Schilling bet everything and lost, Faddah’s strategic wager allowed her to maintain her lead and secure the victory with $11,200. Bowling ended his run at second place with $2,800.
Jeopardy! airs weekdays on ABC. Check local listings.
