It was a Christmas showdown on Jeopardy!, with returning champion Laura Faddah, a manager from Memphis, Tennessee, wielding her four-day total of $40,400 against musician Mat Farhoud-Dionne from Montreal, Quebec, and software developer Amber Gamrat from Hudson, New Hampshire. Would holiday cheer prevail, or would the competition turn into a stocking full of coal for the challengers?
The first round proved a mixed bag, with Laura taking an early lead while Mat struggled to gain traction, landing in the red. Amber, too, faced an uphill battle. The categories, ranging from “Islands & Archipelagos” to “I’m So Indicted,” offered a smattering of opportunities, but the Daily Double eluded Mat, sending him further into negative territory.
Double Jeopardy! saw Mat stage a comeback, capitalizing on the Daily Doubles to briefly surpass Laura. The categories, including “Thinking About the Ottoman Empire” and “Happy 100th, Rod Serling,” tested the players’ knowledge across a broad spectrum. However, a misstep on a later Daily Double cost Mat his lead, setting the stage for a tight final round. Laura, despite a strong performance, faltered on the last clue, allowing Mat to regain the top spot going into Final Jeopardy!.
The final category, “U.S. Place Names,” presented a seemingly straightforward clue. Yet, only Laura correctly identified Memphis as the city founded by Andrew Jackson and others, its name echoing the ancient Egyptian metropolis. Her wager secured her a fifth consecutive victory and a total of $58,400.
Jeopardy! airs weekdays in syndication. Check your local listings.
