The Jeopardy! Second Chance tournament kicked off Monday, offering a lifeline to players who narrowly missed a Tournament of Champions spot. Nonprofit strategist Tekla Sauter from Chicago, history lecturer Will Yancey from Banquete, Texas, and attorney Alex Michev from Richmond, Virginia, stepped up to the podium, each vying for a shot at redemption.
The first round saw a mixed bag of results across categories like “A Eurocentric Category,” “Rhyme Time,” and “Merman.” Will Yancey took an early lead, snagging the first Daily Double and demonstrating a solid command of European landmarks. Going into Double Jeopardy!, Alex Michev was hot on Will’s heels, with Tekla Sauter trailing but still within striking distance.
Double Jeopardy! introduced categories like “Issuing a Citation,” “Art & Artists,” and the challenging “Thinkers & Their Thoughts,” which proved to be a stumbling block for all three contestants. Will Yancey, however, continued his strong performance, capitalizing on two more Daily Doubles to solidify his lead. The “Mood Indi-go-go” category offered a brief respite from the intellectual heavy lifting, injecting some much-needed levity into the proceedings.
By Final Jeopardy!, Will had built a comfortable lead, leaving Alex and Tekla facing an uphill battle. The final clue, a geography question about Columbus’s 1492 voyage, proved no match for any of the contestants. All three correctly identified Hispaniola, but Will’s wager secured him a runaway victory, totaling $25,601. Alex finished with $14,300, and Tekla with $11,198, ending her Second Chance run.
Jeopardy! airs weekdays in syndication. Check local listings.
