Hey quiz show fans did you catch the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament finals? Things got seriously intense especially in the game that aired on March 6th . We saw three brainy titans Matt Amodio Roger Craig and Juveria Zaheer battle it out for the championship. If you missed it or just want a recap you are in right place. Let's dive into all the juicy details of that Final Jeopardy! showdown and find out who walked away victorious.
Clash of the Titans: Amodio Craig and Zaheer Go Head-to-Head in Jeopardy! Finals Game 1
This Invitational Tournament has been a blast from the past bringing back some of Jeopardy!'s most memorable players. For the finals it came down to Matt Amodio powerhouse champ with a crazy 38-game win streak Roger Craig known for his one-day record and Juveria Zaheer the fan favorite Second Chance champ. Game 1 of the finals was a rollercoaster especially between Matt and Roger. Juveria started a bit slow but definitely kept things interesting.
In the first round Roger took an early lead staying mistake-free. But Matt was right on his heels. Then in Double Jeopardy! Matt really turned up the heat. He nailed a Daily Double wagered big and went on an impressive streak answering ten questions in a row! Roger though wasn't about to let Matt run away with it. He found a Daily Double too doubled his score and kept the game competitive heading into Final Jeopardy! It was edge-of-your-seat stuff for sure.
Even though Matt had a solid lead going into Final Jeopardy! with $30,000 Roger was still in striking distance with $22,800 and Juveria had $1,000. All three players answered Final Jeopardy! correctly. Matt played it smart wagering just enough to win even if Roger bet everything. And with that Matt Amodio clinched Game 1 of the finals. One game down one more to potentially go!
Game 2 Drama: Juveria Takes Charge But Final Jeopardy! Decides It All
Game 2 saw Juveria come out swinging especially in a category about Canada her home country. She also aced a question about a Canadian hockey player putting her in the lead early on. But you know how Jeopardy! is it's always changing. Matt and Roger were quick on the buzzer keeping the pressure on.
Double Jeopardy! was where Juveria really took control. She found a Daily Double and went for it betting big and doubling her score. She took the lead and held it for most of the round. Roger found another Daily Double and kept himself in the game but Juveria was leading the pack going into Final Jeopardy! It was Juveria with $16,000 Matt with $13,600 and Roger with $9,400. Anyone could still win it all!
British Royalty and a Flogging? The Tricky Final Jeopardy! Clue That Crowned a Champion
The Final Jeopardy! category for this crucial game was "British Royalty". The clue was: “In the 12th c. after walking barefoot this man stripped down & allowed himself to be flogged by dozens of monks.” Hmm tricky right? All three contestants had to think hard on this one.
Roger guessed "Richard I" but it was incorrect. He wagered a good amount but still ended up with $5,199. Matt also guessed "Richard I" and also lost some money ending with $11,199. It all came down to Juveria. If she got it right she could win the whole thing. She guessed "Richard the Lionheart". Close but no cigar! "Richard the Lionheart" is another name for Richard I so also incorrect. She had bet big too and ended up with $4,799.
The correct answer? Henry II. Turns out King Henry II in the 12th century did some pretty dramatic stuff including public self-flagellation for penance. Who knew royalty could be so hardcore?
And the Winner Is... Matt Amodio Takes Home the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament Title!
Since Juveria's Final Jeopardy! answer was incorrect it meant Matt Amodio won Game 2 and more importantly the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament Championship! Matt takes home the $150,000 grand prize and an invitation to the prestigious 2025 Jeopardy! Masters tournament . Huge congrats to Matt!
Even though Roger and Juveria didn't win the top prize they both walked away with $50,000 which is not too shabby at all. It was an amazing competition and all three players showed off some serious Jeopardy! skills. Matt proved once again why he is considered one of the all-time greats and we cannot wait to see him compete in the Masters tournament.
Meet the Finalists: Amodio Craig and Zaheer Jeopardy! Superstars
Let's give a shout out to these incredible Jeopardy! players:
- Matt Amodio: The champ! Known for his impressive 38-game winning streak back in 2021 Matt is a force to be reckoned with. He is ranked #3 all-time for consecutive games won and #3 for highest regular season winnings. He is a quantitative researcher from New York and a huge Ken Jennings fan.
- Roger Craig: A Jeopardy! veteran Roger first appeared on the show in 2010 and had a 6-game winning streak. He won the 2011 Tournament of Champions and also set a one-day winnings record back in his original run. Roger is a computer scientist from Delaware and revealed during the tournament that he is married to another Jeopardy! legend Julia Collins.
- Juveria Zaheer: A fan favorite Juveria is a psychiatrist from Ontario Canada. She debuted on Jeopardy! in 2022 and after losing her first game came back strong winning the Second Chance Tournament and the 2024 Champions Wildcard tournament. She is known for her bold Daily Double wagers and her daughter is adorably nicknamed "Ken Jennings Jr."
Key Moments from the March 6 Final Jeopardy! Game:
- Matt Amodio wins Game 1 of the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament Finals.
- Juveria Zaheer takes the lead in Game 2 after a strong Double Jeopardy! round.
- Roger Craig stays competitive throughout both games making smart wagers.
- Final Jeopardy! Category: British Royalty.
- Final Jeopardy! Clue: “In the 12th c. after walking barefoot this man stripped down & allowed himself to be flogged by dozens of monks.”
- Correct Final Jeopardy! Answer: Henry II.
- Matt Amodio wins Game 2 and becomes the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament Champion.
- Amodio wins $150,000 and a spot in the 2025 Jeopardy! Masters tournament.
- Roger Craig and Juveria Zaheer each win $50,000 as finalists.