The December 9 episode of Jeopardy! played out with remarkable suspense, as the returning champion hung on by a thread from the very first clue. What started as a three-way showdown quickly turned into a head-to-head slugfest, culminating in a single answer that decided whether the reigning champ kept the crown or had to pass the torch.
Who was the winner on Jeopardy! tonight?
Will Riley came into Tuesday’s game with $16,801 from his first win, ready to take on Jenna LaFleur and Steve Riddell. Early on, Riley and Riddell traded punches, but then LaFleur hit the jackpot moment.
She noticed the Daily Double on clue 18, bet all her chips in, and identified “bootlegging.” That shot her straight into the lead with $4,800. She kept that hot streak going, wrapping the round on top with $7,600, while Riley sat at $5,400 and Riddell followed with $4,400.
Riley came out of Double Jeopardy, finding the first Daily Double, and betting his whole $6,200 on the line. He picked “Martinique,” and instantly doubled his cash. LaFleur later got a shot to steal the spotlight with the third Daily Double, betting $2,000 on a poetry clue. However, her guess missed the mark, and Ken Jennings (the host) then pointed out the real answer.
Heading into Final Jeopardy, Riley held the top spot with $19,600, not a runaway, but enough to keep the pressure on. LaFleur trailed with $14,400, and Riddell sat at $9,200, all still in the game. The category, “Legends,” turned into a real curveball.
Only Riley was able to answer correctly. The clue pointed to a Scottish symbol gifted to the King of Munster. Riddell went for “royal crest,” LaFleur guessed a “unicorn sword,” but Riley named it Blarney Stone. The answer rewarded him with $9,201, and he concluded the night with an impressive $28,801 finish.
Riley’s win bumped his two-day total to $28,801, locking him in for a third appearance at the show. He’ll be back on Wednesday, keep the hot streak alive as this season serves fans more high-stakes, nail-biter matchups.
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