On October 17, 2024, Jeopardy! aired its 29th episode of Season 41, featuring a riveting contest culminating in Rishabh Wuppalapati's third consecutive win. Wuppalapati, an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, triumphed over Angel Poe, an educational consultant from Florida, and Aaron Brown, a trivia host from Ontario.
The game, hosted by Ken Jennings, saw Wuppalapati increase his total earnings to $52,802. The contest unfolded across the Jeopardy!, Double Jeopardy!, and Final Jeopardy! rounds, with categories ranging from "Picture The Hit Song" to "Letters of the Artists." Wuppalapati's victory came despite an incorrect final round response, demonstrating the impact of strategic wagering.
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The episode also featured $13,200 in triple stumpers across 11 clues, highlighting the challenging nature of the questions posed to contestants.
Jeopardy! October 17, 2024 round highlights
The Jeopardy! round began with categories including Picture The Hit Song, Planted By, Around The U.S., The App & Website User, Recent Slang, and That Blows! Aaron Brown started strong, answering 8 questions correctly without any errors. Brown had accumulated $6,200 by the first commercial break, while Wuppalapati stood at $0 and Poe at -$2,000.
The round's Daily Double appeared in the Planted By category. Poe wagered $1,000 but answered incorrectly, further setting back her score. As the round progressed, Wuppalapati began to find his footing, gradually improving his position on the board.
By the end of the first round, the scores stood at:
- Aaron Brown: $6,800
- Rishabh Wuppalapati: $1,800
- Angel Poe: -$1,200
Brown's early dominance set the stage for what promised to be a competitive match. However, the Double Jeopardy! round would prove to be a game-changer for all contestants.
Double Jeopardy! turning point
The Double Jeopardy! round introduced new categories: Historic Slogans & Mottoes, The Books Of Mormons, Women's Organizations, Biopic Subjects, Horsing Around, and "I_I_I". This round marked a significant shift in the game's dynamics.
The crucial moment came when Aaron Brown encountered the third Daily Double on the 15th clue of the round. In a bold move, Brown opted for a True Daily Double, wagering his entire score of $10,400. Unfortunately for Brown, his answer was incorrect, dropping his score to $0 and opening the door for his competitors.
Wuppalapati seized this opportunity, showcasing his knowledge across various categories. He correctly answered 20 questions during this round, steadily building his lead. Meanwhile, Poe continued to struggle, unable to overcome her negative score from the first round.
As the round neared its end, one clue in the Historic Slogans & Mottoes category for $400 remained unplayed. The scores before the final round stood at:
- Rishabh Wuppalapati: $15,400
- Aaron Brown: $1,600
- Angel Poe: -$400
Wuppalapati's impressive performance in the second round had turned the tables, giving him a substantial lead going into the final round. Brown's earlier advantage had been negated, while Poe's negative score meant she would not participate in the final round.
Final Jeopardy! Challenge
The final round category was Letters of the Artists. Ken Jennings revealed the clue:
"In 1896 he wrote, 'My prices are 2000, 3000 & 4000 dollars for head & shoulders, 3/4 length & full-length respectively'".
Wuppalapati, with his substantial lead, wagered $5,000. However, his response: "Degas" was incorrect. Brown, trailing significantly, risked $912 of his $1,600. He also answered incorrectly, guessing "Rodin." The correct response was "Who is John Singer Sargent?"
Despite his incorrect answer, Wuppalapati's strategic wagering ensured his victory. The final results were:
- Rishabh Wuppalapati: $10,400 (3-day total: $52,802)
- Aaron Brown: $688
- Angel Poe: -$400 (did not participate in the final round)
The game statistics highlighted each player's performance:
- Rishabh Wuppalapati: 20 correct responses, 3 incorrect. 35.88% First on buzzer
- Aaron Brown: 18 correct responses, 4 incorrect. 32.14% First on buzzer
- Angel Poe: 7 correct responses, 4 incorrect. 16.07% First on buzzer
These numbers reflect Wuppalapati's strong comeback in the second round and Brown's initial dominance in the first round.
Rishabh Wuppalapati's third consecutive win on October 17, 2024, solidified his position as a formidable competitor. Notably, the game featured $13,200 in Lach Trash, representing 11 clues that stumped all three contestants. As the defending champion, Wuppalapati will return in the next episode to attempt his fourth consecutive win.
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