Who won Jeopardy! tonight? January 21, 2025, Tuesday

Will Yancey, a history teacher from Banquete, Texas, won Jeopardy! on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Will gave an amazing performance, playing well throughout the episode and winning with a correct answer in the Final Jeopardy round. With his impressive $52,000 win, he made it to the finals of the Champions Wildcard competition.

Will's quick thinking and knowledge were on full display in his winning answer to the Final Jeopardy clue from the Mythology category. The hint talked about the Nibelung treasure and how it was linked to Lorelei, a rock in the Rhine River. The only correct answer was What is Lorelei? by Will. This sealed his lead and earned him a spot in the finals.

Fans of the popular game show Jeopardy! have been intrigued by its unique format and difficult questions for decades. The show's mix of trivia categories and strategic wagering keeps viewers and players entertained and challenged.

Jeopardy! episode highlights: January 21, 2025

Jeopardy! round

The episode began with categories such as Authors, State Animals, Found On Temu, Wild Card Winners, The Shape Of Things, and From The Dutch. Will initially faced a setback with a missed Daily Double but recovered quickly to maintain a competitive score. Jay struggled to get on the board, while Evan took an early lead.

Scores at the first break (15 clues):

Evan: $4,200
Will: $3,000
Jay: -$1,000

Statistics:

Evan: 6 correct, 0 incorrect
Will: 7 correct, 1 incorrect
Jay: 0 correct, 1 incorrect

By the end of the round, Evan and Will continued their battle, with Evan holding a slight edge. Jay managed to reduce his deficit but remained in negative territory.

Scores after the Jeopardy! round:

Evan: $7,800
Will: $5,200
Jay: -$400

Double Jeopardy round

The second round featured categories like 1925, Before & After, The Bible, Sci-Fi Acronyms & Abbreviations, Some Wear…, and B On The Sea. Will gained momentum by dominating The Bible category, successfully doubling his score with a Daily Double. Evan responded with a strong run in B On The Sea, where he also correctly answered a True Daily Double, reclaiming the lead.

Statistics after Double Jeopardy:

Evan: 23 correct, 1 incorrect
Will: 24 correct, 3 incorrect
Jay: 5 correct, 1 incorrect

Scores going into Final Jeopardy:

Evan: $32,400
Will: $26,000
Jay: $2,800

Final Jeopardy round

The Final Jeopardy clue, under the category Mythology, was:

"Some myths say the treasure of the Nibelung was hidden under a promontory called this, on the Rhine near St. Goarshausen."

Correct response: What is Lorelei?

Will was the only contestant to answer correctly. His wager of $26,000 doubled his score to $52,000, securing his victory. Evan, despite entering the round with the lead, incorrectly wagered $20,000, leaving him with $12,400. Jay did not wager and ended with $2,800.

Contestant profiles

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Will Yancey: A history lecturer from Banquete, Texas, Will displayed both strategy and knowledge throughout the game. His correct Final Jeopardy response and significant wager solidified his position as the winner.
Evan Dorey: A data analytics director from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Evan played strongly in the Double Jeopardy round but fell short in the final.
Jay Fisher: A government relations manager from Lisle, Illinois, Jay had a tough start but finished the game with grace and humor, sharing a lighthearted Final Jeopardy response.

Unique insights about Jeopardy!

The way that Jeopardy! is set up is distinctive: contestants answer clues in the form of questions. The game has three rounds: Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy, and Final Jeopardy.

There are different types of questions in each round, covering everything from history to pop culture. Every episode of Daily Doubles and Final Jeopardy is exciting and unpredictable now that viewers can bet strategically.

Since this episode was part of the Champions Wildcard competition, it was even more exciting. The fierce competition between the contestants and the intense gameplay kept the audience's attention.

Game recap: Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the game, including statistics, key moments, and results:

Jeopardy! round:

Categories: Authors; State Animals; Found On Temu; Wild Card Winners; The Shape Of Things; From The Dutch.
Highlights:
Will missed a Daily Double early but recovered well to sit in second place after 15 clues.
Jay struggled early, finishing the first half of the round in the negatives.
Evan maintained a steady lead throughout the round.

Scores at the break (15 clues):

Evan: $4,200
Will: $3,000
Jay: -$1,000

Statistics at the first break:

Evan: 6 correct, 0 incorrect
Will: 7 correct, 1 incorrect
Jay: 0 correct, 1 incorrect

Post-interviews (after 30 clues):

Evan: 11 correct, 1 incorrect
Will: 14 correct, 2 incorrect
Jay: 2 correct, 1 incorrect

Scores after the Jeopardy! round:

Evan: $7,800
Will: $5,200
Jay: -$400

Double Jeopardy round:

Categories: 1925; Before & After; The Bible; Sci-Fi Acronyms & Abbreviations; Some Wear…; “B” On The Sea.
Key moments:
Will ran The Bible category, successfully answering the Daily Double, which helped him double his score and briefly take the lead.
Evan countered by running “B” On The Sea and correctly answered another Daily Double with a True Daily Double bet, reclaiming the lead.
Jay gained some ground by picking up a few late clues, but it remained a two-player battle between Evan and Will.

Statistics after Double Jeopardy:

Evan: 23 correct, 1 incorrect
Will: 24 correct, 3 incorrect
Jay: 5 correct, 1 incorrect
Unplayed clues this season: 26 (0 unplayed today).

Scores going into Final Jeopardy:

Evan: $32,400
Will: $26,000
Jay: $2,800

Final Jeopardy!:

Clue: (Category: Mythology)
Responses:
Jay: “What is I’ve had a great time on Jeopardy” (Incorrect, wager: $0. Final score: $2,800)
Will: “What is Lorelei’s rock?” (Correct, wager: $26,000. Final score: $52,000)
Evan: “What?” (Incorrect, wager: $20,000. Final score: $12,400)

Final results:

Jay: $2,800 (Did not wager)
Will: $52,000 (Correct Final Jeopardy response; advances to the finals)
Evan: $12,400 (Incorrect Final Jeopardy! response)

Key takeaways:

Will’s accurate Final Jeopardy! response and significant wager secured his position as the winner.
Evan’s True Daily Double in Double Jeopardy kept him competitive but was not enough to surpass Will in the end.
This game was recognized as one of the most exciting matches of the season, thanks to the high-level play and dramatic shifts in momentum.

The episode of Jeopardy! on Tuesday was an exciting show of skill, strategy, and determination. Will Yancey's win was well-deserved because he played well and made smart bets.

As part of the Champions Wildcard series, this episode reminded viewers why the show is still a hit with trivia fans. Fans can't wait for more exciting games in the days to come now that Will has made it to the finals.

Edited by Meenakshi Ajith