'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Jeopardy! fans witnessed an exciting showdown on Friday, January 3, 2025, as the second day of a two-day final unfolded. The tension among contestants Kaitlin Tarr, Colleen Matthews, and Will Yancey was palpable. Each player carried their own strategy and confidence, aiming to clinch the coveted win in season 41 game 85 of the iconic quiz show.
The winner of tonight's Jeopardy! was Will Yancey, a history professor from Batesville, Texas. Will won the tournament with a total of $35,200 over two days by showing toughness and smart play. He was ahead from the first day, which was a big part of his victory. He kept his lead in Final Jeopardy by answering corectly.
Since its first season in 1964, Jeopardy! has been a mainstay of intellectual entertainment. The show is known for its unique format of giving contestants answers and asking them to respond with questions. It has always been challenging for contestants and entertaining for viewers with its clever clues and fast-paced gameplay.
Trending
Jeopardy! episode highlights January 3, 2025, Friday
The January 3, 2025, episode began with three strong contenders: Kaitlin Tarr, Colleen Matthews, and Will Yancey. Each had their strengths, and the two-day finale promised excitement. Tonight’s categories tested their knowledge across diverse topics like Historic Americans,19th Century Fiction, and Sci-Fi Fill In.
Jeopardy round
In the Jeopardy round, Colleen Matthews quickly established herself as a frontrunner, answering seven questions correctly without a single error. Kaitlin Tarr, a ceramic artist from Denver, stayed competitive with $6,000, while Will Yancey began with a cautious $3,400 after a couple of missteps.
Double Jeopardy round
The Double Jeopardy round introduced categories like 19th Century Beard Tickles! and Slang From Your Start-Up Job. Colleen and Will found the Daily Doubles but played conservatively, adding $3,000 and $1,000, respectively. Kaitlin showcased her prowess with 10 correct responses, narrowing the gap heading into Final Jeopardy.
Final Jeopardy round
The Final Jeopardy category was 19th Century Fiction.
The clue was:
"In Chapter 9 of an 1851 work, a preacher in a New England port city delivers a sermon about this Old Testament prophet."
The correct response, Who is Jonah? secured Will’s victory as he and Colleen answered correctly, while Kaitlin incorrectly responded, Who is Joseph?
Contestant profiles
Will Yancey
History lecturer Will Yancey from Banquete, Texas, showed his knowledge and strategic play on both days of the finale. Will stayed calm on Day 2 despite heavy competition with a $20,000 lead.
In Double Jeopardy, he found a Daily Double and finished with 17 correct answers after a slow start in Jeopardy with two correct answers and two errors. After winning $35,200 in two days, his Final Jeopardy answer qualified him for the Champions Wildcard. A thoughtful approach to gameplay and historical knowledge helped Will win.
Colleen Matthews
Hillsboro, Oregon, speech-language pathologist Colleen Matthews achieved high accuracy and consistency. She quickly led Jeopardy on Day 2 with $6,400 and no incorrect answers.
Colleen's Daily Double increased her Double Jeopardy score by $3,000, and she had 17 correct answers and two errors. Colleen's Day 2 total was $24,600 after a correct Final Jeopardy response and a bold $12,000 wager.
Her two-day total of $33,000 was impressive, but not enough to beat Will. Colleen was a formidable competitor with sharp recall and calculated bets.
Kaitlin Tarr
Denver ceramicist Kaitlin Tarr showed creativity and determination throughout the competition. She returned from third place on Day 2 with only $1 from Day 1 to score $6,000 with eight correct answers on Jeopardy.
Her Double Jeopardy performance was notable, answering 18 questions correctly and winning $16,000. An incorrect Final Jeopardy answer and a big bet cost her the chance to catch up. Even though she only won $4,396, Kaitlin showed her knowledge and risk-taking.
Insights into Jeopardy!’s format
The answer-and-question format of Jeopardy! makes it stand out; players have to use questions to answer the clues given. This format not only tests how well contestants can remember things but also how well they can bet strategically, especially in the Double Jeopardy and Final Jeopardy rounds.
Game recap and tonight’s game stats
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Friday, January 3, 2025, Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! round:
Categories: Historic Americans; 10-, 11- & 12-Letter Words; Sci-Fi Fill In; Clothing Time; Named For A Place; & The Emmy Goes To…
After 15 clues:
- Colleen: $5,000 (7 correct, 0 incorrect)
- Kaitlin: $2,800 (4 correct, 0 incorrect)
- Will: $200 (2 correct, 2 incorrect)
- Notable: Will found the Daily Double and added $1,000 after going 4-for-5 in the 10-, 11- & 12-Letter Words category.
Scores after the Jeopardy! round:
- Colleen: $6,400 (11 correct, 0 incorrect)
- Kaitlin: $6,000 (8 correct, 0 incorrect)
- Will: $3,400 (8 correct, 2 incorrect)
Double Jeopardy round:
Categories: Your 19th Century Beard Tickles; Models; Slang From Your Start-Up Job; "R" We There Yet?; Only Birders; In The Building
Daily Doubles:
- Colleen gained $3,000 on DD2.
- Will added $1,000 on DD3.
Statistics after the round:
- Kaitlin: $16,000 (18 correct, 1 incorrect)
- Colleen: $12,600 (17 correct, 2 incorrect)
- Will: $7,600 (17 correct, 6 incorrect)
Scores heading into final:
- Kaitlin: $16,000
- Colleen: $12,600
- Will: $7,600
Final Jeopardy round:
- Category: 19th Century Fiction
- Clue: In chapter 9 of an 1851 work, a preacher in a New England port city delivers a sermon about this Old Testament prophet.
- Correct response: Who is Jonah?
Results:
- Will: $7,600 + $7,600 = $15,200 (Day 2) + $20,000 (Day 1) = $35,200
- Colleen: $12,600 + $12,000 = $24,600 (Day 2) + $8,400 (Day 1) = $33,000
- Kaitlin: $16,000 – $11,605 = $4,395 (Day 2) + $1 (Day 1) = $4,396
Tonight’s champion:
Will Yancey advances to the Champions Wildcard beginning January 13, 2025. He won the last episode of Jeopardy! tonight with $35,200, and it was a thrilling ending.
January 3, 2025, was a memorable episode because all three contestants were very competitive, there were hard clues, and the game had to be played strategically. Now that Will has made it to the Champions Wildcard, fans can expect more action in the next episodes.
