Who won Jeopardy! tonight? October 21, 2024, Monday

Who won Jeopardy! tonight? October 21, 2024, Monday
Tristan Brown, a re-entry employment advocate from Richmond, Virginia, emerged victorious. (Image via Jeopardy.com)

Jeopardy! fans got an exciting match on Monday, October 21, 2024, with three strong contestants battling it out for the championship title. Tristan Brown, a re-entry employment advocate from Richmond, Virginia, emerged victorious. He competed against Marcus Ghiringhelli, a record store clerk from Portland, Oregon, and Kelly Gates, a librarian from Medford, Massachusetts, who was the returning champion with a one-day total of $23,201.

When "Italian Words & Phrases" came up on Final Jeopardy, the game took a dramatic turn. Bellini and Michelangelo both painted about a theme that is part of the "Seven Sorrows of Mary" but not directly mentioned in the Bible. The only person who got it right was Tristan, who asked, "What is Pietà?" With a total score of $22,700, his answer gave him the win and made him the new champion.

In the popular quiz show Jeopardy! contestants can display how much they know about different topics. A lot of people watch the show because of its unique format: contestants are given answers and have to come up with their own questions. There are three rounds in each episode: Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy, and Final Jeopardy.


Jeopardy! October 21, 2024, Monday episode recap

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The Jeopardy! round featured a mix of categories, including "Iran, So Far Away," "Lose A Letter," and "A Pup Quiz." Tristan took an early lead but fell behind after Marcus's successful True Daily Double. At the first break, Marcus had the most money with $3,200. Kelly was next with $3,000, and Tristan was third with $1,400.

When Kelly got five questions right after the break, she took the lead and changed the momentum. Kelly had $5,200, Tristan had $3,800, and Marcus had $3,000. That was the end of the Jeopardy! round.

In Double Jeopardy, the contestants battled it out through categories like "Getting Invested" and "Rock & Pop Firsts." Marcus lost ground after missing a Daily Double, and Tristan jumped into the lead.

However, Kelly fought back, securing her own Daily Double. Despite this, she only bet $2,500, allowing Tristan to regain control before the round ended. Going into Final Jeopardy, Tristan had $14,600, Kelly $11,300, and Marcus $5,700.


Contestants of the episode

Monday's Jeopardy! contestants came from a wide range of backgrounds and brought something different to the show. Tristan Brown is a re-entry employment advocate who helps people who have been in prison get jobs so they can rejoin society. Throughout the interview, his desire to improve people's lives stood out.

Marcus Ghiringhelli, the record store clerk from Portland, shared a funny anecdote about a spelling mistake during a high school academic match. Kelly Gates, the returning champion, showed the lighter side of her personality as she introduced the audience to her sourdough starter that she named Ryan Yeastcrest. Despite her solid performance, Kelly couldn’t hold onto the lead in Final Jeopardy.


Insights from the show

The distinctive format and challenging questions of Jeopardy! continue to draw viewers. One of the show's distinguishing features is its integration of strategic gameplay with general knowledge. During Final Jeopardy and Daily Doubles, contestants must possess not only a high level of knowledge but also the ability to effectively manage their wagers.

A significant factor in Tristan's victory was his astute wagering during the final round. He was able to secure the victory by maintaining his composure under pressure and responding with precision when it was most important.

Clue: This theme tackled in art by Bellini & Michelangelo isn’t explicitly mentioned in the Bible, but is part of the “Seven Sorrows of Mary”
Correct Response: What is the Pietà?

Final Jeopardy breakdown

The Final Jeopardy! round on October 21, 2024, presented a clue in the category "Italian Words & Phrases." The clue referenced a theme depicted by Bellini and Michelangelo, part of the "Seven Sorrows of Mary."

Tristan Brown correctly responded with "Pietà," a famous theme in Christian art. Kelly guessed "Man," which was incorrect, while Marcus didn’t provide an answer. Tristan’s accurate response added $8,100 to his total, bringing his final score to $22,700. Kelly ended the game with $10,800, and Marcus with $3,300.

On Monday, October 21, 2024, Tristan Brown, a re-entry employment advocate from Richmond, Virginia, won on Jeopardy! He competed against Kelly Gates, a librarian from Medford, Massachusetts, and Marcus Ghiringhelli, a record store clerk from Portland, Oregon.


Game Statistics

Jeopardy! round

Categories: Iran, So Far Away; Lose A Letter; A Pup Quiz; Fashion, Defined; Nursery Rhyme Lines; Great Movie Rom-Drams

Scores at First Break (15 clues):

  • Marcus: $3,200
  • Kelly: $3,000
  • Tristan: $1,400

Correct responses:

  • Marcus: 5 correct, 1 incorrect
  • Kelly: 4 correct, 0 incorrect
  • Tristan: 3 correct, 2 incorrect

Double Jeopardy round:

Categories: Getting Invested; Nonfiction; Rock & Pop Firsts; Assassins; In Consequential; Coasting

Daily Doubles:

  • Marcus: Missed Daily Double 2
  • Kelly: Correct on Daily Double 3, wagered $2,500

Scores before Final Jeopardy:

  • Tristan: $14,600
  • Kelly: $11,300
  • Marcus: $5,700

Correct responses:

  • Tristan: 18 correct, 3 incorrect
  • Kelly: 14 correct, 0 incorrect
  • Marcus: 15 correct, 4 incorrect

Final Jeopardy round:

Category: Italian Words & Phrases

Final scores:

  • Tristan: $22,700 (correct response, wagered $8,100)
  • Kelly: $10,800 (incorrect response, wagered $500)
  • Marcus: $3,300 (incorrect response, wagered $2,400)

Contestant strategies

The gameplay during the episode demonstrated various strategies. Tristan, Marcus, and Kelly all had moments where they took risks, especially with the Daily Doubles.

Tristan’s approach was conservative at first but became more aggressive during Double Jeopardy. His strategic decisions allowed him to build a lead heading into the final round.

Kelly’s conservative wager on her Daily Double in the second round may have cost her the game, as a larger bet could have given her the lead before Final Jeopardy Marcus, despite strong play, struggled to recover from his missed Daily Double and never regained momentum.

Tristan Brown’s victory was well-earned, as he played a consistent game and correctly answered the Final Jeopardy clue. Kelly Gates, the previous champion, played well but ultimately fell short due to a conservative wager.

Marcus Ghiringhelli, while competitive, couldn’t recover from key missteps in Double Jeopardy


Even after over 40 seasons, Jeopardy! continues to keep its audience engaged with challenging questions and compelling contestant stories. Fans will surely tune in to see how Tristan fares in his next appearance as he returns to defend his title.

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Edited by Niharika Dabral
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