Featured J!Buzz

There is a new Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions titleholder — seven-game champ Paolo Pasco!

Paolo was the first ToC finalist to notch three wins on Wednesday, defeating 16-game super-champion Scott Riccardi and five-game champion TJ Fisher in a runaway — his fourth of the tournament, including his exhibition game win.

The stakes could not have been higher in Wednesday’s game. Paolo had already claimed the first two finals with runaway victories; however, Scott and TJ were prepared to put up a valiant fight.

At the start of Double Jeopardy!, Scott held a narrow $800 lead with $5,000, while Paolo trailed closely behind with $4,200. TJ  followed in third place with $2,200. By the end of the round, Paolo surged ahead, picking up back-to-back Daily Doubles that added a whopping $13,400 to his score.

By Final Jeopardy!, Paolo was positioned to clinch yet another runaway with $33,200—a commanding $25,800 lead over Scott’s $7,400 and a $27,400 lead over TJ’s $5,800.
 
Paolo wagered just $143 in Final Jeopardy!, and used his response to deliver a heartfelt message to his fellow Tournament of Champions competitors.

“What an incredible ride with the best ToC group I could ask for ♡ you all,” Paolo wrote, securing the tournament win with a game total of $33,057.

With his Tournament of Champions victory, Paolo earned the $250,000 grand prize and secured his seat at the table in the next Jeopardy! Masters competition, where some of the top-performing players in Jeopardy! history will face off.