Jeopardy! Fans Rally Behind Drew Goins After Intense Champions Wildcard Finals

The latest episode of Jeopardy!‘s Champions Wildcard Tournament has left fans in shock as Drew Goins faced a tough defeat in the first part of the two-day finals. Viewers took to social media to express their frustration, claiming that the rising star “got the short end of the stick.”

A High-Stakes Battle

Thursday’s episode saw Drew, a journalist from Hawaii, competing against Mehal Shah, a software engineer from Seattle, and Will Yancey, a history lecturer from Texas. Each contestant had fought their way through the preliminaries and semifinals to secure a coveted spot in the finals.

The game began with Will taking an early risk on a Daily Double in the category “Our Colorful World.” Unfortunately, he missed the clue, losing $1,000. Despite the setback, he regained momentum, finishing the round with $4,800. Meanwhile, Mehal surged ahead with $5,200, while Drew remained in third place with $2,800.

A Nail-Biting Showdown

As the competition heated up, Will landed another Daily Double in the “Alliterative Lit” category, successfully answering “What is Band of Brothers?” to add $3,800 to his score. However, his luck ran out on the third Daily Double, where he failed to identify Simone de Beauvoir, costing him $3,000.

Heading into Final Jeopardy!, Mehal led with $15,200, while Will and Drew trailed with $11,600 and $10,800, respectively. The final category, “World Geography,” set the stage for a dramatic finish. Drew confidently danced along to the Jeopardy! think music as he placed his wager. Both he and Mehal correctly responded with “What is Ural?” but Mehal’s bold $12,000 bet secured his victory with $27,200. Drew finished second with $17,600, while Will ended the game with $5,600.

Fans Speak Out

Despite Drew’s solid performance, fans were vocal about their disappointment. “Nooooo Drew, I was rooting for you! At least he has a shot tomorrow,” one viewer lamented. Another fan noted, “Between three strong players, Drew had a rough game, but he could make a huge comeback in the second match.”

Viewers also acknowledged Mehal’s strategic gameplay, with one fan praising the competitors: “This is top-tier Jeopardy!—Drew, Mehal, and Will have made this such an exciting final.”

What’s Next?

The Champions Wildcard Tournament will conclude with part two of the finals, where Drew has a chance to turn things around. The winner will advance to the prestigious Tournament of Champions, competing against the best of the best.

With the stakes higher than ever, Jeopardy! fans are eagerly awaiting the next episode to see if Drew can pull off a comeback or if Mehal will maintain his lead. One thing is certain—this tournament is keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.