...
...
Next Story

Scott Riccardi’s eighth Jeopardy! win sparks debate as rival Amanda Hopkins misses final round

Champ Scott Riccardi’s eighth Jeopardy! win sparks debate as Amanda Hopkins gets blocked from Final Jeopardy!

Published on: Jul 15, 2025, 20:57:44 IST
Advertisement

Scott Riccardi is continuing his Jeopardy! winning streak. With his super-sharp gameplay on Monday's episode, he not only secured his eighth consecutive win but also quietly shut out another opponent, according to TV Insider. For context, he locked horns against Paul Swain, a tutor from Vancouver, Washington and Amanda Hopkins, an analytics manager originally from New Providence, New Jersey. The final outcome? Riccardi now holds the longest winning streak of Season 41, with no signs of slowing down.

Scott Riccardi, the reigning Jeopardy! champ

Scott Riccardi, Jeopardy!’s reigning champ (X/@Jeopardy)
Scott Riccardi, Jeopardy!’s reigning champ (X/@Jeopardy)

During Monday's episode, Riccardi, an engineer from Somerville, nailed 30 clues and missed just one, minting an unstoppable $34,200. On the other hand, Hopkins, who was trailing in the red, had one last chance to turn things around with the final clue.

Before she could buzz in, Riccardi and fellow contestant Paul Swain ($3,600) beat her, with Swain clinching the answer, sealing Hopkins’ fate. As per the game’s rules, since players with negative scores can’t advance, she was ruled out of Final Jeopardy.

“Sadly, Amanda, you were one clue away from making it back into positive territory, but we loved having you. You’ll receive a third-place prize. Thank you for being here,” host Ken Jennings expressed.

Also Read: Outlander Season 7 finally releasing for streaming on Netflix, but there's a catch

Fans react to Amanda Hopkins’ elimination

One user on Reddit wrote, “One thing I’ll never do if I were on the show, answer the last clue over someone else in the red that needed it to qualify for final jeopardy when the game is already a clear runaway." Another said, “I do LIKE the idea of letting her answer the last few clues if she could, since Scott didn't need them.”

When does Jeopardy! air?

Jeopardy! airs every weekday across the US, but the time can vary depending on where you live. Most stations air it around 7:00 or 7:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

FAQs:

1. Why didn’t Amanda Hopkins make it to Final Jeopardy?

She ended the game with a negative score, and it's not allowed.

2. Could Riccardi or Swain have let Amanda buzz in?

Technically, yes, but it’s a competitive game. Everyone is on the show to win it.

3. How many games has Scott Riccardi won so far?

As of the July 14 episode, he’s won 8 games in a row.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT US Desk

The Hindustan Times US Desk brings you the latest news and developments from across the United States. The team covers everything from breaking news and politics to sports, business, entertainment and stories that are trending across the country. Our coverage includes the White House, Congress, US elections, immigration and visa updates, H-1B, green cards, Social Security, education, jobs, layoffs, the economy, technology and major policy changes. We also closely follow stories that matter to Indian and South Asian communities in the US. The desk covers major US sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, along with player news, injuries, schedules, results and major events. Entertainment coverage includes Hollywood, celebrities, television, streaming, music and pop culture. We also report on breaking developments, major incidents, weather, public safety, court cases and other stories making headlines across the country. When a major policy or news development affects people's everyday lives, the team works to explain what happened, what it means and what readers need to know. Alongside breaking news, the US Desk produces explainers and practical stories on topics such as immigration, Social Security, taxes, education, employment and government programmes. The team also works on science, tech, business and AI stories analyzing the impact they may have on people. The team follows developments throughout the day, keeping an eye on official announcements, public records, reliable news sources and what people are talking about across the US.

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.

Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Notifications

Get breaking alerts directly from the newsroom

Notifications are on!You'll be notified when news breaks