GRANT BELIEVE IT
Jeopardy! champ Grant DeYoung loses after four wins on ‘brutal’ mistake as fans cry, ‘What was he thinking?’
Plus, everyone has been talking about Grant and his chair - here's what he and the producers said
JEOPARDY!'s latest big winner, Grant DeYoung, faced defeat on Tuesday night after racking up four wins, $81,203 total, and countless fans.
The Arizona grocery clerk caused his own downfall on an overly cautious Daily Double move, viewers lamented, and otherwise would have won.
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With a concerning 11 misses in his emotional previous win, Grant returned burnt but not bitten, facing Chris D'Amico and Sam Spar.
After the Jeopardy! round, he narrowly led with $3,800 (and an early Daily Double), Chris was right behind at $3,400, and Sam had $600.
In Double Jeopardy!, the apparently married champ fans have been buzzing about all week found both remaining Daily Doubles.
He dropped $4,000 on the second one with an admirable guess on the "Leche League" clue.
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Then, things got dicey on the last Daily Double at the tail end of the game under an $800 (or nearly top-row) clue.
Grant had $9800, and Chris had $11400, as Ken Jennings warned, "It's late in the match, and you're trailing, Grant."
Despite the chance to put the game away with a bigger wager, Grant only bet $3000.
While he was correct with "Orphenous," his lead didn't last, and he and Chris battled out the remaining seven top-row clues.
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Chris regained the lead on the last clue before Final Jeopardy (frustrating ruling on that "Little League" clue aside) by just $200.
Going into a suddenly crucial final round, Chris had $12,600, Grant had $12,400, and Sam $3,400.
The clue about "The Movies" was, "Louise & Lisa Burns, twins featured in this 1980 film, told a magazine, "we're naturally spooky!"
Everyone was correct with "The Shining," and Sam bet small to stay in third place.
Grant wagered $399 to have $12799 and looked frustrated with himself.
Chris added $12,500, winning and becoming the new champ with $25,100.
Chris will face two new challengers tomorrow night to see if he can win a few more.
Ken assured that although Grant only notched four wins, he "had a feeling" we'll see him in the next Tournament of Champions.
'NOOO'
Fans flooded social media, where they were at a loss as to why Grant didn't bet bigger on the last Daily Double, as he would have won if so.
"Grant noooo," one fan lamented in a Jeopardy! Reddit thread.
"Should have bet a few hundred more on that DD," wrote another.
"The only thing worse than losing the lead on the final clue of the game, is losing the lead on the final clue of the game being followed by one of the all time easiest Final Jeopardy clues. Bad luck for Grant," wrote a third.
"I would be curious what he was thinking in that moment," wrote a fourth.
"Brutal way to go out," wrote a fifth.
A sixth posted, "I didn't like Grant's DD3 wager. I don't know how much time they have to make DD wagers, but there were only 7 clues left and the numbers worked out to be easy to calculate.
"$5201 would be the bet to secure the lead. If not that then bet small. His $3000 bet was too in the middle."
One more had to admit, "Tough break on the Little League clue," referring to Grant self-correcting himself after Ken had ruled.
GENIUS GRANT
Grant had been going strong since defeated three-day champ Will Newton last week.
He went five-for-five on Final Jeopardy, a strength that proved clunch for champs like Ray LaLonde.
Speaking of super-champs, Grant often said "What's" when selecting clues, a page from Matt Amodio's book.
All said Grant's four wins could not have come at a better time.
There was a string of three-day champs who couldn't get over the hump this month, so even if he lost, he broke the curse.
Grant's four wins also unofficially qualify him for the next ToC, so it's only the end of the road for now.
The players in the next ToC are currently five-day champs Alison Betts and Dr. Amy Hummel and Celebrity Jeopardy!'s Lisa Ann Walter.
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SITTING CHAMPION
Meanwhile, fans could not stop clamoring about how Grant competed sitting in a chair instead of standing.
Grant sat in a black swivel chair with silver armrests and full back support, adjusted to the same height as his standing opponents.
"Is Grant in a chair?" one X user of many snarked earlier.
"Looks as if we have another tall one, and his name is Grant he was sitting in a chair tonight…." another speculated.
"Why do some contestants sit on chairs and others stand? Just curious, no complaints," one Redditor earlier asked.
Grant took it upon himself to share why he was sitting on Reddit.
He explained that he has "back arthritis," and producers gave him a chair so he could play at his best.
"They give it if you ask," he wrote. "I have some back arthritis that makes standing still for that long very difficult.
"I wouldn't expect everyone who sits for Jeopardy! to disclose their reason for needing one, but I don't mind saying mine."
Another user asked, “Do they let you sit on the job at the grocery store? (That’s great if they do, just wondering).”
Grant quipped, “Even better, they let me walk around and be in continuous motion, but Jeopardy hasn’t quite figured that one out yet.”
Other users theorized he was sitting because of his height - which is not the case, though he is tall at a towering 6'4''.
Grant explained, "Indirectly, you're not wrong, I'm too tall for my own good!"
While his height isn't the reason he sits, it is the reason he can't do a 360-degree spin when he wins.
"A good thought, but my knees keep hitting against the podium and I'd likely give them a good smack if I tried (I don't think being 6'4" comes across as dramatically in the chair)."
'SOMETHING WE ALWAYS OFFER'
Producers also spoke about the policy for Grant or anyone who needs to compete while sitting.
It's rare to see a contestant sit, and the choice had not been addressed on stage or mentioned on the show's website.
“Fans have been noticing that Grant is sitting in a chair during his games," Sarah Whitcomb Foss stated on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast.
“This is something that we always offer to contestants.
"We don’t ask why; it’s not our business," she added.
“If you want a chair, we’ll give it to you."
Fans may recall 2024 Tournament of Champions finalist Troy Meyer sitting for his games.
Troy began sitting midway through his initial run the year prior.
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'HIT AND RAN'
Grant instantly captured fan attention with a whirlwind Q&A story about a car accident during his first game.
He revealed was struck by a car at the very moment he learned he'd made it onto the iconic quiz show.
Grant shared that at the right when he got the text about the big news - a car hit him on the road.
Jeopardy! contestant reveals he got into a car accident when show texted him about joining to a stunned Ken Jennings
"I got off work and got in the car and pulled my phone out and it was sinking in.
"I'm on the verge of tears there, staring down at it, and I got hit and ran."
Ken was taken aback and his eyes widened, “'A car hit you while you were getting the text?!”
Grant said he was so excited by the news that he didn't even notice the crash.
"Yes," he replied, adding, "And I didn't even notice because I was so, you know, engrossed in getting the text."
“I had people coming up to me after [saying], 'Are you aware you just got your car hit?' and I was like 'No' holding my phone and staring at the message.”
Ken then asked whether he was doing okay.
"The car needs some work but I'm certainly fine, thank you," Grant replied.
"Grant can buy himself a new car!" one X user rejoiced at the time.
"Grant has already won Best in Show for that superb hair," quipped another.
A third wrote, "Well, even after taxes, even third place #Jeopardy money will help cover any expenses Grant has on that car."
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Clearly, he amassed enough money to cover his car and then some.
Jeopardy! airs at 7 pm ET on ABC - check your local listings.
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