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[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the Friday, February 28 episode of Jeopardy!]
The inaugural semi-final of the 2025 Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament concluded with an intensely close finish. One contestant managed to maintain an impressive poker face, leading many viewers to believe he had failed the Final Jeopardy! question.
The competitors in this first semi-final featured Shane Whitlock from Benton, Arkansas, Roger Craig from Arlington, Virginia, and Jaskaran Singh from Plano, Texas. Singh, a current consultant, is in the process of applying to law school, seeking a shift in his career. Host Ken Jennings noted that Singh could potentially qualify for future college tournaments.
Whitlock, a radiologist by profession, began the game with remarkable speed, answering nearly every query and putting distance between himself and his rivals. However, Craig, who works as an applied scientist, quickly gained ground by successfully answering a series of questions. A turning point in the game came when Whitlock made an incorrect response, significantly narrowing his lead.
Singh surged into second place after he confidently answered his Daily Double, wagering all his accumulated funds on a question that stated: “Random House says this 2-word term for one who travels a lot for business was suggested by a Mad Max film title.” His correct response, “What is a road warrior?” boosted him to $3,600.
As the first round concluded, the standings were incredibly tight. Craig found himself at the bottom with $4,400, while Whitlock and Singh were tied at $5,000, setting the stage for dramatic changes in the next rounds due to Daily Doubles and final wagers.
During Double Jeopardy, Singh continued to excel, quickly racking up points. He located the second Daily Double but unfortunately answered incorrectly, losing $4,000, bringing his score to $5,400. Whitlock also encountered trouble, missing his Daily Double and dropping to $0.
This led to a fierce competition between Craig and Singh, while Whitlock struggled to keep pace. By the end of Double Jeopardy, the scores shifted significantly: Craig took the lead with $14,400, followed closely by Singh with $12,600, while Whitlock trailed with $3,200.
For Final Jeopardy, the category was “Famous Names,” with the clue stating: “As a young reporter in Appleton, Wisconsin, Edna Ferber interviewed this hometown celebrity originally from Hungary.” Whitlock answered accurately with “Who is Houdini?” and risked all his remaining funds, finishing with $6,400. Singh also identified Houdini correctly, wagering $12,598, bringing his total to $25,198.
In a moment of humor, Jennings remarked on Craig’s unyielding demeanor, describing it as “sphinx-like.” This notion was echoed by the Jeopardy Fan website, which suggested that Craig’s calm demeanor might suggest an incorrect answer. However, Craig answered correctly as well, wagering $10,801, which brought his final score to $25,201—winning by a mere $3 and securing his spot in the finals. Post-reveal, Craig visibly exhaled in relief on stage.
The next set of semi-finals is scheduled for Monday, March 3.
Jeopardy!, Weekdays, check your local listings
Source
www.tvinsider.com