James Holzhauer’s “Jeopardy!” winning streak came to an end Monday.
Holzhauer set a record for the most money won in a single episode, going 11 episodes during his 32-game winning streak without answering a single question wrong. His $2.4 million in winnings was less than $60,000 short of beating Ken Jennings, who set a record in 2004 with his 74-game winning streak.
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His average winnings per game — $77,000 — were more than double Jennings’ average winnings.
In the game show’s Monday episode, Holzhauer, a 34-year-old professional sports bettor, lost to 27-year-old librarian Emma Boettcher.
“Nobody likes to lose,” Holzhauer said to the New York Times. “But I’m very proud of how I did, and I really exceeded my own expectations for the show. So, I don’t feel bad about it.”
“I lost to a really top-level competitor,” Holzhauer said. “She played a perfect game. And that was what it took to beat me.”
Holzhauer said Boettcher gained an edge when he picked a clue worth $1,200 from a category about capitals.
“The answer to this question occurred to me a second too late, so she was able to out-buzz me,” Holzhauer said.
Boettcher picked a Daily Double next, bet all she had, and guessed the correct answer.
During Final Jeopardy, both contestants answered correctly, but Holzhauer couldn’t catch up with Boettcher’s lead.
“What a game! Oh my gosh!” host Alex Trebek said.
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