The 2025 Jeopardy! Masters match all got here right down to this. What began out as 9 contestants got here down to only 4 on the two-hour finale of Jeopardy! Masters Season 3 (after an surprising schedule change).
The primary recreation was between Victoria Groce, Isaac Hirsch, and Juveria Zaheer. Yogesh Raut then confronted off towards Zaheer and Hirsch. The highest three then competed within the finals. Groce was determined to defend her 2024 title and go for a repeat as she had been undefeated to date on this match.
Going into the evening, Matt Amodio, Roger Craig, Brad Rutter, Adriana Harmeyer, and Neilesh Vinjamuri had all been eradicated, and Groce was in first with six match factors. Raut was in second with two. Hirsch and Zaheer each had zero, however Hirsch was in third having a greater rating of right responses.
Semifinal Sport 3: Victoria Groce, Isaac Hirsch & Juveria Zaheer
Groce, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, took a massive lead as she answered clue after clue accurately firstly of the sport. She then discovered the primary Day by day Double and had the chance to widen her lead much more. With $3,200 in her financial institution, she made it a true Day by day Double. In “Books of the Bible,” the clue learn, “In the event you’re not a seminarian & you’re studying Deuteronomy 5, it’s in all probability for these.” “What are the Ten Commandments?” she answered accurately, giving her $6,400.
On the finish of the spherical, Groce nonetheless led with $12,800, whereas Zaheer, from Ontario, Canada, was in second with $3,400, and Hirsch, from Burbank, California, had $2,000.
In the course of the interviews, Zaheer talked about her “cheering squad,” who all the time loudly supported her. Host Ken Jennings requested Hirsch if he was destined to be a Jeopardy! Grasp since his dad was on the sport present within the ’80s. “I’d by no means use a phrase like ‘future,’ however certain,” he laughed. Hirsch shared that each of his dad and mom have been librarians, so he grew up round reference books, which helped along with his Jeopardy! information. Groce acquired her certification from the Wine & Spirits Schooling Belief and shared that she took her take a look at after tasting wine all day.
In Double Jeopardy, Groce discovered the primary Day by day Double. She was nonetheless within the lead with $16,000 and risked solely $2,000. In “Celebrations,” the clue learn, “The origins of this historical Roman competition are murky, however its title is likely to be associated to the animal that suckled Romulus & Remus.” “What’s Lupercalia?” she answered, giving her $18,000.
She additionally discovered the ultimate DD of the sport in “E-book of the Bible?” She wagered $1,200 out of her $31,200. “Encompassing math & logic, Principia Mathematica by Alfred North Whitehead & him is a e book of numbers & letters too,” learn the clue. “Who’s Russell?” she answered accurately, giving her $32,400.
Groce had the identical quantity of factors by the top of the spherical. Zaheer had $7,400. Hirsch had $1,200. The class for Remaining Jeopardy was “Medieval Occasions.”
“A Vassal-Lord bond had 2 components: In homage, the vassal swore to serve, & on this different 6-letter phrase the Vassal additionally swore, to be loyal,” was the clue. Zaheer was the primary one to complete writing, and Hirsch took his time writing down his reply. The proper reply was Featly.
Hirsch had it right and wagered $100, ending him with $1,300. Zaheer answered the identical and wagered $0, giving her $7,400. Groce didn’t reply and wagered $2,600. This gave her a remaining complete of $29,800 and a ticket to the finals.
Semifinal Sport 4: Yogesh Raut, Isaac Hirsch & Juveria Zaheer
For the second recreation of the evening, Zaheer and Hirsch tried to maneuver themselves up the leaderboard towards Raut. Raut, from Springfield, Illinois, chosen the primary clue in “Round India,” and it was the Day by day Double. He wagered as much as the utmost allowed, which was $1,000 since he had none. The clue learn, “Earlier than a 2020 go to from Pres. Trump, the duplicate tombs of those 2 lovers have been cleaned for the primary time in 300+ years.” He answered accurately with, “Who’re Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal?” giving him the lead with 1,000 factors.
Raut continued to dominate the fast spherical with $9,200. Zaheer had $2,800. Hirsch was in final with zero. Nevertheless, the judges decided that considered one of Zaheer’s previously-marked-incorrect solutions was proper, so she wound up with $3,600.
In the course of the interviews, Hirsch shared that his girlfriend, whom he needed to purchase an engagement ring for if he gained, was within the crowd along with her dad and grandmother. Zaheer in contrast the emergency division to Jeopardy! the place you by no means know what to anticipate however everybody takes care of one another. When Raut was 5 years outdated, he was on the information after studying all of the state capitals.
In Double Jeopardy, Zaheer discovered the primary DD. With $4,800, she wagered $1,800. In “Learn It,” the clue learn, “Her A Spool of Blue Thread is ready in Baltimore like a lot of her novels.” She answered accurately with “Ann Tyler,” giving her $6,600.
Two questions later, she discovered the final one. With $7,800, Zaheer wagered $1,800 once more. In “Feminine Activists,” the clue was “When she died at 108, the ashes of this 3-named environmentalist have been scattered over the everglades she helped to protect.” “Who’s Hookman?” she answered. The proper response was Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, so she dropped right down to $6,000.
By the top of the spherical, Raut had a “massive however not insurmountable lead,” in accordance with Ken Jennings with $18,800. Zaheer had $10,400. Hirsch was nonetheless in final with $3,600. The class for Remaining Jeopardy was “Island International locations.”
“The one U.N. member state named for a lady, it’s named for a 4th-century Sicilian martyr,” was the clue. The proper reply was St. Lucia. Hirsch had the proper response and wagered $615, giving him $4,215. Zaheer answered the identical and wagered zero factors once more, leaving her with $10,400. Raut additionally answered accurately and wagered $2,100, giving him $20,801. He then acquired one match level, whereas Zaheer acquired one, and Hirsch acquired zero.
After Groce acquired three from the primary recreation, she had a complete of 9. Raut’s complete was 5. Zaheer had two, and Hirsch had zero. This was the top of the highway for Hirsch. He went dwelling with $100,000.
Remaining Sport 1: Victoria Groce, Yogesh Raut & Juveria Zaheer
Within the Finals, Groce, the reigning champion, Zaheer, a finalist in her Masters debut, and Raut, the reigning runner-up, confronted off in two video games. The win would go to whoever scores probably the most complete factors.
Raut tried to forcefully hit his buzzer for many of the clues firstly of the spherical, however Groce beat him to it. She additionally discovered the primary Day by day Double of the sport in “Clean of the Clean.” With $1,200, she made it a true Day by day Double. “In an early chapter of an 1864 e book, the narrator says, ‘the very concept of happening’ right here ‘was merely absurd.’” Groce answered accurately with “‘What’s the middle of the earth?” giving her $2,400.
It was then a fierce battle between Groce and Raut as they went backwards and forwards on the lead all through the spherical. By the top of the spherical, the scores have been: Raut with $6,600, Groce with $5,400, and Zaheer at $2,600.
In Double Jeopardy, Groce rapidly took the lead. She additionally discovered the primary DD of the spherical in “Go Fish.” She wagered $4,000 out of her $10,200. The clue learn, “A Florida metropolis is alleged to have gotten its title after pioneer Mary Ormond Boyer noticed these fish springing from a Bayou.” She answered incorrectly with “Pompano,” giving her a complete of $6,200. The proper reply was “Tarpin.” This gave Raut the lead.
Nevertheless, a few clues later, she discovered the final DD and made it a true Day by day Double, wagering all of her $7,400. In “Let’s Hit the Highway,” this was the clue: “Throughout World Battle II, this historic freeway carried important provides from Lashio to Kunming.” “What’s the Burma Highway?” Groce answered accurately, giving her a broad lead with $14,800. Raut had $9,400.
“I used to be unsure,” Groce admitted.
By the top of the spherical, Groce was within the lead with $21,200. Raut had $13,000. Zaheer was within the pink with -$1,000. She didn’t compete in Remaining Jeopardy. The class was “Peoples of the World.”
“Heard typically within the movie The Conquerer, this title of a once-nomadic folks comes from a Latin phrase used for hell,” was the clue. Raut wrote “Who’re Tatars?” which was incorrect. He wagered $13,000 leaving him with zero. Groce was additionally improper along with her response “Who’re the Mongols?” She wagered $6,800, which took her right down to $14,800. The proper reply was Parters.
Disney/Christopher Willard
Remaining Sport 2: Victoria Groce, Yogesh Raut & Juveria Zaheer
In recreation two, Groce was the one one with any factors, however they have been cleaned till the ultimate end result. “However, keep in mind, as we’ve seen in a two-game complete level affair, something can occur,” Ken Jennings mentioned. “This isn’t over but.”
Zaheer discovered the Day by day Double within the spherical. She had $800 however wagered $1,000. In “World Historical past,” right here was the clue: “The Piagnoni, fanboys of Girolamo Savonarola, have been the principle instigators behind these occasions; one came about on Shrove Tuesday.” She answered accurately with “What’s Bonfire of the Vanities?” giving her $1,800, solely $200 behind Raut.
The remainder of the spherical was a tight recreation between all three contestants. By the top of the spherical, Raut had the lead with $7,000. Zaheer was in second with $5,200. Groce trailed with $4,200.
In Double Jeopardy, Zaheer was in second when she discovered the primary DD. With $10,800, she made it a true Day by day Double. In “Let’s Set Some Boundaries,” the clue learn, “The Western restrict of the Mediterranean is a line drawn between Cape Spartel in Africa & this Spanish cape famed in Naval historical past.” She answered accurately with Trafalgar, giving her the lead with $21,600.
Solely a few clues later, Raut discovered the final DD. He was in second with $16,600 and made it a true Day by day Double. “This can be the top for me,” he mentioned.
In “The ‘Finish,’” the clue learn, “Polonium, radium & uranium have been all first found on this ore.” “What’s Pitch Black?” he answered accurately, taking the lead with $33,200.
By the top of the spherical, Raut had a enormous lead with $36,000 factors. $Zaheer had 20,800. Groce was in third with $11,000. The class for Remaining Jeopardy was “Work.”
“The artist noticed this topic as a kindred spirit & in 1890 depicted him with flowers used to deal with coronary heart illness,” was the clue. The proper reply was Dr. Gachet. Groce gave the proper response and wagered $11,000 giving her $22,000 for the second recreation and a mixed complete of $36,400. Zaheer additionally answered with Dr. Gachet. She wagered $16,000, giving her $36,800. Raut answered accurately as properly and wagered $5,601, giving him a remaining complete of $41,601, making him the Jeopardy! Masters champion.
For the win, he receives $500,000, the Alex Trebek trophy, the title of Jeopardy! Grasp, and cash donated to the charity of his selecting. Groce went dwelling with $150,000, and Zaheer left with $250,000.
Jeopardy! Masters, now streaming on Hulu
