The Jeopardy! episode on February 12, 2025, delivered a thrilling battle, with Neilesh Vinjamuri aiming for a third consecutive victory against former champ Adriana Harmeyer and newcomer Isaac Hirsch. Despite Neilesh’s impressive performance, Isaac’s strategic betting in Final Jeopardy led to his victory, making him the new champion.
Jeopardy! Round:
The game started with exciting categories like 17th Century Facts, Monogram Madness, and The New Yorker at 100. Isaac quickly gained a strong lead, answering seven questions correctly without a mistake. At the end of the round, the scores were:
- Isaac: $7,000
- Neilesh: $4,200
- Adriana: $2,800
Double Jeopardy! Round:
Isaac continued to dominate, making a bold $6,000 wager on a Daily Double and extending his lead. Neilesh tried to catch up with 11 correct responses, including another Daily Double, but an incorrect answer cost him points. The standings after Double Jeopardy were:
- Isaac: $22,200 (23 correct, 2 incorrect)
- Neilesh: $13,800 (19 correct, 1 incorrect)
- Adriana: $2,800 (8 correct, 3 incorrect)
Final Jeopardy! Round:
Category: European Artwork
Clue: “A rope around their leader’s neck, the men depicted in this late 19th-century piece seem resigned to death, but in the end, they survived.”
Correct Response: “What is The Burghers of Calais?”
Both Isaac and Neilesh answered correctly, but Isaac’s smart wager pushed his score to $27,601, securing his first Jeopardy! victory. Neilesh finished with $22,201, while Adriana, who wagered incorrectly, was eliminated with $0.
Isaac Hirsch will return to defend his title in the next episode, promising another exciting showdown.