Who won ‘Jeopardy!’ tonight? Final round nearly flips the game, but a smart wager saves the day
It was another thrilling night on ‘Jeopardy!’ as Jamie Ding kept his hot streak alive, earning his 28th straight win on April 21. The New Jersey-based law student didn’t exactly cruise to the finish line this time, though. He had to win the hard way, squeezing past two challengers in a Final Jeopardy round that could’ve gone sideways with one misstep. Heading into the final round, Ding looked comfortable but not untouchable. He sat at $17,600, which sounds like a solid cushion until you glance at the scoreboard behind him. Max Ernst, a software engineer from Philadelphia, was right there with $10,800. Meanwhile, Lydia Sekscenski trailed at $400.
The category for the last clue was “18th Century Works.” The clue itself had a historical twist: “Ironically, it was the mayor of Strasbourg, a victim of the guillotine, who requested the composition of this.” The correct response? La Marseillaise, the French national anthem. All three contestants gave the correct answer. That doesn’t happen every day, and it turned the spotlight onto their wagers. Ding played it smart. He didn’t swing for the fences, choosing instead to add $4,001 to his total. That brought him to $21,601, a number that was just enough to hold onto first place without risking everything. Ernst, on the other hand, took a bigger gamble. He wagered $9,800, pushing his total to $19,800 after getting the answer right.
Had he gone all-in, there’s a good chance the outcome would’ve been different. Sekscenski kept things safe. With only $400 on the board, she chose not to risk any of it. It was a practical move, and it paid off in its own way. She answered correctly and avoided dropping to zero, though she remained in third place by a large margin. Still, getting Final Jeopardy right is no small feat, even if the standings don’t change much. With this win, Ding now has $774,601 in total earnings. That number alone would be headline-worthy, but paired with a 28-game streak, it’s shaping into something remarkable.
He’s now climbed to fifth place on the all-time list for both consecutive wins and total money won. That puts him in the same conversation as some of the show’s biggest legends. James Holzhauer still holds the fourth spot with 32 straight victories in 2019. However, Ken Jennings' 74-game streak remains the gold standard. So now, Ding is just four wins away from matching Holzhauer’s streak, which feels within reach. If he keeps up this pace, he could reach that mark in a matter of days. He will be back on April 22, aiming for win number 29.
