Amodio Claims Victory in Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament Finals

NEW YORK, New York – March 6, 2025 – Matt Amodio secured his victory in the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament finals, winning $150,000 and a spot in the upcoming Jeopardy! Masters tournament. Competing against Roger Craig and Juveria Zaheer, Amodio demonstrated his quiz prowess during the intense match held on Thursday.

The showdown commenced with all three contestants making quick gains during the initial rounds. Zaheer, a psychiatrist from Whitby, Ontario, capitalized on the ‘Canadiana’ category to build early momentum. Her correct answer regarding a famous Canadian hockey player put her in the lead with $2,400 at one point. Craig, from Arlington, Virginia, quickly followed suit, answering the first Daily Double correctly, positioning himself in second place.

Despite early setbacks, Amodio started strong and regained control by accurately answering several questions, pushing past his rivals to lead at the first commercial break with $5,200, followed by Zaheer with $4,600 and Craig with $3,400.

The second round former a pivotal shift. Both Zaheer and Amodio showcased notable tactics with Daily Double wagers. Zaheer placed a significant bet of $7,800, successfully identifying Basel as the correct answer to win the Daily Double, which elevated her score to $15,600, taking the lead for the first time.

Craig soon found his rhythm too, hitting a Daily Double that edged him closer to the top with $9,400 by the end of Double Jeopardy! Meanwhile, Amodio trailed behind with $13,600 and Zaheer held a slim lead at $16,000.

As the competition escalated, the Final Jeopardy! category was revealed: British Royalty. Contestants faced a challenging clue: “In the 12th century after walking barefoot, this man stripped down and allowed himself to be flogged by dozens of monks.”

Craig and Amodio both answered with “Who is Richard I?” which was incorrect, costing Craig $4,201 and bringing him down to $5,199. Amodio lost $2,401, leaving him with a total of $11,199.

Zaheer faced immense pressure as the final wager determined if she would claim her first victory or fall short. Her response to the clue was “Richard the Lionheart,” not realizing it was the same person as the correct answer, Henry II. Zaheer wagered $11,201, closing her total at $4,799.

With Zaheer’s final wager resulting in a loss, Amodio was declared the winner of his second match in the finals, thus clinching the title of Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament champion. As a prize, he received $150,000 and a coveted invitation to the Jeopardy! Masters.

Fans will have to wait for further dates as the Jeopardy! Masters tournament is expected to commence sometime in April or May, with regular episodes airing in the meantime, according to the show’s host announcements.