Ken Jennings Praises Jeopardy! Champion Alex DeFrank’s Impressive Winning Streak

NEW YORK, NY – Ken Jennings, the beloved host of Jeopardy!, has expressed admiration for champion Alex DeFrank, who is currently on an impressive winning streak in the game show. DeFrank, a furniture inventory specialist from Brooklyn, won his second consecutive game on Monday, adding to his total earnings of $56,401 as he aims for more in the upcoming episodes.

DeFrank’s remarkable performance in his first game showcased his skills; he correctly buzzed in on nearly every question, achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 72%. This led him to accumulate nearly $40,000 before Final Jeopardy!, a feat that is quite unusual for a contestant at that stage of the game.

Alex’s high intellect and composed demeanor have garnered him a dedicated fan base in Season 41 of the popular quiz show. According to an insider, Jennings, who is 50 years old, was particularly impressed by DeFrank during filming. “He’s super sharp and is a really cool dude,” the source stated. Jennings reportedly remarked off-camera that Alex reminded him of himself during his own tenure as a contestant.

“You can tell Ken was super impressed with him throughout the game and had high hopes for him to go far,” the insider added, noting that DeFrank seemed genuinely touched by Jennings’ praise.

In Tuesday’s episode, DeFrank faced stiff competition from Lily St. Laurent, a student assistant from Bakersfield, California, and David DeBacker, an architectural designer from Ypsilanti, Michigan. Despite trailing for much of the game, DeFrank made a strategic move by securing the third Daily Double, which increased his score by $6,000 and propelled him into the lead.

Heading into Final Jeopardy!, DeFrank led with $25,200, while DeBacker had $15,600 and St. Laurent scored $2,200. However, the final round proved challenging for all three contestants as they failed to answer correctly.

In the end, DeFrank secured his third victory with $19,199, bringing his total winnings to $75,600. DeBacker finished in second place with $4,489, while St. Laurent ended the game with just $2.

Fans of the show have expressed excitement over DeFrank’s triumph. One supporter commented, “Way to go Alex!!! It’s been a blast cheering you on from home.” Others have noted DeFrank’s potential to break the trend of one or two-game champions this season, with many hoping he continues to make his mark.

“Does anyone else feel Alex reminds them of Ken as a contestant?” one fan asked, highlighting the similarities between DeFrank’s gameplay and Jennings’ own style during his competitive years.