Puzzle Genius: San Antonio Contestant Stuns ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Fans

San Antonio, Texas — Chelsea Hall captivated audiences and took home $62,950 in cash and prizes during the March 5 episode of Wheel of Fortune, showcasing remarkable puzzle-solving skills.

Hall, a counselor at John J. Pershing Elementary School, participated in the show a decade after her sister, Camille, made her mark on the same stage. Competing against Sophia Ogden from Castle Rock, Washington, and Demarland Dean from Ooltewah, Tennessee, Hall’s performance left host Ryan Seacrest expressing his amazement.

In the first toss-up round, Hall demonstrated her prowess by solving the puzzle “I’m so excited!” with only two letters revealed on the board. “How did you do that?” Seacrest asked her. “That was amazing!”

By the second round, Hall had built a significant lead with $5,750 but faced challenges in the third round, going bankrupt twice. This setback allowed Ogden to edge ahead with $19,750, securing a trip to Cancun.

However, Hall regained her momentum by solving the next four puzzles, bringing her total to $21,750. Ogden ended the game with the same amount from the previous round, while Dean walked away with $1,000.

Advancing to the Bonus Round, Hall brought her mother, Kathy, and her sisters, Camille and Gabrielle, for support. During this round, she reminded Seacrest of her sister’s previous appearance, to which he fondly replied, “I remember you. I was watching. You won! Congratulations!”

Hall chose the category “What are you doing?” and was given the letters R, S, T, L, N, and E. She then selected B, K, C, and I for her remaining letters. As the puzzle lit up with “KICKIN_ B_CK _N_ REL_ _IN_,” Hall swiftly answered, “Kicking back and relaxing,” before the timer even started.

Her correct guess won her a Mini Cooper valued at $41,200, bringing her total winnings to $62,950. Family members rushed to congratulate her as excitement filled the studio.

Fans of the show took to social media to praise Hall’s skills. One comment on YouTube read, “Phenomenal player!!! So glad she called all the right letters, solved that bonus round puzzle, & won the Cooper!” Another user exclaimed, “OMG Chelsea! You fought hard, came from behind, and blew it out of the water!! Congratulations!”

In a subsequent interview with her local news station, Hall reflected on her victory, saying, “Camille really encouraged me the last few years to apply. I did. And now, here we are.” Hall emphasized her family’s nightly ritual of watching Wheel of Fortune together.

“We watch [Wheel] every night as a family. Yes, every single night. My whole family lives in the same neighborhood,” Hall shared. She explained how her profession helps her decipher puzzles easily. “I am like that is what we do all day. Like you are handed a paper, and you have got to be able to read it even with the missing letters,” she said. “So, I am looking at the puzzles, and I am like, please, I do this for a living. I know exactly what that says without any vowels.”