Thrilling Jeopardy! Match Closes with New Champion Liam Starnes

LOS ANGELES, CA — The April 17 episode of Jeopardy! saw attorney Steven Hoying from Hilliard, Ohio, capture victory against two formidable contestants, closing the match with a score of $29,403. The show featured an intense battle where Hoying dethroned a six-time champion, Andrew Hayes, with a strong performance across both rounds.

Hoying, an alumnus of the Ohio State Marching Band and currently with the firm Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, began the game trailing Hayes, who had recorded a winning streak beginning April 9. However, after successfully wagering $3,000 on a Daily Double, Hoying surged into the lead with $8,200 as the first round concluded, while Hayes had $6,000 and Michelle Dolinski tallied $2,600, according to game statistics.

Throughout the second round, Hoying maintained his momentum, correctly answering two Daily Double clues and ending with a significant $29,200, leading Hayes by more than $20,000. Hoying sealed his victory by correctly answering the Final Jeopardy! clue, which awarded him an additional $203, concluding the game with final scores: Hoying at $29,403, Hayes at $13,410, and Dolinski at $8,400.

In the aftermath of his victory, the Ohio State Marching Band celebrated Hoying’s achievement on social media. Next week, he will face off against Rachael Gray, an Ohio graduate student from Cuyahoga Falls, and Liam Starnes, an undergraduate from Barrington, Illinois, as indicated on the game show’s official website.

Two days later, on April 18, Liam Starnes emerged victorious in a close contest against Hoying and Gray during the Final Jeopardy segment, where the category focused on Presidential Nominees. Starnes answered correctly with “Who was McKinley?” while Gray faltered with the wrong response. Starnes’s winning total of $32,401 advanced him to the next episode of Jeopardy!

In a competitive second round, Starnes built on his lead after finding the first Daily Double, wagering $6,000 to answer a clue about a public sculpture. He concluded that round with $19,600, while Gray and Hoying lagged behind at $16,200 and $13,800, respectively. When the Final Jeopardy clue was revealed, Gray bet $12,000 in hopes of overtaking the competitors but ended with $4,200 after misidentifying Taft. Meanwhile, Starnes edged ahead with strategic wagering, gathering $32,401 by the game’s conclusion.

Fans and commentators alike responded to the thrilling atmosphere of the match on social media platforms. One user noted, “What a game! This was a very well played game all around, congrats to Liam!” Another remarked, “One of the best all-around games in a long time. Three amazing contestants,” showcasing the excitement surrounding the latest Jeopardy! matches.

Jeopardy! airs weekdays on local television; check local listings for times.