Wheel of Fortune Contestant Wins Big with ‘Tough But Fair’ Puzzle Solve

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Frank Mantesana of Brooklyn, New York, emerged victorious on Thursday night’s episode of *Wheel of Fortune*, securing a total of $65,850 after a thrilling Bonus Round solve. The episode, which aired on January 16, 2025, featured a tense competition between Mantesana, Angela Johnson of Phenix City, Alabama, and Ada Vega of St. Cloud, Florida.

Johnson started strong, solving the first puzzle and later winning $20,600 in the Express Round, along with a Scottish cruise. However, Mantesana mounted a comeback during the Triple Toss Up round, correctly solving the puzzle ‘A Case Of The Mondays’ after Vega’s humorous guess of ‘A case of the munchies’ drew laughter from the audience.

In the final Speed Up puzzle, Mantesana landed on $6,000 per consonant and solved ‘World Atlas’ for $18,000, overtaking Johnson’s lead. He entered the Bonus Round with $25,850, selecting the ‘Phrase’ category and additional letters ‘H, C, F, and O.’ With the puzzle reading ‘T O _ _ H / _ _ T / F _ _ R,’ Mantesana solved ‘Tough But Fair’ in the nick of time, winning an additional $40,000.

‘Yeah, that’s it, you got it!’ host Ryan Seacrest exclaimed as Mantesana celebrated his victory. The win was made even more memorable when Mantesana’s son, Braden, showcased his Rubik’s Cube-solving skills, completing the puzzle in 28 seconds just before the show ended.

Braden, who had been introduced earlier in the episode as a speedcuber capable of solving a Rubik’s Cube in under 30 seconds, impressed Seacrest and co-host Vanna White with his quick solve. ‘He’s used to speed Rubik’s Cube,’ Mantesana joked, adding that his son ‘got it’ just in time.

The episode highlighted the growing popularity of speedcubing, a competitive sport that began in 1982. The current world record, set by Max Park in June 2023, stands at 3.134 seconds. Braden’s demonstration added a personal touch to Mantesana’s victory, making it a night to remember for the Brooklyn family.