Unlocking the Secrets: ‘Jeopardy!’ Champion Shares Insider Insights on Wildcard Tournament Victory!

Joey DeSena might have missed his own viewing party for Jeopardy!, but he was busy making memories by competing in the Champions Wildcard episode. This took place on January 16, and he certainly had something to celebrate after his impressive win.

Hailing from North Carolina, DeSena is a development engineer. He faced off against attorney Eamonn Campbell and software engineer Mehal Shah. From the start, the competition was intense. In the first round, DeSena scored $6,200, just shy of Shah’s $6,600. DeSena made a bold move by wagering $1,000 on the Daily Double, which paid off when he correctly identified Galileo as the historical figure involved in a notable tribunal in 1633.

The excitement continued into the Double Jeopardy round. Both DeSena and Shah were aggressive with their Daily Doubles. Shah doubled his $7,800 by correctly answering a question about Huntsville, Alabama. DeSena followed suit, bringing his total to $11,000 by recalling a piece of advice from the Pope regarding the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

As they approached Final Jeopardy, DeSena led with $24,000, while Shah had $19,600 and Campbell had $9,600. The final clue, in the category of “Trees,” stumped all three contestants. The question asked for a tree named from Roman times, and all three guessed laurel. But the wagers were key: Campbell lost everything, while DeSena and Shah wagered nothing. Thus, their rankings remained unchanged.

Ultimately, DeSena secured his spot in the semi-finals with a score of $24,000. Shah followed with $19,600, and Campbell finished with no winnings.

On Reddit, DeSena shared insights about his fellow contestants, calling them “tremendous competitors and great people.” He fondly recalled their time together, mentioning they enjoyed watching The Princess Bride during their waiting period.

DeSena was surprised to learn about Shah’s record for the highest Daily Double wager of the season, revealing that it motivated him to take risks during the game. He noted that even Ken Jennings was puzzled by the Final Jeopardy clue. He also shared a touching moment about his answer, which was a nod to his four-month-old daughter, Lorelai, hoping she would smile at it years later.

One of the most poignant moments came when DeSena talked about a Navy pin he wore during the episode. It belonged to his father, who passed away nearly ten years ago. Although their relationship wasn’t very close, they bonded over watching Jeopardy! together. DeSena wore the pin as a tribute, saying, “I made it, Dad.”

The game sparked discussions among fans, with some criticizing the choice of clues. One pointed out the randomness of easy clues appearing in high-stakes spots, while another raised concerns about the framing of the Final Jeopardy clue, calling it confusing for those in the ecological field.

Jeopardy! airs weeknights. Check your local listings for times.