Jeopardy! Contestant Troy Meyer Falters in Tournament of Champions Finals
TROY MYER TEARFULLY THANKS WIFE GENEVIEVE AMIDST GAME LOSS
JEOPARDY! breakout star Troy Meyer has won fans over with a tearful tribute in the fifth Tournament of Champions finals but lost the game- in a blowout. The beloved pro-quizzer now trails the controversial Yogesh Raut and fan-favorite Ben Chan with $250,000 and a Jeopardy! Masters slot on the line.
Ken Jennings Reveals ToC Standings
Ken Jennings opened week two of the 2024 ToC finals by showing the standings. Ben had two wins (admittedly both off $1 Final Jeopardy shockers) to Troy and Yogesh’s one (three wins take the title). During Monday’s interview segment, the ferocious gameplay took a pause as Ken asked Troy if he’d like to thank anyone.
Troy’s Emotional Tribute to His Wife Genevieve
Troy said, “Well, I think she’d kill me if I didn’t start with her, so I’d like to start by thanking my wife Genevieve, who’s been so supportive of me in this process.” The audience applauded as Troy grew emotional, “She was on the show, and she understands what it takes. “No one could be more supportive and loving and I give a lot of credit to her.”
Yogesh Dominates the Game
While Troy had the standout story of the game, it was Yogesh who had the standout performance. In the Jeopardy! round, Troy nabbed the Daily Double, and Yogesh clawed to a massive score by getting the most clues. He led with $8,800, Troy with $3,600, and Ben with $4,800.
The Uphill Battle for Troy
Fans are concerned that Troy is ‘losing endurance’ as he now trails with only one win. Now, Ben and Yogesh are just one win away from the crown, so it’s less likely that Troy will seize victory unless he wins two in a row.
Troy’s Personal Life and Connection to Jeopardy!
Troy is a music executive from Tampa, Florida who dominated last season, earning $214,802 in just six wins. Troy’s wife, Genevieve Sheehan, was a contestant on Jeopardy! back in 2009. Troy and Genevieve share a son who is 10 and are also expecting a daughter, whom Troy promised to name “Ken-derella” if he wins the ToC.
The Mystery of Troy’s Decision to Sit
Meanwhile, fans have noticed that Troy is sitting during the ToC finals using a chair on his podium. While Troy doesn’t owe anyone an explanation, Jeopardy! bosses spoke about letting him sit when he did so during his last game in 2023.
Ben Chan’s Road to Redemption
Ben Chan, a philosophy professor from Green Bay, Wisconsin, amassed nine wins, $252,200 last season. Ben won all nine of his games in a runaway fashion and is the first contestant ever to do so. The frisky teacher is a fan favorite, given that he was plucked from obscurity compared to his trivia titan foes.
Yogesh’s Return and Controversy
Yogesh won three games and a massive $98,000 in 2023; like Troy, he is a pro-quizzer. He has a controversial history with the game show and has even had some divisive moments upon his return.
The Format for the ToC Finals
Like the last Tournament of Champions, the finals are a first-to-three-wins format. That means Ben, Yogesh, and Troy will continue to duke it out into this week- and it may reach the maximum of seven games. Each game, their win results in a checkmark on their podium, and three checkmarks will win them the title. The ToC finals are worth $250,000, a slot in May’s Jeopardy! Masters and the ultimate bragging rights. Ben and Yogesh now have two wins each, and Troy only one, as they will return tomorrow night for more at 7 pm E.T. on ABC.