JEOPARDY! newcomer Ryan Manton may have just scored his first win on the show, but fans are already predicting he’ll have a long future in the franchise.
The season 41 trend of having a new winner nearly every episode has continued into tonight’s game as the systems administrator showcased a performance that even left host Ken Jennings impressed.
Out of the 16 Jeopardy! games that have aired so far this season, there have been 11 winners – meaning many of the champs did not have the same luck when they returned for round two.
However, fans are predicting that streak may have come to an end in tonight’s game with Ryan’s dominant debut.
The Columbus, Ohio native played against Alison Prelusky, a copywriter from Lindenhurst, New York as well as returning champ Kate Roesch, a data visualization developer from Indiana.
Ryan came out of the gate hot however, he quickly lost $5,000 on a true Daily Double wager, meaning he bet it all, on clue he got wrong and his total was brought all the way back down to $0 before the first break.
Things weren’t looking good as Kate had secured $2,800 by the break while Alison nabbed $1,600.
However, Ryan quickly turned things around and earned himself $3,400 by the time the next Double Jeopardy! was revealed.
In a category for “7-syllable words,” Ryan correctly answered a question about marijuana advocates pushing for the removal of certain strict penalties from the Biden administration, advancing his pot to $14,000.
As Ryan played the game, host Ken appeared to be impressed with smirks and comments about a “job well done.”
He continued to make big moves which advanced his lead but was stumped over a question on Pennsylvania literary history.
“This playwright’s childhood home in the historically Black Hill district of Pittsburgh has become an arts center,” to which Ryan failed to say writer August Wilson which cost him thousands.
Ryan still earned a hefty lead going into Final Jeopardy! with a whopping $22,200 while his competitor Kate scored $4,200 and Alison had just under with $4,000.
The category for the last round was Biblical Places and Ken then read off the clue.
“The name of this, actually a not very tall hill, became a symbol of Jewish national aspiration & was used in spirituals & reggae,” the host said.
Kate and Allison both guessed the right answer of Mount Zion however, it didn’t matter as Ryan’s total was so big and he bet just a measly $22.
As for Ryan’s final answer, it was unclear if he really knew it correctly or not as he sweetly wrote “I love you Lauren” as a nod to his wife.
The final scores were Kate with $8,200, Alison with $8,000 and Ryan’s $22,178 prize pot.
RISKY BUSINESS
Ken praised Ryan’s gameplay at the end of the game, as well as the player’s ability to take “risks” in such a quick-paced competition.
Fans were also impressed by what they saw, and even predict his future within the franchise remains bright.
“I know it’s early but I am sensing a ToC contender here,” one viewer insisted.
In order to earn a coveted spot in the Tournament of Champions, contestants must win five consecutive games to be considered.
Jeopardy! 2025 Tournament of Champions
Jeopardy!’s next Tournament of Champions will take place this winter, midway through Season 41 (exact airdate TBA) and it’s shaping up to be another showstopper. Here’s who is officially eligible so far:
- Adriana Harmeyer (15 wins and $349,600 total)
- Isaac Hirsch (nine wins and $215,390)
- Survivor alum Drew Basile (seven wins and $129,601)
- Alison Betts (5 wins and $121,500)
- Dr. Amy Hummel (5 wins and $100,994)
- Lisa Ann Walter (winner of Celebrity Jeopardy! 2024)
- Grant DeYoung (four wins and $81,203)
- Amar Kakirde (four wins and $55,899)
The prize for winning the ToC is $250,000 and a coveted slot in Jeopardy! Masters.
Jeopardy.com notes: “All 4-time and over winning players starting from 04/10/24 will be eligible for a future Tournament of Champions.”
“Presence on this list does NOT guarantee an invitation to compete. Other eligibility rules apply and final selection is up to the producers’ sole discretion.”
Another viewer one wrote: “Ryan displayed a winning mindset with his all-in bet in the first round.
“Even if you miss, there’s plenty of time to recover, so it makes the most sense to just go for it.”
While one more said: “Wow, very impressive debut!”
A Reddit user claimed to have played with Ryan in the Online Quiz League Pop Solos, along with his wife Lauren.
“They are both freakishly good at trivia. In my opinion, I think Ryan may have the best knowledge base out of all the players this season,” they added.
During the episode, Ryan revealed that his wife Lauren also appeared on Jeopardy! three years ago and he actually popped-the-question to his then-girlfriend the night before her show taping.
Ryan’s Jeopardy! journey continues tomorrow as fans are hoping he will live up to their heightened expectations.
