‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Shocked As Teenager Dominates Game

Rishabh Wuppalapati on Jeopardy! | YouTube

This week on Jeopardy!, a teenager came onto the show and then dominated his older competitors. It shocked many fans watching, who couldn’t believe that he was doing so well at such a young age.

Here is what you need to know about Jeopardy! champion Rishabh Wuppalapati.

Teenager Dominates On Jeopardy!

A new teenage contestant joined Jeopardy! this week named Rishabh Wuppalapati. The college sophomore has been impressive in his gameplay, and fans are praising his “genius” as he won big. Making his debut on Tuesday, Rishabh was introduced as an undergrad from the University of Pennsylvania.

Rishabh Wuppalapati on Jeopardy! | YouTube
Rishabh Wuppalapati on Jeopardy! | YouTube

Eamonn Campbell, a lawyer originally from Manchester, Vermont, was a two-day champ and had won $43,200. However, teenager Rishabh won the game that day, winning $22,201. Shockingly, Eamonn finished with $0 to end his streak. Zoe Grobman, a therapist from Philadelphia, came in second with $19,601.

Fans on Reddit praised Rishabh after his win:

  • “What an awesome game! Really loved all three contestants today. Eamonn was a strong champ, Zoe’s comeback was a delight, and Rishabh’s visible excitement was infectious. Great game for all of them”
  • “Rishabh is the smartest (and my favorite) player of season 41,”
  • “[Rishabh] is an absolute genius, both with the clues and with his wagering strategy”

Before Jeopardy!, Rishabh competed in National Academic Quiz Tournaments. He will receive his Bachelor’s in Mathematical Economics in 2027.

Rishabh Kept Winning On Day 2

Rishabh wasn’t a one-and-done either on Jeopardy! On his second day of play, he won again. This time, he competed against Rachel Cassidy, an associate professor from Providence, Rhode Island, and Jay Eversman, an environmental attorney from St. Louis, Missouri.

While still the youngest, Rishabh won with over $20,000 again. This time, the final score was Rishabh with $20,200, Rachel with $19,701, and Jay with $1. It was still close between first and second place, but Rishabh took home his second big win.

However, this time around, many fans started to turn on him. His Final Jeopardy! answer was almost illegibly written, and he said what he wrote, which some thought influenced Ken Jennings.

  • “I think him saying “I wrote Columbia” before the answer was revealed affected Ken’s decision honestly.”
  • “I hate with a fiery passion that FJ often comes down to a handwriting/fine motor control contest.”
  • “It’s beyond time for contestants to have a keyboard for FJ.”

Rishabh Wuppalapati now goes into Thursday looking for his third win. If he gets this one, he will have to win again on Friday and then next Monday to qualify for the Tournament of Champions.

What are your thoughts on Rishabh Wuppalapati and his performance so far on Jeopardy!? Do you think he is one of this season’s smartest players, or will he lose sooner rather than later? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Shawn Lealos
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