[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the January 13 episode of Jeopardy!]
Generally, all it takes is one letter to finish up dropping out on Jeopardy!, and that’s precisely what occurred with Paul Clauson because the Champions Wildcard match obtained underway. (The match options 15 champions who missed out on qualifying for the Event of Champions throughout its preliminary run and are competing for its final spot.)
Clauson, a tax analyst from Madison Heights, Michigan, confronted off in opposition to Jen Feldman, a highschool trainer from Brooklyn, New York, and Will Yancey, a lecturer of historical past from Banquete, Texas.
Whereas Clauson was main with 4,600 heading into the Double Jeopardy! spherical (Feldman had 2,800 and Yancey 2,600), he misplaced all his 3,400 by being simply off by a letter in his response for a (true) Every day Double (the second discovered within the sport). In Individuals of the Guide, the clue learn: “Paralyzed Clifford, amorous Constance, manly Oliver.” Clauson answered with, “Woman Chatterley’s Lovers,” whereas the proper response was Woman Chatterley’s Lover. Yancey had 7,800, and Feldman 4,400 on the time. Ultimately, Yancey superior with 13,800. Clauson (8,000, doubling his rating heading into Ultimate Jeopardy and Feldman (8,200, dropping 2,000 with an incorrect response) should see if their scores are sufficient to safe a spot (the highest 4 non-winners with the very best cash totals advance to the semifinals as wildcards.).
Zoe Grobman, who competed within the Second Likelihood Event (and got here in second to Enzo Cunanan within the January 7 sport) cheered on Yancey’s win and sympathized with Clauson over his error in that Every day Double response within the Reddit thread for this episode. “Clearly I’m biased in the direction of the Second Chancers, however I’m actual glad to see Will pull out the win right here. Reveals that us Second Chancers are capable of grasp with the massive leagues!” she wrote.
“Paul, when you see this, I really feel for you a lot, and I do know firsthand how a lot it stings to have a small mispronunciation price you the win (I’ll be ruing Amontillado til the day I die),” Grobman continued. “You place up an outstanding efficiency although, and going huge on the DDs was completely the correct transfer even when it didn’t repay. You have to be pleased with combating again not as soon as however twice from TDD misses.”
Clauson chimed in and thanked Grobman for her phrases. “No regrets on the aggressive DD technique – I knew how powerful the competitors could be,” he shared. “I had Woman Chatterley’s Lover on my flashcards however I believe I psyched myself out due to the a number of listed characters. That doubtlessly mixed with a Michigan linguistic quirk of including pointless s’s to the ends of manufacturers and titles, lol.”
One fan wrote that “they actually did Paul soiled on that DD. At no level did they clarify that the class was in search of particularly for the guide title,” however one other chimed in with, “Having ‘amorous Constance’ within the clue is what made his response incorrect past the difficulty with the title. However sure, they need to clarify they’re in search of the guide title.” Clauson additionally commented on this thread, writing, “Would’ve recognized it had I learn the guide! Or the total Wikipedia web page,” with the grinning face with sweat emoji.
Grobman additionally commented on the shortage of range within the Champions Wildcard match. “I do assume it’s vital to level out that this match has just one girl and 14 males (12 of whom are white). Clearly on this explicit case it’s merely due to how the video games received stats fell, however I do assume this lack of range highlights the significance of Jeopardy! persevering with its work in embracing numerous contestants and a various trivia canon,” she wrote.
In response, Clauson famous that it wasn’t misplaced on the opponents: “The clear lack of range smacked us all within the face, however it was how the chips fell for this explicit match. Tons extra girls representing within the ToC although!”
What did you consider that Every day Double clue? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.
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