Jeopardy! star Neilesh Vinjamuri almost lost his massive lead as he entered Final Jeopardy!. It turns out that he had a bit of a disadvantage, too.
This Jeopardy! contestant can’t part ways with his tablet (
Image: Jeopardy!)
Neilesh Vinjamuri, a software engineer from Lionville, P.A., came onto the Jeopardy! stage with one particular setback.
He explained to host Ken Jennings that his most prized posession is a very old tablet which still works. Neilesh explained that he doesn’t see the point in getting rid of the device if it’s perfectly functional even if it can no longer be updated and improved. He further added that he did something similar with his phone which became 6 years out of date, but his tablet was about double that in age.
When Ken inquired if he used his tablet to study for Jeopardy!, Neilish confessed he did. Ken, though, found it charming as he called it a “12 year disadvantage,” but noted that the quiz whiz was doing just fine in the competition.
Neilish continued to dominate the board after the conversation, walking into Final Jeopardy! with $31,600 before being presented with the hint, “Robert E. Lee’s victory at Chancellorsville has been likened to this Greek’s victory at Asculum in 279 B.C.” He laid down a bet of $6,001, walking away with a smooth $37,601 as he answered correctly with, “Who is Pyrrhus?”
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Jeopardy! contestant shows off his bizarre ability
Neilesh walked away a winner from the round (
Image:
Jeopardy!)
Isaac Hirsch, a customer support team lead from Burbank, C.A., came in second for Monday’s game. He entered Final Jeopardy! with $18,800 and made a correct guess to bring himself up to $37,400, just shy of victory. Adriana Harmeyer, an archivist from West Lafayette, I.N., struggled going into the last clue with only $5,400. When she risked it all, she lost it all, too, when she answered with, “Who is Hannibal?”
Despite Adriana’s underwhelming performance, the trivia master has previously proven her worth in the Jeopardy! studio. After all, she went on a 15-day win streak last year which totally took a toll. Former contestant Drew Brasile opened up a conversation about the fatigue they face while filming. “You don’t feel as fresh as you did a couple days ago. I can feel that I’m a little slower on the buzzer,” she agreed on the Jeopardy! podcast.
As for if exhaustion may have hit her for today’s airing, it’s hard to say. Regardless, Jeopardy! will continue to pit the top talent against each other in this special tournament.
