Jeopardy! star Mattea Roach announces ‘long’ break from show after ‘mid’ performance in Masters special

MATTEA Roach has taken to social media after an early elimination from Jeopardy! Masters to say they may not return to the show for a while.

Mattea, 24, placed second-to-last and didn’t make the special’s semifinals, which begin tonight, May 17, on ABC.

Mattea Roach announced they will focus on ‘life outside of Jeopardy!’Credit: Jeopardy!

After placing second-to-last in Masters, they’re planning to return ‘someday’Credit: Jeopardy!
Jeopardy! Masters Season 2 is down to the wire with a few episodes remaining.

James Holzhauer, Amy Schneider, and newcomers Victoria Groce and Yogesh Raut have emerged as the semifinalists.

Sadly, Mattea didn’t make the cut and was eliminated before the semis last episode with Matt Amodio, 38.

This is a far cry from Masters Season 1, when they placed runner-up and nearly defeated James for the $500,000 prize.

Fans were expecting both of them to return for next year’s JIT, but that may not be the case.

‘LIFE OUTSIDE OF JEOPARDY!’

Mattea shared a lengthy reflection about their Masters performance on X on Friday.

Mattea wrote, “As Jeopardy Masters semifinals begin today – some thoughts on my time competing this year.

“My overwhelming feeling is that $75k is a great booby prize for playing some pretty mid [a slang term for middling] Jeopardy.

“I can’t complain about finishing in fifth in such a talented field.”

Mattea called Amy a “real sister,” adding, “My Jeopardy experience has felt intertwined with hers from the beginning.

“I’m glad she’ll get the chance to play in the semifinals this year – even though that chance came at my expense!”

Jeopardy!’s Ken Jennings lobs ‘disrespectful’ comment at Mattea Roach in Masters Night 3 as Victoria Groce soars
They also said Yogesh, Victoria, and James are “real players’ players… You won’t want to miss them and Amy in the semis!!”

Mattea then pivoted to discuss why they may be taking a lengthy time away from future tournaments.

“Over the past two years, I’ve gotten to play 44 televised games of Jeopardy – more games than all but four other players in the history of the game and more than I could have ever reasonably asked for,” they continued.

“I’ve loved all of it and can’t imagine my life without this experience and the people I’ve met through it.

“But I also feel so lucky to be living an incredibly rich life right now outside of Jeopardy.”

Instead, they will focus on their podcast in Toronto, Canada, and are writing a “manuscript about grief and TV,” given their father suddenly died last year while Masters was filmed.

“My relationships with friends/family are flourishing, and I’m slowly plodding away at a manuscript about grief and TV (yeah “writer and podcaster” is a real job!!).”

“I hope to return to the Jeopardy stage someday feeling hungry to win and hopefully in a position to turn in a better performance than I did this time.

“Until then – time to touch grass and enjoy an elegant long weekend at the cottage,” Mattea concluded.

Mattea said they have a ‘rich life outside of Jeopardy!’ and will be focusing on their ‘real job’Credit: X

‘LOVED WATCHING YOU’

Fans flooded Mattea’s post, wishing them well in their next chapter.

“Getting to meet you was one of the very biggest highlights of Masters for me!!” Victoria replied.

“Right back at you!!” Mattea wrote back with a heart emoji.

“You always bring the best energy to a game,” wrote another.

“Looking forward to see what everyone does next!” wrote a fourth.

“Loved watching you. You made Canada proud. Well done!” penned one more.

WHAT IS: THE MASTERS SCHEDULE?

Take a look at the official TV schedule to see when you can catch the latest episode of Jeopardy! Masters season 2

Wednesday, May 1 at 8 pm ET on ABC

Monday, May 6 at 8 pm ET on ABC

Wednesday, May 8 at 8 pm ET on ABC

Friday, May 10 at 8 pm ET on ABC

Monday, May 13 at 8 pm ET on ABC

Wednesday, May 15 at 8 pm ET on ABC

Friday, May 17 at 8 pm ET on ABC

Monday, May 20 — SEMI-FINALS at 8 pm ET on ABC

Wednesday, May 22 — FINALS at 8 pm ET on ABC

MASTERS BATTLE CONTINUES

Meanwhile, Jeopardy! Masters Season 2 is roaring into its semifinal round on ABC tonight.

Ken Jennings helms the two games over the hourlong installment.

There will be two semifinal episodes and just one finale where the winner will be crowned.

Going in, breakout star Victoria – a mere one-day champ from 2005 who mainly honed her skills as The Queen of The Chase – has been called the new frontrunner.

Fans have been blown away by the 2024 JIT winner’s unexpected domination, predicting she’ll dethrone James and win.

Yogesh had 10 points in the first round and title-holder James was right behind with nine points (producers are no longer introducing him as “Final Boss” on-air).

Amy came in as fourth place with only six points, so even though all match-points were removed, she seemed like the least likely to make the finals.

The players will continue to face off in every permutation, and one star will sit out per episode.

After Monday’s semifinal match, one more star gets the chop which will determine the final three.

The Masters grand prize is $500,000, a glitzy Alex Trebek trophy to honor the late iconic host and the title of Masters Champion.

Masters semifinals air tonight and Monday, May 20, with the finale on Wednesday, May 22, at 8 pm ET on ABC.

Mattea placed second last year and will take a break from tournaments as they’re ‘living an incredibly rich life right now outside of Jeopardy’Credit: Getty