‘Jeopardy!’ Fans React After Scott Riccardi Stops Rival From Advancing to Final Round
Reigning Jeopardy! champion Scott Riccardi is so laser-focused on winning that his competitiveness wound up blocking a fellow contestant from moving onto the Final Jeopardy! round.
Riccardi entered Monday’s (July 14) game as a seven-day champion and was looking for his eighth victory, giving him the longest-running winning streak in Season 41. He faced off against Paul Swain, a tutor from Vancouver, Washington, and Amanda Hopkins, an analytics manager originally from New Providence, New Jersey.
Once again, the engineer from Somerville, New Jersey, dominated the episode, answering 30 clues correctly and just one incorrectly. This gave Riccardi a massive runaway with $34,200 and left Hopkins in the red towards the end of the episode. If a player is on a minus when the game ends, they’re disqualified from competing in the Final Jeopardy! round.
Hopkins buzzed in to answer the final regular-game clue, which could have allowed her to get out of the red and into the final round. Unfortunately for her, Riccardi and Swain buzzed in before her, with Swain ultimately answering the clue, keeping Hopkins out of Final Jeopardy!
“Sadly, Amanda, you were one clue away from making it back into positive territory, but we loved having you. You’ll receive a third-place prize. Thank you for being here,” host Ken Jennings told the unlucky contestant.
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Fans took to social media to react to the episode, with some arguing that they’d have let Hopkins buzz in if they were in a similar position to Riccardi and Swain.
“One thing I’ll never do if I were on the show, answer the last clue over someone else in the red that needed it to qualify for final jeopardy when the game is already a clear runaway…” wrote one viewer on the Jeopardy! Reddit forum.
“I would’ve held my buzzer and let Amanda get the final clue to get her into FJ,” said another. “No one has to know she didn’t just beat everyone else, and it changes nothing with the runaway and 2nd place locked.”
“I’ve been saying this to wife this for years and we’ve always disagreed. She says it’s a game, go for the money. I say let them play final jeopardy in their one shot at it,” another added.
Another wrote, “I saw that and thought it was a d*** move.”
“Yeah, it seems pretty unsportsmanlike to fight for the buzzer when the game is a runaway and she was just barely in the red. I was hollering for the last 5 clues and they never let her get one. Sheesh,” said one user.
However, others disagreed, including former contestants, who argued that in the heat of the moment, it’s often hard to know what the scores are across the board.
“I’ve seen several contestants say that they don’t really know what the score is during the game because they’re so focused on the clues,” wrote one fan. “It can be a whirlwind, and distracting yourself by paying attention to such things could cost you the game in other circumstances. So I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt.”
Joey Beachum, the 2008 College Championship winner, agreed, writing, “It’s hard to know what your score is unless you’re in a wagering situation or you feel like it’s coming down to the wire in Double Jeopardy.”
“Good luck. I basically had tunnel vision. Everything I thought I would think during the game went away and all I could do was focus on was the next question,” added Tyler Jarvis, who appeared on the show in April 2024.
He added, “I wasn’t in the situation to “let” a person in the red back into the game, but if I had been I probably wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to even consider that angle. It’s a very different game on your couch than it is on the Alex Trebek stage.”
Second Chance competitor David Maybury noted, “I appreciate the spirit behind this, but in my four games, at no time did I have the spare brainpower to think about something like this.”
Bob Callen, who competed on the show in April 2025, shared, “It’s way too intense on the stage to even think about this. I adore the friends I made on my taping day and like to think I’m a decent person and would want them on the stage in final, but I had a hard enough time keeping track of my score, the other players scores, and what I needed to do to get or prevent a runaway.”
He continued, “I’d love to think I’d be generous enough to pass in this situation, but to be honest, I’d probably buzz in if I knew the answer, too. It’s hard to keep your head on straight up there, especially if it’s your first game.”
What do you think? Should Riccardi and Swain have let Hopkins buzz in on the last clue? Let us know your thoughts below.
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Conversation66 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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R
Oh, BOLOGNA ! ! ! ! With this logic you'd let the opposing team score just to make them feel good about themselves. Bologna! This is a fast-paced competitive game based on knowledge and buzzer management. Let it be competitive all the way to the end.
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G
It's a fast paced, intense competition. Over in a flash. You are focused on what you are doing throughout the game. You don't fall out of that mode to see what someone else is doing. Competition!!
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P
Anyone who says they would let her buzz in is ridiculous. Probably saying that because they'd be the ones in red. So you would give up $400 so someone else would still come in third place? It's her own fault for getting answers wrong. And it's patronizing.
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C
It's a game and you play to win. You can't be responsible for another players misfortune.
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C
It's on her, to make it to final Jeopardy, it's not a charity.
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O
There was no reason to let her win... Actually, it would be unethical. It's a game and should be played to the end.
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G
It wasn't letting her win. It was the possibility of her having a chance to play Final Jeopardy. (And no, a player has no responsibility to "let" anyone back in the game.)
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C
We're not primary children, you don't let someone win so we can all play together! It would be boring & disappointing for viewers. May the BEST person win!
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O
I hope Scott isn't reading all the negative posts. Ask Ken Jennings if he let his lightening quick buzzer reflex rest because his opponents were slower. Everyone, I have been watching Jeopardy since the age of 9, when Art Fleming hosted the daytime version. People lose, come in 3rd. It is not the fault of the winner; it never will be. Congratulations to Scott and his already impressive winning streak.
12
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C
I've never been in a competition but believe that one would be so caught up, he would not be thinking about everyone's score. Try actually BEING there competing.
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M
have not seen any player since Ken who rang in fast and figured out the correct response.that,s how and why he is the goat player of jeopardy.
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G
What are you talking about? The game wouldn't exist if people didn't ring in quickly and figure out the correct response. That's literally the game.
That's like saying I have not seen any player drive fast and get to the finish line since Mario Andretti 😂
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M
wrong special dumbfuck.
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B
I think what previous players have said. It must be very intense on that stage, on camera trying to answer every question that you know. Thinking about anything else, would be a distraction. You're there to win! And anyone who thinks that they would do it differently has never played under those circumstances.
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C
He joins Matt and many others of people i don't root for. He's smug and arrogant. The other day he was quiet for a lot of questions and then all of a sudden he was taking over. Hmm
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B
A trophy for everyone.
Dum.
Your there to WIN.
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G
They ruined the program when they started letting automatons like Riccardi dominate other players day after day. Won't watch again 'til he's gone.
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E
That has to be one of the stupidest things I've heard. The other dude buzzed in as well. So were both of them ganging up on her to not get out of the red?! Ridiculous. I am glad other contestants have stated that they have tunnel vision when playing. What a load of garbage people are leveling at the best champ this season has seen.
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G
Oh no! Someone played a game to win, and someone who wasn't good at it didn't do well! Clutches pearls
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R
The goal of Jeopardy is to amass the most money possible. It is a competition with the winner moving on to the next match and the losers going home. It is not a game of being nice and letting others answer a question that you know. Obviously, the people who are complaining about not letting another competitor answer a question to stay in the game have never competed.
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O
I think that Ken plays fast and loose with the 'the's' and the 's's'. It may not affect the final outcome, but it allows some contestants to play a little longer, and prevents buzzer hogs, like Scott, from getting every single clue.
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B
I would not "let" someone win. This is competition! All a person should have to think about is answering as quickly as possible, not paying attention to everyone's scores!
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G
It's a competition and everyone is there to advance and win 🏆 whoever is faster and correct gets the win.He has done very well 👍🏻 Congrats to him.
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G
I’ve stopped watching since Riccardi is always so far ahead of everyone. Makes the game boring for me.
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P
That's ridiculous. Play the game as it's meant to be played. Players are not there to be mindful of the others' scores. I hope Scott keeps setting records. He's smart and sweet.
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O
I was a contestant in Alex's first season. Ludicrous to think any contestant would even be thinking about another contestant's score at that point.
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G
Letting her 'have a chance' to participate in FJ is worse than getting a participation award. Not everyone is a winner. Somebody has to lose.
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R
So by that thinking a football team in a runaway game should let the other team score. I don't think fans would be happy with that. Competitiveness is not something you cut on or off.
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C
No. It’s doggy eat doggy when in competition mode.
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G
One plays the game to win. One must play by the rules. When I was a kid I wasn’t ever ‘let’ win. You either win or you lose.
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R
Absolutely a dick move. On both of the guys parts. There were multiple clues left and they should have let her answer all of them until she was out of the red.
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G
I agree of course, they should have given her a shot at it!!! It was very unprofessional, not to mention mean!! 😢
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O
I think thst you are so into the game that you're not thinking about the other players' scores. Scott has impressed me with his "down to earth ways"....he always claps for the other contestants and I'm sure if he knew the situation, he would have let the other player beep in for the answer.
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G
Amanda should have been faster and answered more questions correctly. It’s a competition and if she doesn’t make it to final Jeopardy that’s her experience.
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O
frankly it is a game show where knowing the answer gives you the edge and not knowing puts you in the bottom. If it was me.. I would not give the other contestants a chance.. She put herself in the hole and she never climbed out.. she had plenty of time to get out..
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O
Why are you blaming Riccardi? It was Swain who buzzed in and answered.
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P
It’s a game. You know going in that you could win or lose. I think if I were a contestant, I wouldn’t want to be “let” to buzz in and answer. Scott appears to be laser focused, and that’s ok.
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P
This ain't tiddlywinks, people.
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G
Just play the game to win. Players don't have time to think about "letting" other players buzz in. What if they calculated wrong? Players need to do the best they can during the entire time at the podium.
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C
She would have had only a small amount of money to bet, and no chance of winning. I don't think the contestants are thinking of the others during the game. You are being too hard on the two men.
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B
Would you let an opposing team score a goal so they wouldn't be shut out? Let the other team get a hit so they wouldn't have a no-hitter? I would be pissed if I found out someone "let" me score or get a hit.
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O
It is a different game in your living room than it is on stage !! Besides, third place gets $2,000 anyway.
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R
A couch opinion is worth little if you haven't been in their shoes. Our world has become so judgemental, he is an amazing contestant at 25 his knowledge over so many categories is incredible.
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G
Get real. It's winner take all. If you're in the red, you have the same chance to buzz in first as anyone else.
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B
Yes
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C
In order to stay focused, one must concentrate moment by moment...I'm a very kind person, however, in that highly competitive atmosphere, it would go right by me that I should step back and let someone step up. Nope.. Not rude, just game
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C
These people can remember some Pharoah from Egypt 3500 years ago bu t don't know the current totals?
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C
Go back to the original of how game played.quit watching jeopard
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L
Jeopardy and gooooogle and other such demonstrations of virtuoso ignorance are examples of the whoredom that learning has become. Walking encyclopedias (or is it encyclopediae?) may be jerks or geniuses, but they are not learnèd. Of course, they may be learnèd as well. This confusion between wisdom and fact-collecting has had an ever increasing deleterious effect on Education. It’s a complex subject but one for the sake of Jeopardy addicts we may reducet to: Are you going to sell your soul to the mind or the brain? Visit the zoo.
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O
It is a competitive game. You are in it to win it. It is a fastpaced game. There is no time to compare scores!!
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P
Those complaining about this need to get a life. It is a competition and they may not have realized the score nevermind the fact that she put herself in the hole, this is on her
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D
You can’t think of angle except your own when on stage! Everyone has the same chance and it a matter of luck and knowledge!
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J
Obviously many contestants lack the intellectual acumen and situational awareness to make such assessments’in the moment.’
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C
It’s a game played to win not feel bad that your opponent is in the red!!! Seriously?
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B
Not school kids. Rules are rules. To many bad answers and u r out.
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N
She received the third place prize money. It wasn't as if she went home with nothing.
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G
Give me a break. This isn't kindergarten. It's a competition for money. The only speed is ahead full.
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O
The people who say let her win are the same people who want participation trophies
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P
Yep - participation trophies! Now all kids think they should get something for participating . They need to learn how to win and even more important how to lose.
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O
I wondered why Paul bet it all and left with nothing when he had no chance to win
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P
I believe everyone should play their best regardless of another player’s abilities. It’s a game; it’s not charity. If you want to be charitable, send money to your favorite charity. The horrible losses regarding the tragic losses of the unbelievable flooding in Central Texas is always a choice.
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G
I’m beginning to think the show is fixed. Especially against the female players logic dosent seem right that lately very few win and if they do only one win. Many time first half they do well second half fall apart.
1
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O
Nature of the beast Mag. . Or should we say beastess?
One sex thinks logically, the other emotionally.
The emotional thought process is slower. Oh well
But I don't ever think the show itself is ever biased
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P
The game was basically over and it would not have changed anything yo layoff the buzzer and met her have it .
That would have been the proper thing to do
1
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R
I think Jeopardy should limit the champions amt of wins. Have you ever looked at the challengers face's when they play against someone who controls the board 95% of the time? They are so down knowing there's no chance to win.
It used to be 5 games, now it's endless.
Consider a limit.
I've been a fan since Art Fleming
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G
Nope. They already tried it that was and didn't like it.
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