’99 to Beat’ Fans Upset After Oldest Contestant Ever Goes Home

Brittany Sims October 1, 2026, 2:07 pm

"99 to Beat" contestant Paul on Season 2

99 to Beat had the oldest contestant ever on the game show this season —Paul, who is 81 years old. He went home on the most recent episode, and fans and fellow contestants were upset about it.

The final game of the Wednesday, September 30 episode had contestants trying to bounce a small basketball into a hoop that was tied around their waist and sitting on their backs. All they had to do was bounce it and get it in the net. The game came down to Paul and contestant Quen.

The ones who had already made it through were cheering them on and giving them tips on how to get the balls in the hoops. In the end, Quen got hers in her hoop before Paul did, and he was eliminated. This put him in 70th place.

When host Erin Andrews came down to talk to him, he said, “I may not have won, but I beat out 30 other people.”

“That’s right!” she said. From there, the other contestants all came down to give Paul a hug. Susan Noles from The Golden Bachelor was the most upset, as the two had formed a special bond on the show, being the older contestants. She gave him a big hug and wiped away tears.

He told her that everyone told him that they loved him, that he did a good job, and that they were proud of him. “I want to be an inspiration for people my age to show they can do anything they set their minds to,” Paul said. Andrews told him that he was an inspiration for all ages.

Fans expressed their dismay online about Paul, who everyone was rooting for, leaving.

Oh No! Sad to see Paul going Home he was Pretty Spry for a Man in his Eighties! Legend. 👴🏋️👏 #99ToBeat #99ToBeatFOX pic.twitter.com/oNRE4wGUJx

— Aron (@withonea) October 1, 2026

PAUL! I’M CRYING!!! Love that @ErinAndrews did a post-game sideline interview with him! 😭❤️ #99tobeat #99toBeatFOX

— Kristin (@itskristind) October 1, 2026