‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Gets Second Chance After Losing $86,000
A Wheel of Fortune contestant lost out on taking home $86,000 in the Bonus Round after playing a great game. But she got a second chance to redeem herself.
Summer Moore, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, solved one Fortune Frenzy on October 15. The barber played against Grant Kafka, from Monona, Wisconsin, and Arthur Barnum, from Spring, Texas. Kafka, a high school basketball referee, solved two.
Kafka was “On Fire” during the first puzzle and put $11,250 in his bank after solving “Cheering Fans.” The Buck fan had a total of $13,250.
Moore took the lead with $22,085 when she solved “Coming in Through the Clutch.” The Thunder fan had picked up the trip to Orlando to attend an Orlando Magic game, as well as the Mystery Wedge with $10,000.
She won a trip to Spain when she solved “Peaceful Oasis.” The solve put $36,785 in her bank.
Kafka won $4,000 when he solved two of the Triple Toss-ups. Barnum, a married father of two who is also a Rockets fan, solved the third, putting him on the board with $2,000.
On the final puzzle in “Body Temperature,” Kafka guessed a “T,” in which there were three, and he quickly solved “Too Hot to Handle.” He ended with $22,350. Barnum went home with $2,000.
Moore was the night’s winner with $36,785. She advanced to the Bonus Round, where she chose “What Are You Doing?”
She brought her wife, Charisma, with her to cheer her on, since her mom passed away two years ago and couldn’t be there. Wheel of Fortune gave the game show contestant “R,S,T,L,N, and E.” Moore chose “G,M,H, and A.” This made the puzzle look like “_RA_T_ _ _NG _ _ _L_N.”
Moore didn’t guess anything before the time ran out. “Where do you even start?” host Ryan Seacrest asked.
The puzzle was revealed to be “Practicing Violin.” There was $50,000 in the envelope, which would have given her $86,785. However, despite losing, she will return on Friday for the championship round.
Along with Summer, Mike Gonzalez, who won $70,850, and Kerri Druckmiller, who won $56,998, will advance to Friday’s game. The three of them will face off against three NBA legends for the chance to win a VIP NBA kickoff experience.
Wheel of Fortune, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock
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