New Jeopardy! Champ Rhone Talsma on Beating Amy Schneider: 'I Did Not Expect' to 'Slay the Giant'

Michael Ausiello
·1 min read
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Jeopardy!‘s new champ is just as surprised as the rest of us.

Rhone Talsma, who will go down in game show history as the contestant who ended Amy Schneider’s staggering 40-day winning streak, says his victory has left him “in shock,” adding, “This is my favorite show. I was so excited to be here and I just wanted to do my best. I did not expect to be facing a 40-day champion, and I was excited to maybe see someone else slay the giant. I just really didn’t think it was going to be me, so I’m thrilled.”

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As we reported, Talsma — a librarian from Chicago — finished in first place in Wednesday’s episode with $29,600 (to Schneider’s $19,600). His path to the winners’ circle was foreshadowed after he nailed a key Daily Double clue late in the Double Jeopardy! round, which kept the game competitive heading into Final Jeopardy! (where Schneider led Talsma $27,600 had $17,600).

The Final Jeopardy! category was “Countries in the World” and the clue read: “The only nation in the world whose name in English ends with an H, it’s also one of the 10 most populous.” The correct response: “What is Bangladesh?”

Talsma responded correctly; Schneider left her response card blank.

In addition to holding the No. 2 spot on the all-time consecutive wins list behind only current host Ken Jennings (74 wins), Schneider ranks in fourth place on the all-time regular season cash winnings list behind Matt Amodio ($1,518,601), James Holzhauer ($2,462,216), and Jennings ($2,520,700).

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