‘Jeopardy!’ fans confused by two odd final wagers
Steve Clarke extended his win streak on Jeopardy!, Tuesday, but only after some very unexpected wagers were made during Final Jeopardy!. Heading into the final round with $20,000, Steve had exactly twice as much money as the second place contestant Ben Coller. Ben created a kerfuffle on Twitter after he wagered only $3,000 and correctly answered the clue.
Viewers were baffled by the conservative wager, as one person tweeted, “Struggling to understand Ben's Final Jeopardy wager. Betting $3,000 serves no purpose for him. Could've won the game if he'd bet it all.”
Indeed he could have won the game, as Steve had made a losing bid of $1 which fans also didn’t understand. One viewer tweeted, “I think we can all agree the 2nd place player not betting 10k in Jeopardy! was a terrible wager, but what about 1st place betting anything other than $0 … guaranteed 1st place tie and he risks it for $1 more in winnings at most. Terrible wagers on both sides.”
Perhaps Steve was just hoping to avoid a potential tie? He admitted earlier in the show he’s non-confrontational.
“We noticed that a stranger had just come into our backyard and was hitting golf balls around, and I'm so glad that my wife was at home, because she went out and told him to leave,” Steve said. “If she hadn't been there, I probably would have wound up offering him a glass of lemonade or something.”
Video Transcript
- Did you come up with Phobos and Deimos? No. What are Sagittarius? How much did you wager? $1. That leaves you with $19,999. Congratulations.
KYLIE MAR: Steve Clarke extended his win streak on "Jeopardy" Tuesday, but only after some very unexpected wagers were made during Final Jeopardy. Heading into the final round, Steve had exactly twice as much money as the second-place contestant who created a kerfuffle with his wager.
- Ben Coller, what did you write down? What are Phobos and Deimos? That is correct. And how much are we going to add to your score? $3,000. That gives you 13,000.
KYLIE MAR: Viewers we're baffled by the conservative wager as one person tweeted, "Struggling to understand Ben's Final "Jeopardy" wager, betting 3,000 serves no purpose for him. Could have won the game if he'd bet it all." Indeed. He could have won the game.
As Steve had made a bid of only $1, which fans also didn't understand. One viewer tweeted, "I think we can all agree the second place player not betting 10,000 in "Jeopardy" was a terrible wager. But what about first place betting anything other than $0?
Guaranteed first place tie, and he risks it for $1 more in winnings at most. Terrible wagers on both sides" But while fans thought the wages were insane in the--
- Steve.
STEVE CLARKE: What is membrane?
- Yes.
KYLIE MAR: Perhaps, Steve was just hoping to avoid a potential tie because he admitted earlier in the show, he's non-confrontational.
STEVE CLARKE: A stranger had just come into our backyard and was hitting golf balls around, and I'm so glad that my wife was at home because she went out and told him to leave. If she hadn't been there, I probably would have wound up offering him a glass of lemonade or something. [CROWD LAUGHS]
