A Rhode Island 'Jeopardy!' cluster: Matt Harvey returning to the 'Jeopardy!' stage Jan. 4

It was a dream come true, and he thought he played well, but if Providence resident Matt Harvey was being honest, he felt a tinge of disappointment when his time on "Jeopardy!" came to an end after one game in November 2022.

It wasn't just that he came in second. Cris Pannullo was on a 16-game run that ended up being a 21-day streak, and you really can't be too hard on yourself when losing to a guy like that.

It was more that this was his time being on "Jeopardy!," and now, that was over.

"It was really disappointing that I wouldn't get to be on 'Jeopardy!' again. You know, we get there and there's one shot. That's it," Harvey said. "It was really fun. It was a cool experience. I'm really proud of how I did, but like, now that's over."

And that was true, until months after his game, "Jeopardy!" announced a Second Chance Tournament for "players "who didn’t become 'Jeopardy!' champions in their initial appearances last season, but whose performances convinced the 'Jeopardy!' producers that they have what it takes to win on the Alex Trebek Stage if given a second chance to compete," according to a news release announcing the tournament.

Players like Harvey, who will be back on "Jeopardy!" on Jan. 4.

"When I got the text message from Jeopardy! asking me to come back, it almost didn't quite feel real," Harvey said. "This Second Chance Tournament that they do is such a great idea, I think, for people exactly in my position."

Who is Matt Harvey on 'Jeopardy!'?

Harvey moved to Rhode Island more than 30 years ago to attend Brown University and never left. He works in administration at Integra Community Care Network, a division of Care New England Health System, is married and has twin 15-year-olds.

"Sometimes, (the twins) watch 'Jeopardy!' with me, but now they are sort of too cool to sit and watch," he said.

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When he competed in 2022, he answered more questions correctly than the winner heading into final Jeopardy!, with 23 right and 5 wrong, compared to Pannullo's 22 right and 5 wrong. But he was still behind on points and then missed the final "Jeopardy!" question for a second-place finish.

For the second time, a 'Rhode Island cluster'

The strangest thing about Harvey's "Jeopardy!" appearances is that this is the second time he has been part of what he dubbed a Rhode Island cluster, with two Rhode Island contestants competing in the same week and a Rhode Island question.

The first time he played, North Smithfield resident Meghan Mello also played, and there was a question asking the contestants to identify "The Renaissance City" and "PVD" that no one got. (What is Providence?)

This time, he and Pawtucket resident Sharon Bishop played on Tuesday night and there was another Rhode Island-themed question.

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"What are the chances, given the size of our little state, that there are two of us?" Harvey said. "I guess I bring clusters around. I'm a Rhode Island 'Jeopardy cluster' creator."

How to watch Matt Harvey on Jeopardy!

Harvey will be on "Jeopardy!" on Thursday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. on WPRI Channel 12. If he wins, he will advance to the next game in the Second Chance Tournament.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 'Jeopardy!' brings back RI's Matt Harvey in Second Chance Tournament