Jeopardy! champion Caleb Groen broke the record for the highest payout of the season during his sixth game when he ended with $60,000. Did he score big again and win his seventh game, or did he crash and burn and end his streak?
Groen, from Thousand Oaks, California, came into the July 10 game with a total of $163,200. The law and policy student played against Kristal LeMaistre, from Round Rock, Texas, and Chris Bergman, from Cape Coral, Florida. Warning: Spoilers for the July 10 episode of Jeopardy! ahead!
Groen had the lead with $5,000 when LeMaistre, an internal communications supervisor, found the Daily Double on clue 15. She had $1,600 and wagered all of her money.
In “Historic Epithets,” the clue was, “William the Silent, a prince of this royal house, was a main leader of the 16th century Dutch revolt against Spanish rule.” The answer of “What is the House of Orange?” gave her $3,200.
By the end of the round, Groen had $6,600. LeMaistre was in second place with $4,000. Bergman, a novelist and volunteer mentor, had -$400.
In Double Jeopardy, Groen had $10,200 when he found the first DD on clue five. He wagered $7,000 in “Philosophy.” The clue was, “This last name of a German philosopher is a synonym for ‘pessimist’, though it contains the word ‘hope.’”
“Who is Schopenhauer?” he answered correctly. That gave the champion $17,200 and put him on track for a runaway win.
When he found the last DD on clue 21, Groen had $20,000. The champion wagered $5,000 in “Philosophy.” The clue read, “The oath one takes in this citizenship process for immigrants ends with the words ‘so help me God.’”
Groen thought about it for a second and answered, “What is naturalization?” That gave him $25,000. Bergman was in second place with $1,200.
Groen had $27,800 by the end of the round. Bergman had $2,800. LeMaistre was in third place with $800.
The Final Jeopardy category was “Tributes.” The clue read, “To her 1910 funeral, ‘the survivors of the Balaclava Light Brigade charge’ sent an arrangement ‘to our benefactress & friend.’” Only one of the game show contestants had the correct response.
LeMaistre answered, “Who is Queen Victoria?” She was wrong and wagered $0, leaving her with $800. Bergman’s response was “Who’s Clara Barton?” He was also incorrect. Bergman wagered $1,199, ending with $1,601.
Groen had the correct response of “Who is Nightingale?” He wagered $10,000, making his total $37,800. Groen’s seven-day total was $201,000. He will return on Monday for his eighth game.
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