The June 10, Thursday episode of Jeopardy! was a pressure cooker, and reigning champ Scott Riccardi, with $144,902 already banked, looked shakier than ever. He hit all three Daily Doubles but missed every single one. Thankfully, the champ did just enough to survive.
First, he guessed “Crow” instead of “Blackfeet” in the Montana category. Then he said “ulna” instead of “humerus” in a human body clue. Finally, he guessed “professorial” when “erudite” was the Latin-based answer. Three misfires cost him thousands, and for the first time in his six-game run, he wasn’t in the lead going into Final Jeopardy! His challengers, Jolynda Chenicek and Austin Hobbs, weren’t just there to fill the podiums either. Chenicek surged with a perfectly timed buzz on “Abrams” in a U.S. Army clue and took the lead late in Double Jeopardy. Hobbs kept things lively with an original Jeopardy! poem during the contestant interview, but also held his own on the board. The scores going into Final Jeopardy? Chenicek: $7,800. Riccardi: $6,400. Hobbs: $2,200. Riccardi was vulnerable — and fans knew it.
Then came the wild card: a pop-culture clue under “Chart Toppers.” All three missed. Hobbs guessed Bruno Mars. Riccardi guessed Jelly Roll. Chenicek guessed The Weeknd. The correct answer, however, was Lil Nas X, real name Montero Lamar Hill — named after the Mitsubishi Montero. But Chenicek’s bold $5,001 wager tanked her score to $2,799. Riccardi only wagered $1,401 — just enough to leap back into first place with $4,999 and keep his streak alive. It was pure chaos, and the closest call of Riccardi’s entire run.
What’s Next for Riccardi — And Why the Streak Could End Soon
Scott Riccardi is now a six-day Jeopardy! champion with $149,901 and has officially secured his spot in the Tournament of Champions. But Thursday’s game exposed major vulnerabilities, especially his discomfort with pop culture and anatomy categories, and an obvious hesitation under pressure. If a challenger can combine buzzer speed with even moderate board control, Riccardi’s margin for error will vanish. His opponents now know he’s beatable.
The next game is crucial. Riccardi can’t afford another zero on Daily Doubles or a shaky Final Jeopardy! guess, especially if another player builds momentum early. The table is reset now — his intimidation factor is gone, and future challengers will come in ready to take big swings. Thursday’s survival felt more like a lucky escape than a strategic win.
Fans will be watching closely to see whether Riccardi recalibrates and returns to his earlier aggressive form. Or will the next confident newcomer finally shut the door? After this close call, one thing’s certain — every move he makes from here on out will be under a magnifying glass.
Jeopardy! airs new episodes on Wednesdays at 9/8c on CBS, and you can also stream it on Paramount Plus.
