'fantastic': Super Champion Jamie Ding Finishes His Winning Run On 'jeopardy'

Jamie Ding’s “Jeopardy!” winning streak came to a adjacent Monday night, ending nan fifth-longest triumph streak successful show history. But astatine slightest he sewage to opportunity goodbye.

His cheeky Final Jeopardy reply publication “TTFN” — “ta-ta for now” — arsenic he understood location was nary measurement to travel backmost from a astir 14,000-point shortage to support his streak going. The polite adieu was apropos for a subordinate immoderate fans considered nan show’s nicest ever.

“I wouldn’t person done that,” Ding told People, “if location had moreover been a chance of maine coming retired pinch nan victory.” He couldn’t retrieve different clip a “Jeopardy!” ace champion, i.e. a contestant who has racked up 5 aliases much consecutive wins, had mislaid that big.

His nonaccomplishment came aft 31 victories, 1 crippled awkward of James Holzhauer’s 32-game streak successful 2019. Current big Ken Jennings holds nan record, having clocked 74 games successful a statement successful 2004. Ding mislaid to world chess maestro Greg Shahade.

Ding didn’t travel adjacent to Holzhauer’s prize haul of almost $2.5 million, unfortunately, amassing only $882,605 complete his six-week streak. Yeah, “only.” The quality came because, arsenic nan New York Times noted, nan 33-year-old bureaucrat-slash-law student didn’t spell all-in wagering connected Daily Doubles for illustration Holzhauer had.

But Holzhauer didn’t stone an orangish wardrobe pinch Ding’s level of committedness to his favourite color. The second told NYT he mightiness request to shop for much orangish garb arsenic he preps for nan “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions.

“I person a estimation to uphold,” he said.

And judge he’s bummed to beryllium done, he told People, but he’s besides happy his streak happened astatine all.

“I kept proceeding really it was bringing group together, and I emotion that very much,” Ding told nan personage news outlet. “I’ve heard group say, ‘It’s bully to person thing affirmative connected TV!’”

That said, watching himself connected TV hasn’t been an wholly bully experience. First off, he told NYT, “I tin beryllium beautiful self-critical — like, Why did you do that? Or, What’s incorrect pinch your face?”

Then location was nan hostility astir whether he would support winning, for illustration during nan section wherever he won for nan 30th time.

“I mean, I was tense watching it,” he told “Good Morning America” connected Friday, “and I knew nan outcome.” That game, he said, was “fantastic,” arsenic was nan full experience.

“Nobody goes successful readying to triumph 30 games,” Ding said connected “GMA.” “Only a complete egomaniac would do that. I mean, I thought, like, I entertained nan possibility. It’s bully to dream large but that it’s really happened is, it’s amazing.”