When Jeopardy! Masters returns to the 2025 TV schedule, there might be two dangerous guys amongst the six contestants. James Holzhauer, after all, has lengthy self-identified because the recreation present villain, not solely on Jeopardy! however The Chase as properly, and now he’s obtained some competitors in that enviornment. Matt Amodio, one other of Jeopardy!’s largest winners, superior to Masters after successful the JIT, and his takeaway from match season is precisely what I like to listen to.
In a dominant efficiency within the Jeopardy! Invitational Match (and irrespective of how a lot you hate listening to Ken Jennings say, “JIT,” it appears the acronym is right here to remain), Matt Amodio swept the finals by beating opponents Roger Craig and Juveria Zaheer twice in a row. That’s most likely probably the most villainous factor he’s completed since deciding to check out the persona of an enormous dangerous, and from what he advised the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, he’s attempting to take his information to even scarier heights:
With a full-time job, it does must take a little bit of a back-burner, however it can by no means be additional again from that, as a result of it’s simply enjoyable. I’m obsessive about studying and information, so it’s only a pleasure to have further purpose to do that.
It ought to be really scary for the opposite Jeopardy! Masters contestants that somebody who’s seen as a lot success as Matt Amodio continues to have such an obsession for information, however that’s precisely what I wished to listen to. Amodio most likely doesn’t want to brush up on his trivia, and with a full-time job, he’s obtained loads of excuses to not.
Nonetheless, he’s not resting on his laurels as he prepares for a rematch in opposition to final 12 months’s Masters prime 3 — Victoria Groce, James Holzhauer and Yogesh Raut — in addition to Match of Champions winner Neilesh Vinjamuri and a yet-to-be-decided producer choose. In truth, if something, Matt Amodio is hitting the books even tougher, as he mentioned:
I believe I am largely doing the identical issues as at all times, however with the caveat that now I do know I am in match life for the remainder of my Jeopardy life. I do know I can elevate the obscurity degree on the trivia one degree greater, as a result of after I come on this stage, issues that will have appeared too obscure for the common Jeopardy, or in Masters or in JIT, that’s bottom-row materials, so I hold the attention out for a harder degree.
Not solely is Matt Amodio persevering with to quench his thirst for information — he is aware of he’ll probably be a daily on postseason Jeopardy!, the place the clues get tougher, so he’s actually diving deep into topics (and sure taking in some Pop Tradition Jeopardy! along with his Amazon Prime Video subscription to brush up on these classes).
Matt Amodio has secured his place within the report books of one of many finest recreation exhibits of all time, at the moment rating fourth general for highest earnings ever with over $1.8 million popping out of the Jeopardy! Invitational Match. He’s additionally third in most consecutive video games gained with 38, falling behind solely Ken Jennings (who thinks his 74-game streak could be damaged) and Amy Schneider (40).
He’s obtained nothing to show to Jeopardy! followers, and but he’s persevering with to point out up — not simply to alternate some barbs with a fellow recreation present villain however to truly current himself as a risk to James Holzhauer and defending champion Victoria Groce.
We’ll be maintaining an eye fixed out for that Jeopardy! Masters premiere date, however within the meantime, verify your native listings for normal episodes airing in syndication.