Jeopardy! viewers have a brand new favourite participant in Liam Starnes, and the 20-year-old trivia sensation exhibits no indicators of slowing down after profitable his fifth straight recreation on Thursday (April 24) and securing a spot within the subsequent Match of Champions.
Starnes, an undergraduate scholar from Barrington, Illinois, secured his fifth victory on Thursday, bringing his complete earnings up to now to $103,002 and guaranteeing a spot within the TOC. However followers had change into obsessive about Starnes even earlier than his monumental fifth win on account of his spectacular trivia data and uncanny resemblance to Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons).
Funnily sufficient, there was a Huge Bang Idea-related query on Thursday’s episode, although Starnes didn’t buzz in. Regardless of his big selection of data, popular culture seems to be the faculty scholar’s weak spot.
The 20-year-old contestant, who some followers have dubbed “Child Shark” for his lethal gameplay, is regarded as the youngest common Jeopardy! champion in historical past (not counting teen/school tournaments). He’s even youthful than Brad Rutter, who was 22during his five-game streak in 2000, and Mattea Roach, 23 throughout their 23-game streak in 2022.
DON’T👏SAY👏YOU’RE👏A👏JEOPARDY!👏FAN👏IF👏YOU👏DON’T👏KNOW👏WHO👏THIS👏GUY👏IS👏 pic.twitter.com/hw4G25SDEz
— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) April 25, 2025
Starnes has additionally surpassed Rutter’s five-day complete; Rutter ended his five-day run with $55,102 in winnings, whereas Starnes has nearly doubled that with $103,002. Again in Rutter’s day, there was a five-appearance restrict, which means he needed to step down after his fifth win. Starnes, nevertheless, will proceed to return to the Alex Trebek Stage till he’s defeated.
Even host Ken Jennings, who was in the midst of his personal record-breaking run on the present when Starnes was born, has appeared awe-struck by the younger champion. He’s additionally loved having enjoyable with him, like when Starnes accurately answered a Jack Daniels’ query on Thursday’s recreation, to which Jennings quipped, “Not that you’d know!”
Followers can’t get sufficient of Starnes and have taken to social media to share their reactions to his glorious run on the present.
“I simply assume he’s a very nice child I simply hold rooting for him!” wrote one fan on the Jeopardy! Reddit discussion board.
“Doing so properly whereas understanding no popular culture in anyway is admirable, he’s superior and I like watching him,” stated one other.
One other quipped, “I do know he’s 20, however he appears to be like so younger I simply think about his mother combing his hair earlier than every recreation.”
“I can’t imagine he didn’t get the Sheldon Cooper query. He’s his doppelgänger! I’m additionally rooting for him!” one commenter wrote.
“I’d go to warfare for him,” joked one other.
“He’s my favourite Jeopardy contestant ever,” stated one person.
A Fb commenter added, “I’m a Liam Starnes fan! He’s good and a terrific contestant. He’s in ToC now and I hope he has a future!”
“Liam is so enjoyable to observe. Rooting for him!!” stated one X person.
“The younger man has been spectacular,” wrote one other.
“Go Liam! He’s charming..and sensible!!” one other added.
“Liam replaces Ken when Ken retires. You heard it right here first,” stated one other, suggesting Starnes has a future as Jeopardy! host.
What do you consider Starnes’ efficiency up to now? Are you rooting for him? Tell us your ideas under.