‘Jeopardy!’ Champion Makes a Surprising $0 Wager on Boozy Final Jeopardy Clue

Will Goree had already secured a strong lead heading into Final Jeopardy, but his decision to risk absolutely nothing on the last clue raised eyebrows. Even after giving the wrong answer to a question about a famous liquor brand, the Austin, Texas, teacher held on to his winnings and claimed a second consecutive victory.

Goree returned for his second game on Wednesday, November 11, with $28,600 in previous winnings. He faced two new challengers: attorney Ethan Amaker, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and editor Molly Gendell, from Brooklyn, New York.

Goree Stumbles Early but Recovers

Goree initially appeared to be in control, holding an $800 lead when he uncovered the first Daily Double on the third clue. He wagered $1,000 in the category “Almost Done Reading the Novel.”

The clue featured a passage from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: “‘I see the lives for which I lay down my life, peaceful, useful, prosperous & happy, in that England, which I shall see no more.’”

Goree guessed The Good Soldier, but the correct response was A Tale of Two Cities. The incorrect answer dropped him to -$200. Two more missed novel clues pushed him further into the red, leaving him at -$1,200 and in third place.

However, the returning champion managed to turn things around before the round ended. He recovered to $5,400 during the first 15 clues and ultimately finished with $4,800.

Gendell ended the round in second place with $2,400, while Amaker remained at -$200.

Gendell Takes the Lead With Two Daily Doubles

Amaker got his score moving in Double Jeopardy after correctly answering the opening clue. Gendell then found the first Daily Double on clue nine, with $3,600 in her bank.

She decided to make it a true Daily Double in the category “Words You Don’t Hear So Much.”

The clue described a four-letter covering sometimes found on a newborn’s head and referenced David Copperfield, who was born with one — a possible inspiration for the name of Charles Dickens’ fictional character Holden.

Gendell correctly responded, “What is a caul?” Her score jumped to $7,200, putting her close behind Goree, who had $7,600.

She found the round’s second Daily Double on the very next clue, this time in “Singer’s Memoirs.” With $7,200, she wagered $3,000.

The clue referred to a 2023 memoir titled “My name is…” that runs to just under 1,000 pages, or 48 hours in its audiobook edition.

“Who is Barbra Streisand?” Gendell answered correctly, taking the lead with $10,200.

But Goree was far from finished. He went on a strong run through the remaining clues and reclaimed first place by the end of Double Jeopardy, finishing with $15,600. Gendell had $9,000, while Amaker stood at $2,200.

The Final Jeopardy Wager That Raised Eyebrows

The final category was “Liquor Brands,” with a clue about a facility in Cataño whose garden attracts the nocturnal pollinators associated with its liquor brand.

Only Amaker came up with the correct response: “What is Bacardi?” He wagered $2,199, bringing his final score to $4,399.

Gendell went with “What is Patron?” Her $6,601 wager reduced her total to $2,399.

Goree also missed the clue, responding with “What is Don Julio?” But unlike his competitors, he chose not to risk any of his $15,600. With a wager of zero, he finished with exactly the same amount he had before Final Jeopardy.

The decision was particularly notable because Goree had also wagered nothing on the final clue in his previous game — despite answering that question correctly.

The clue’s reference to nocturnal pollinators pointed to bats, which are associated with Bacardi’s logo and help pollinate the sugarcane used to make rum. The brand’s gardens in Cataño are also known for attracting bats.

Goree’s conservative wager paid off in the standings, even though his response was incorrect. He became a two-day champion with total winnings of $44,200 and is set to return Thursday for his third game.

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