On May 18. 2026, data scientist and ‘Jeopardy!’ contestant Tristan Williams won $30,000 after a tight Final Jeopardy! round; Competing against Amy Dewey and Thomas Trovato, Williams wagered $7,600 on a clue about Mohandas Gandhi and emerged victorious with a final score of $30,000. Dewey finished second with $4,400, while Trovato placed third with $1,217.

Williams’ Streak and Tournament of Champions Qualification

Williams’ win marked his 10th consecutive victory, earning him the title of ‘super champion.’ A 10-game winning streak guarantees a spot in the season-ending Tournament of Champions. With a total earnings of $221,902 since the streak began, Williams still trails long-time Jeopardy! record holder Jamie Ding, who won 31 games and earned $882,605 during his streak. Earlier in the season, Ding had won 31 games, and Harrison Whitaker had won 14 games, making the competition for the TOC intense.

On Tuesday’s episode, Williams faced Rose Sloan, a computer science professor, and Sunil Hebbar, a physician, before the final round. At the start of Final Jeopardy, Williams held a lead of $21,200 to Sloan’s $16,700, while Hebbar had only $800. The clue asked contestants to name a figure shunned by his religion in England, who later met Christians and began a ‘religious quest.’ Williams correctly answered ‘Who is Mohandas Gandhi?’ and wagered $12,201 to win the day’s top prize.

Future Episodes and Historical Context

Season 42 of ‘Jeopardy!’ continues with Williams returning as champion to face two new challengers. If he wins again, he will extend his streak and inch closer to the all-time winning record. Ken Jennings remains the most successful player in ‘Jeopardy!’ history with 74 wins and $2,520,700 in total earnings. Other top all-time earners include Amy Schneider ($1,382,800 in 40 wins) and James Holzhauer ($2,462,216 in 32 wins).

The show, which first aired in 1964 and ran until 1975 before returning in 1978 and 1979, officially resumed in 1984. It was not until September 2003 that the five-game win limit was lifted, allowing players like Williams to build longer winning streaks. ‘Jeopardy!’ remains a cultural institution, with its format and trivia questions drawing in audiences of all ages.