‘Jeopardy!’ 2026 Tournament of Champions Semi-Final Matchups Revealed

The 2026 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions is underway, kicking off on January 19th with a field of twenty contestants vying for the title. Hosted once again by Ken Jennings, the tournament will culminate in a final showdown where the first player to win three games will be crowned champion and advance to Jeopardy! Masters.

A Unique Path to the Finals

This year’s competition features a tiered structure. Scott Riccardi, Laura Faddah, and Paolo Pasco have earned direct entry into the semi-finals. The six winners emerging from the current quarterfinals will then join them in three semi-final games. The ultimate victor of those games will then face the semi-final winners in the championship round.

Did You Know? Scott Riccardi, a contestant from Somerville, New Jersey, entered the Tournament of Champions as a 16-game super-champion.

Harrison Whitaker’s Tournament Future

Despite a highly successful run as the current season’s super-champ, Harrison Whitaker will not participate in the 2026 Tournament of Champions. His impressive streak of 14 wins across 15 games, concluding on December 1st, occurred too late in the eligibility period. However, Whitaker has secured the first seed in the 2027 Tournament of Champions, having earned $375,999 during his run.

A Diverse Field of Competitors

The Tournament of Champions draws its contestants from a variety of backgrounds. The field includes players who demonstrated consistent success during the qualifying period, as well as the winners of the Champions Wildcard competition and Celebrity Jeopardy!. This year’s contestants hail from across the United States and Canada.

Expert Insight: The inclusion of both regular play champions and Celebrity Jeopardy! winners demonstrates a deliberate effort to broaden the appeal and competitive landscape of the Tournament of Champions, potentially attracting a wider audience.

Quarterfinal and Semifinal Matchups

The quarterfinals are structured as follows:

January 19— Starnes, Devlin, and Levine
January 20 — Hayes, Liaw, and Kuney
January 21 — Wargin, Berry, and Ganger
January 22 — Chan, Bell, and DeFrank
January 23 — Olson, Weikert, and Massie
January 26 — Walter, Dawson, and Fisher

The semifinal matchups will be:

January 27 — Riccardi, Kuney, and Devlin
January 28 — Faddah, Olson, and Fisher
January 29 — Pasco, Berry, and Chan

An exhibition game featuring Riccardi, Faddah, and Pasco is scheduled for January 30th.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the 2026 Tournament of Champions begin?

The Tournament of Champions kicked off on January 19.

Who is hosting the 2026 Tournament of Champions?

Ken Jennings is hosting the Tournament of Champions.

How does a contestant win the Tournament of Champions?

The first player to achieve three wins in the final round will be crowned champion.

Which contestant’s strategic gameplay are you most anticipating as the Tournament of Champions progresses?

‘Jeopardy!’ 2026 Tournament of Champions Semi-Final Matchups Revealed | Entertainment News