Featured J!Buzz

Isaac Hirsch is officially a five-game Jeopardy! champion with a total of $120,187 in winnings.
 
Isaac, a customer support team manager from Burbank, California, notched his fifth victory on Tuesday after going head-to-head against Anna Paone and Kathy Davis. 
 
After picking up two Daily Doubles and responding correctly in Final Jeopardy!, Isaac won Tuesday’s game with a score of $19,601. Anna finished in second place with a score of $8,599, and Kathy took third place with a score of $3,800.
 
“The goal coming in was to win one or two games and not embarrass myself,” Isaac said of winning five games in a row. “So, this was surprising and welcomed.”
 
With his fifth win, Isaac has qualified for the next Tournament of Champions where he will face off against Season 40 champions Drew Basile, Adriana Harmeyer, Amy Hummel, and Alison Betts. 
 
“They all seem really good,” Isaac said of his fellow ToC competitors. “You know, you watch people on TV go on big streaks, and you’re like, ‘Wow, I could never do that.’ And somehow, I’ve done it.”
 
As a child, Isaac said he would watch Jeopardy! and always dreamed of competing on the show.
 
“Jeopardy! has always been the goal in like all of my trivia pursuits,” Isaac said. So, this has been a wonderful experience.”
 
During his first game, the five-game champion revealed his love for Jeopardy! runs in his family. 
 
“My dad was on Jeopardy! in the ’80s, one of the first years Alex hosted, and he lost,” Isaac said. “I used to tease him about it as a kid.”
 
As he goes for his sixth win on Wednesday, Isaac said his strategy is to have fun and not take himself too seriously. 
 
“I think you can get in your own head a lot,” Isaac said. “So, I’m trying to be like a loose quiz-playing automaton.”
 
“And if I mess up, which I have … so what, it comes with the territory.”