Featured J!Buzz

Rowan Ward has claimed the final spot in the upcoming Tournament of Champions after winning week 2 of the Jeopardy! Second Chance competition on Friday.

“I’m so excited,” Rowan said. “This is a dream come true.”

Rowan, a chart caller, writer and editor from Chicago proved victorious over Jack Weller, a law student from San Diego, and Sadie Goldberger, an interpreter from Columbia, Maryland.

Rowan won their semifinal game in a runaway and had a substantial lead after the first game of the two-day finals. Friday’s game came down to Final Jeopardy!: All three contestants were unable to provide the correct response, which allowed Rowan to win the competition with a total score of $37,999.

“Jack was matching my buzzer mojo,” Rowan said, discussing game 2 of the finals. “I knew I was in a tough match – and I knew that if I got it wrong and Jack got it right – then Jack would be going to the ToC.”

“Once I saw that he didn’t say DALL-E and was saying Picasso just like us, it started to percolate through my brain…I think I just did this,” they continued.

During their initial appearance, Rowan came close to beating 38-game super-champion Matt Amodio. 

“Once I lost my game in the last episode of Season 37, [I thought], this was fun [and] at least I gave a G.O.A.T. a game,” they said.  “I could go home with my head held high.” 

Now, Rowan said they are looking forward to potentially giving “Amodio a game again” in the Tournament of Champions, which kicks off Monday, Oct. 31.