Victoria Groce, a former two-time Jeopardy! contestant and current “The Chase” brain, won the Jeopardy! Masters tournament on Wednesday, defeating James Holzhauer and Yogesh Raut. Groce dominated the second half of the two-game final, building a substantial lead going into Final Jeopardy!
Groce’s victory was all but guaranteed after correctly answering a Daily Double, significantly extending her lead over Holzhauer and Raut. Her strategic gameplay and consistently strong performance throughout the tournament resulted in a decisive win. Entering Final Jeopardy!, Groce held a commanding lead with 34,000 points, compared to Holzhauer’s 8,800 and Raut’s 15,799.
The Final Jeopardy! clue, in the category of American Women, asked contestants to identify the woman about whom The New York Times wrote in 1951: “Though she was forgotten at the time, part of her remained alive.” Groce correctly answered Henrietta Lacks, wagering nothing and cementing her victory.
Groce’s win earned her the prestigious Jeopardy! Masters title and a $500,000 grand prize. The victory was particularly sweet for Groce, who entered the tournament with modest expectations. Her previous Jeopardy! experience consisted of only two appearances in 2005. Since then, she has competed in quizzing competitions worldwide and joined ABC’s “The Chase” as a resident expert.
Before the tournament, Groce concentrated on improving her word puzzle skills, addressing a weakness from a previous tournament. She attributes her ability to remain focused under pressure and make strategic decisions as key factors in her success. She also acknowledged James Holzhauer as a formidable opponent, given his previous Jeopardy! Masters win and their shared experience on “The Chase.”
Groce plans to celebrate her win with a family trip to Lisbon and a solo retreat at a wine-themed spa hotel in Portugal. She also intends to use some of her winnings to renovate her kitchen, a passion project for the self-described “devoted hobby chef.” The win represents a life-changing moment for Groce, providing financial security and validating her quizzing expertise.