recaps
Today’s Final Jeopardy answer (in the category Bodies of Water) and a recap of the Friday, August 21, 2026 game between Ashley Chan, Cameron Berry, and Paolo Pasco.
Today's Final Jeopardy - Friday, August 21, 2026
Current Champion
Matthew Riggle, career statistics:
47 correct, 6 incorrect
1/1 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
41.23% in first on buzzer (47/114)
3/3 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $7,600)
1/2 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $21,300
To win:
3 games: 68.027%
4: 46.277%
5: 31.481%
6: 21.415%
7: 14.568%
Avg. streak: 4.128 games.
(Next game: September 14)
(Click Here for Methodology)
Upcoming Encore Presentations
August 21: S42 E104 (January 29, 2026)
August 22-23: S41 E142 (March 25, 2025)
August 24: S42 E106 (February 2, 2026)
August 25: S42 E107 (February 3, 2026)
August 26: S42 E108 (February 4, 2026)
August 27: S42 E109 (February 5, 2026)
August 28: S42 E110 (February 6, 2026)
August 29-30: S41 E143 (March 26, 2025)
August 31: S42 E111 (February 9, 2026)
September 1: S42 E112 (February 10, 2026)
September 2: S42 E113 (February 11, 2026)
September 3: S42 E114 (February 12, 2026)
September 4: S42 E115 (February 13, 2026)
September 5-6: S41 E144 (March 27, 2025)
September 7: S42 E116 (February 16, 2026)
(Source: Bell Fibe TV program guide)
All Time Winnings
All Time Jeopardy! Winnings, Regular Play Only:
1. Ken Jennings $2,520,700
2. James Holzhauer $2,462,216
3. Matt Amodio $1,518,601
4. Amy Schneider $1,382,800
5. Jamie Ding $882,605
6. Cris Pannullo $748,286
7. Mattea Roach $560,983
8. Jason Zuffranieri $532,496
9. Scott Riccardi $455,000
10. David Madden $430,400
11. Julia Collins $428,100
12. Matt Jackson $411,612
13. Austin Rogers $411,000
14. Ray Lalonde $386,400
15. Harrison Whitaker $373,999
16. Adriana Harmeyer $349,600
17. Caleb Groen $346,968
18. Adam Remsen $306,415
19. Ryan Long $299,400
20. Arthur Chu $297,200
All Time Jeopardy! Winnings, Including Tournaments (and Consolation Prizes):
1. Brad Rutter $4,968,436
2. Ken Jennings $4,372,700
3. James Holzhauer $3,614,216
4. Matt Amodio $1,964,601
5. Amy Schneider $1,864,800
6. Yogesh Raut $1,098,403
7. Mattea Roach $897,983
8. Jamie Ding $885,605
9. David Madden $785,733
10. Victoria Groce $773,801
11. Cris Pannullo $754,286
12. Roger Craig $706,200
13. Larissa Kelly $671,930
14. Matt Jackson $623,612
15. Jason Zuffranieri $549,496
16. Andrew He $534,365
17. Scott Riccardi $533,000
18. Jerome Vered $499,102
19. Julia Collins $495,767
20. Austin Rogers $493,000
21. Ben Ingram $449,201
22. Paolo Pasco $448,717
23. Adriana Harmeyer $446,600
24. Buzzy Cohen $441,603
25. Juveria Zaheer $441,000
Warning: This page contains spoilers for the August 21, 2026, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that today's game is an encore presentation of the game that originally aired on January 29, 2026.
Here's today's Final Jeopardy (in the category Bodies of Water) for Friday, August 21, 2026 (Season 42, Game 104):
This body of water with over 1/3 of the world's marine mammals, like the vaquita, has been called "the aquarium of the world"
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today's Jeopardy! contestants:
Andy's Pregame Thoughts:
Today sees the third and final semifinal of the 33rd Tournament of Champions; this game is between the seeded Paolo Pasco and quarterfinal winners Cameron Berry and Ashley Chan. Paolo does come in to this game as the favorite to advance to the finals and face Scott Riccardi and TJ Fisher, but as we've seen over the years, absolutely anything can happen. One thing that I do want to mention here: the selection of "which board appears on which day" is done completely at random and with no knowledge of who the contestants are. Thus, it is just a fortuitous coincidence for someone named Cameron Berry to face a category called "I'm your ____berry" in Double Jeopardy.
(Content continues below)
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Correct response: What is the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez)?
More Information About Final Jeopardy!:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2026 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
The Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez) is able to have such exceptional biodiversity because of its shape and location. Nearly 900 miles in length and extremely narrow, it is protected by the Baja Peninsula and mainland Mexico. Tidal mixing of the water also brings extremely nutrient-rich water to the surface, allowing for this extreme biodiversity. The nickname "The Aquarium of the World" was given to the area by Jacques Cousteau.
I like this clue as a "sometimes you just have to know things" clue for the Tournament of Champions.
Game Recap & Tonight's Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here's the Friday, August 21, 2026 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Scottish Geography Everywhere; A Biblical Bestiary; Phrases From Sports; Music Of The Spheres; From The Magazine.com; Somebody Call Me A Doctor!)Paolo found the Daily Double early and doubled up through it before either of his opponents had been correct yet, continuing to lead after 15 clues. At the interviews, the scores were Paolo $7,600 Cameron $2,800 Ashley $200.
Statistics at the first break (15 clues):
Paolo 9 correct 0 incorrectCameron 5 correct 1 incorrect
Ashley 1 correct 1 incorrect
Today's interviews:
Ashley was honored in her hometown with an Ashley Chan Day.Cameron is a Boston University alumni, but works for Boston College.
Paolo received citizenship in Slowjamastan.
Paolo picked up another handful of correct responses to keep his lead through 30 clues. On the opening board, Paolo ran Biblical Bestiary and went 3/5 in magazines, while Cameron went 4/5 in music and 3/5 in doctors.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Paolo 14 correct 1 incorrectCameron 10 correct 2 incorrect
Ashley 2 correct 1 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Paolo $9,200Cameron $4,200
Ashley $800
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: Vice Presidents; Self-Help Through The Ages; I'M Your ____Berry; Inventors & Inventions; Pacific Northwest Entertainment; "E" Before "I")Potentially spooked by what happened to Steven yesterday, Paolo didn't go all-in on DD2 when he found it, only for Cameron to find DD3, go all in, and get a correct response in just under the wire. This meant things were incredibly close entering today's 61st clue. On this second board, Paolo (ironically) went 3/5 in the berry category and 4/5 in "E Before I", while Cameron Berry ran the Pacific Northwest Entertainment category.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Paolo 24 correct 2 incorrectCameron 22 correct 2 incorrect
Ashley 3 correct 2 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 8 (0 today).
Scores going into Final:
Paolo $24,800Cameron $22,000
Ashley $400
Final Jeopardy was a Triple Stumper, which ordinarily would be advantage Cameron. But Paolo predicted that it might be a hard one, betting $0 and advances to the final as a result!
Tonight's results:
Ashley $400 - $400 = $0 (What is Lake Baikal?)Cameron $22,000 - $21,199 = $801 (What is the Mariana trench)
Paolo $24,800 - $0 = $24,800 (What a fun time! I dunno though sorry) (Finalist)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Daily Double locations:
1) PHRASES FROM SPORTS $800 (clue #4)Paolo 2400 +2400 (Cameron -800 Ashley 0)
2) "E" BEFORE "I" $1600 (clue #3)
Paolo 10400 +6000 (Cameron 5400 Ashley -400)
3) VICE PRESIDENTS $1200 (clue #5, $29600 left on board)
Cameron 6600 +6600 (Paolo 16400 Ashley -400)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 258
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Paolo 4 5 3 4*Cameron
Ashley
DJ! Round:
Paolo 4* 3Cameron 3 3*
Ashley 3
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Paolo 3.83Cameron 3.00
Ashley 3.00
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 8 (0.08 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Paolo $18,800 Coryat, 24 correct, 2 incorrect, 36.84% in first on buzzer (21/57), 3/3 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)Cameron $16,600 Coryat, 22 correct, 2 incorrect, 38.60% in first on buzzer (22/57), 0/1 on rebound attempts (on 4 rebound opportunities)
Ashley $400 Coryat, 3 correct, 2 incorrect, 8.77% in first on buzzer (5/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $35,800
Lach Trash: $13,000 (on 11 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $5,200
Lead Changes: 2
Times Tied: 0
Player Statistics:
Paolo Pasco, career statistics:
224 correct, 15 incorrect13/13 on rebound attempts (on 33 rebound opportunities)
39.57% in first on buzzer (203/513)
12/14 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $33,400)
6/9 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $20,089
Cameron Berry, career statistics:
164 correct, 28 incorrect9/14 on rebound attempts (on 35 rebound opportunities)
35.53% in first on buzzer (162/456)
5/7 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $18,000)
2/8 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $14,875
Ashley Chan, career statistics:
112 correct, 23 incorrect1/3 on rebound attempts (on 20 rebound opportunities)
29.57% in first on buzzer (118/399)
5/7 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $8,500)
2/7 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $10,571
Andy's Thoughts:
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Paolo $24,800 Cameron $22,000 Ashley $400)Paolo: Standard cover bet over Cameron is $19,201. If you do want to make a small bet, though, a better choice would be a bet between $2 and $2,799—the $2 is because a lot of trailers will bet just $2,801; in this scenario, the small bet forces Cameron to be correct to beat you. (Actual bet: $0)
Cameron: Your best chance of victory comes with a bet between $5,601 (in case Paolo bets small) and $16,399 (staying ahead of Paolo if he makes a cover bet). (Actual bet: $21,199)
Ashley: You're going to need two overbets to advance. Bet whatever you want. (Actual bet: $400)
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