Scott Riccardi, originally from Somerville, New Jersey, powered to a dominant win in the first semifinal of the 2026 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions on January 27, finishing with a runaway $41,200 to secure his spot in the finals. Riccardi’s performance featured back-to-back Daily Double finds and a cautious yet confident Final Jeopardy wager that sealed his victory.

In the high-stakes semifinal matchup, Riccardi faced 3-time champion Tom Devlin, an attorney from Washington, D.C., and 4-time champion Allegra Kuney, a Ph.D. candidate from New Brunswick, New Jersey. The game experienced a brief restart due to a buzzer malfunction but resumed without issue. Riccardi seized control during Double Jeopardy, correctly answering both Daily Doubles for a combined $21,400 gain, giving him a commanding lead heading into Final Jeopardy.

The Final Jeopardy category was European History, with the clue: "Writing from prison to her pere in 1793, she quoted the dramatist Corneille, 'Crime makes the shame, and not the scaffold.'" All three contestants incorrectly responded “Who is Marie Antoinette?” The correct answer was Charlotte Corday. Riccardi, with his lead locked in, wagered $0 and finished with $41,200. Devlin also wagered $0, ending with $19,000, while Kuney wagered $6,700 and finished with $900.

The result left Riccardi with a decisive runaway victory, making him the first finalist in the 2026 Tournament of Champions. The finals, beginning in early February, will determine who first reaches three wins to claim the $250,000 grand prize and an invitation to Jeopardy! Masters. Riccardi’s combination of precise buzzing, strategic wagering, and calm under pressure drew praise from fans and reinforced his status as one of the tournament’s standout players.