Puzzle writer Paolo Pasco from San Diego, California, dominated an exhibition game in the 2026 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions on January 30 (Season 42, Game 105), finishing with a runaway $30,118 to showcase his skill against fellow seeded players Laura Faddah and Scott Riccardi in a no-stakes matchup.
In this special exhibition game for the Tournament of Champions, Paolo Pasco faced Laura Faddah, and Scott Riccardi. Paolo entered Final Jeopardy with a strong lead: $29,000 vs. Laura's $8,800 and Scott's $5,200.
The Final Jeopardy category was Mammals, with the clue: “Wrangel Island, off the coast of Siberia, may have been the last place on Earth where this 2-word prehistoric mammal lived.”
Correct response: What is the woolly mammoth?
- Paolo wagered $1,118 finished with $30,118 (correct).
- Laura wagered $1,601 inished with $10,401 (correct).
- Scott wagered $0 finished with $5,200 (correct).
Paolo's win came after 22 correct answers, including two successful Daily Doubles, leading to a decisive runaway performance. The game highlighted the high level of talent among the seeded TOC players, with Paolo's buzzer speed, knowledge depth, and composure earning praise from viewers. Since this was an exhibition with no stakes attached, it served as a fun tune-up before the official finals begin next week.
