James Holzhauer on Jeopardy

Quote: Joeman

Ken won $2,520,700 with 74 wins. Second through fifth are all grouped together between $411,000 and $430,400. James is currently 6th on the money list with $325,877, but 2 more "average" wins (for him, at least) would vault him into 2nd.

If you scroll down a little on this page, you can see the all-time money list (not including tournament winnings).

Spoilers for tonight’s episode:

I always offer my kids money if they get Final Jeopardy right. My 11-year-old daughter is proud to say she won $10 on the question for today. Even one of the contestants blew it.

He did very well tonight, with weird bets based on.... birthdays?

Brings to mind poker player Alex Jacob a couple years ago. Rash, confident winner.

Quote: zippyboy

He did very well tonight, with weird bets based on.... birthdays?

Yes, he does birthdays. However he once ended a wager with $314. I'd like to think it was a reference to pi.

I'm pretty sure Alex Jacobs and James know each other and have for years. Alex may even be coaching/was coaching him, but James is taking Alex's strategy to new levels with applied game theory. (There is some hint of this from Alex, but no claim made I've heard.)

James has a BS in mathematics from UofI-Urbana and showed some skills as a math prodigy, so I would bet Wizard is right about the 314 bet relating to Pi.

This is a pretty useful, continuing blog tracking his appearances:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.reviewjournal.com/sports/betting/las-vegas-sports-bettor-james-holzhauers-run-on-jeopardy-blog-1640121/amp/

I used to run the computer lab for the mat department at UIUC and helped teach some classes during my undergrad stint as a computer science major. Anyone know how old he is?

Quote: beachbumbabs

I'm pretty sure Alex Jacobs and James know each other and have for years. Alex may even be coaching/was coaching him, but James is taking Alex's strategy to new levels with applied game theory. (There is some hint of this from Alex, but no claim made I've heard.)

James has a BS in mathematics from UofI-Urbana and showed some skills as a math prodigy, so I would bet Wizard is right about the 314 bet relating to Pi.

This is a pretty useful, continuing blog tracking his appearances:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.reviewjournal.com/sports/betting/las-vegas-sports-bettor-james-holzhauers-run-on-jeopardy-blog-1640121/amp/

Alex Jacob is also a great bridge player.

Quote: jopke

I used to run the computer lab for the mat department at UIUC and helped teach some classes during my undergrad stint as a computer science major. Anyone know how old he is?

He's 34.

Wow, what a show!

I get a little nervous when he bets everything he has on those Daily Doubles!!

And how about that poor girl! She was completely outmatched tonight. She answered just three questions correctly all night, and the one she missed cancelled out the three questions she did get right!

And how did James do? Oh, he just won another $106,000+, that's all. Made it look easy, too.

I'mnow glad the Wiz didn't take me up on that date of not lasting until April 26th. I don't like my chances, and I'm having much more fun watching him win, than I would be for rooting for him to lose.

My friend talks to him regularly.

James is enjoying the attention.