Isaac Hirsch, a prominent player on “Jeopardy!,” saw his series of nine victories abruptly halted due to a mathematical error during the Final “Jeopardy!” round. Hirsch, who had amassed $215,390 in winnings, was on the path to his tenth win in a row on the episode that aired on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, when the mistake took place.
Hirsch, a team leader from Burbank, California, was up against Erika Stromerson from Woodinville, Washington, and Jay Fisher from Lisle, Illinois. The game started with Hirsch in an unusual situation, as he found himself in last place after a challenging “Jeopardy!” round. At the round’s conclusion, Fisher was leading with $7,000, followed by Stromerson with $600, and Hirsch with a mere $400.
The circumstances escalated during the Double “Jeopardy!” round. Hirsch discovered both Daily Doubles but could only solve one correctly with a conservative wager. When the Final “Jeopardy!” round arrived, Hirsch was in second place with $15,300, slightly behind Fisher’s $16,200, while Stromerson remained at $600.
The Final clue, from the 1960s People category, stated: “He said that California prison psych tests he took were ones he had designed, so he made himself look docile and unlikely to escape; then he did.” All contestants failed to answer correctly with Timothy Leary.
Hirsch placed a bet of $14,000, hoping to overtake Fisher if his answer was correct. Regrettably, his incorrect answer and large wager reduced his total to $1,300. Fisher, on the other hand, wagered $14,001, ending with $1,799 and securing the championship in an unexpected turn of events. Hirsch’s defeat was due to a misstep in his calculations, a mistake he later clarified on Reddit: “I was trying to subtract $14,401 from $16,200 and somehow came up with $1,300 instead of $1,800 as the number I needed to arrive at if I got it wrong, hence the $14,000 wager.”
Hirsch voiced his astonishment and disappointment at the error, stating, “I spent the weeks after the taping seeing the bad math in my sleep. I remembered nothing about most of the games last week, but EVERYTHING about this game.” Despite the unfortunate conclusion, Hirsch will get another opportunity to compete in the “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions, which is reserved for top competitors who win five or more games.
Following his loss, Hirsch received an outpouring of support from the show’s fans. One fan commented, “You had a great run and were a joy to watch, Isaac!” Another stated, “That’s brutal. I’d imagine you secured a recurring nightmare for the rest of your life.” Hirsch acknowledged the support, noting the tough nature of the game and his intention to return stronger for the Tournament of Champions.
Throughout his tenure on “Jeopardy!”, Hirsch impressed with his remarkable performance and unique humor. A part-time stand-up comedian, Hirsch captured fans’ hearts with his funny anecdotes and sharp wit. His stories ranged from impersonating Jeff Goldblum for a pool ballet job to performing a challenging stand-up set at a minor league baseball field.
Despite his comedic tendencies, Hirsch took his gameplay seriously. He successfully answered 272 clues, missed 47, and achieved an impressive 14/20 on Daily Doubles and 7/10 on Final “Jeopardy!” His distinctive ’70s-inspired attire and signature mustache made him a contestant to remember.
Hirsch reflected on the mental toll of recording multiple episodes in a day. “‘Jeopardy!’ can be a grueling experience, and the fast-paced environment means you’re often using only a fraction of your brain capacity,” he said. Nevertheless, his success on the show brought him substantial recognition and a sense of accomplishment.
Coming from a family of “Jeopardy!” contestants, with his father competing on the show in the 1980s, Hirsch’s pursuit of victory had a personal aspect. His past game show appearances include winning $140,000 on The Chase in 2023 and $5,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2017.
As Hirsch gears up for the Tournament of Champions, he is concentrating on strengthening his weaker areas, such as geography and science, and retaining his competitive prowess. “I’ll have much to prove in the ToC,” he said. “Not least that I can do basic arithmetic.”