The first semifinal match of the 2026 Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament delivered a nail-biting finish on Friday, February 13th, as Roger Craig secured his spot in the finals. The competition, broadcast on , pitted Craig against Drew Basile and Jen Giles in a contest that came down to strategic wagering and precise knowledge.
Craig, identified as an applied scientist from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, initially stumbled, falling to -$1,000 on the opening clue. However, he quickly recovered, demonstrating the resilience that would ultimately define his performance. Giles, a teacher from Longmont, Colorado, capitalized on an early opportunity, finding a Daily Double on the second clue of the game. She wagered her entire $1,000 bank on a question in the “Song & Book: Same Title” category – “Don Henley looks back at an old relationship; Roger Kahn looks back at the baseball players of the 1950s.” Her correct response, “What is The Boys of Summer?” propelled her into the lead.
Basile, a writer from Birmingham, Michigan, briefly held the lead during the first round, finishing with $6,000, while Giles secured $2,400 and Craig trailed with $1,200. The first round set the stage for a dramatic shift in momentum during Double Jeopardy.
Craig found the first Daily Double in Double Jeopardy, wagering all $3,200 on a clue in the “A Science Brief” category: “The Cassini-Huygens mission found rippling sand dunes & liquid seas on this moon.” His correct answer, “What is Titan?” vaulted him into the lead with $6,400. Later, Basile discovered another Daily Double, wagering everything on a clue in “Writers”: “Dickens saluted this writer as ‘my dear sir,’ but also expressed doubt that it was actually a man behind the name (it wasn’t).” Basile correctly identified “Who is George Eliot?” doubling his score to $11,200 and regaining the lead. Despite Basile’s surge, Craig ended the round with $18,400, followed by Basile at $14,000 and Giles at $4,800.
The Final Jeopardy round, in the category “Saints,” proved decisive. The clue read: “Mentioned several times in a 1599 play, this patron saint of cobblers had a feast day that coincided with the Battle of Agincourt.” Both Giles and Craig answered correctly, identifying “Who is St. Crispin?” However, the outcome hinged on their wagering strategies. Giles, wagering $725 of her $4,800, finished with $4,075. Basile, wagering nothing, remained at $14,000. Craig, demonstrating a calculated risk, wagered $9,601, ultimately ending with $28,001 and securing his place in the finals.
Craig’s victory is particularly noteworthy given his previous Jeopardy! successes. According to a Wikipedia entry, Craig held the record for highest single-day winnings on the show from , until , when James Holzhauer surpassed him. He also won the 2011 Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions and competed in the 2014 Battle of the Decades tournament, finishing third overall. He is married to Julia Collins, another Jeopardy! champion.
The win secures Craig a spot in the three-person final, where the first contestant to achieve two victories will be crowned champion and take home $150,000, along with an invitation to the upcoming Jeopardy! Masters tournament. The finals are scheduled to begin on .
The 2026 Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament continues to showcase the intellectual prowess and strategic gameplay that have made the show a television staple. The competition promises further excitement as contestants battle for the coveted title and substantial prize.
