Jewish Brandeis official sets new Jeopardy record, by losing
Adam Levin scores highest-ever tally for a runner-up, falls only $18 short of beating reigning champion who has bulldozed everyone else
A Jewish official at Brandeis University nearly unseated a reigning Jeopardy champion in an episode that aired Monday, and managed to set a record while he did it.
Adam Levin, who is sports information director for Brandeis athletics, was only $18 short of beating James Holzhauer, considered one of the show’s all-time greats.
Holzhauer has broken multiple records in his 19 appearances in the show so far, and has amassed more than $1.4 million in winnings.
But Levin gave him a literal run for his money on the latest episode. Though he was behind before the final round, a correct answer and a wager of nearly all his money led him to a total of $53,999.
But Holzhauer also answered correctly, and managed to squeak by Levin with a final score of $54,017.
Though as the runner-up he doesn’t get to keep the money, Levin achieved the highest final tally ever by a second place finisher.
“My once-in-a-lifetime story doesn’t have quite the ending I always dreamed about, but I’m exceptionally proud of my showing,” Levin told Brandeis Now.
“The fact of the matter is, I’ve seen it time and again with the student-athletes that I cover. Sometimes, you can give your all-out best, and it’s just not enough. But if you left everything out on the field — or stage, in my case — it’s all you can ask for.”
The Times of Israel Community.