Game Over: Jamie Ding’s Historic 31-Game Jeopardy! Streak Ends
Champion Jamie Ding's 31-game winning streak came to a dramatic halt on the April 27, 2026, episode of Jeopardy!, after challenger Greg Shahade secured a runaway victory.
Final Jeopardy: A Perfect Round
The category was "World Languages." The clue asked for the first and last of South Africa's 12 official languages alphabetically. The correct response was "Afrikaans and Zulu."
In a rare twist, all three contestants answered correctly.
Game Summary
Greg Shahade dominated the board, finding all three Daily Doubles and accumulating $16,800 from them alone. By the end of Double Jeopardy, he had built a runaway lead of $32,600. Jamie Ding trailed with $16,000, while Katrina Puckett held $3,000.
All answered Final Jeopardy correctly, with wagers as follows:
- Greg Shahade: Wagered $400 → $33,000
- Jamie Ding: Wagered $3,010 → $19,010
- Katrina Puckett: Wagered $1,990 → $4,990
Statistical Breakdown
Contestant Coryat Score Correct Incorrect First on Buzzer Greg Shahade $20,000 23 5 40.35% Jamie Ding $16,000 18 3 29.82% Katrina Puckett $3,000 9 3 19.30%Greg Shahade's command of the buzzer (40.35%) and his three Daily Double finds proved decisive.
Background & Significance
South Africa has 12 official languages, with Zulu being the most common first language and Afrikaans also widely spoken. South African Sign Language was added most recently, in 2023.
Jamie Ding's 31-game winning streak ends, leaving him with a total of $882,605 earned over his run. His departure marks the end of one of the show's most impressive modern streaks.
Greg Shahade, the new champion, is also an International Master in chess, adding a unique layer to his victory.
"The end of a remarkable streak—Jamie Ding leaves as one of the most successful champions in Jeopardy! history."