Jeopardy! viewers were left puzzled by an apparent shake-up in the show’s rules after it was hinted that four-day winner Grant DeYoung would likely be taking part in the next Tournament of Champions.
DeYoung, who works as a grocery store clerk, thrilled viewers with a four-day winning streak earlier this month – which officially came to an end on May 21 after he racked up a $81,203 haul.
Host Ken Jennings then told DeYoung that ‘with your four wins I think that it is very likely that we will be seeing you in the Tournament of Champions.’
This raised several eyebrows of fans who believed that the Arizona native couldn’t take part due to the fact he had failed to reach the usual requirement of five consecutive wins.
Viewers soon took to social media to question how DeYoung would be allowed to take part despite not meeting the necessary number of wins.
Jeopardy! viewers were left puzzled by a shake-up in the show’s rules for eligibility that would allow contestant Grant DeYoung (pictured) to take part in the Tournament of Champions
It was hinted by host Ken Jennings (pictured) that the four-day winner would likely be taking part in the next Tournament of Champions
When one fan commented on Instagram, ‘Why will he be back? I thought 5 wins for toc (Tournament of Champions)?’
To which another replied: ‘All 4 game champions were eventually qualified at TOC in the last 3 editions.’
They then added: ‘With a shorter eligibility window and the expansion of TOC field in the last 2 editions. I think Grant might get in the 32nd TOC.
‘Since 2021 TOC where all 4 game champions competed, some of them made it to the semifinals like: Veronica, Ryan B, Ryan H, Maureen, John & David.’
Another fan stated that they hoped DeYoung would get the chance to compete as they wrote: ‘I hope so. They brought back Yogesh and I think he only won a couple of games.’
The last tournament in March saw Yogesh Raut, Ben Chan, and Troy Meyer battle it out in the finals, with Raut being crowed the winner.
It wasn’t the only rule that DeYoung has ended up revealing to viewers during his run on the show, as many fans were also shocked by the fact that contestants could use chairs.
Throughout the rounds he participated in, eagle-eyed viewers spotted that DeYoung was seated in a chair, which is a rarity on the show, with most competitors opting to stand behind their podiums.
Fans believed that the Arizona native couldn’t take part due to the fact he had failed to reach the usual requirement of five consecutive wins – but that has not been the case recently
Another fan explained that ‘they brought back Yogesh and I think he only won a couple of games’ highlighting a recent change in the rules
In a podcast Inside Jeopardy!, producer Sarah Whitcomb explained why Grant was seated rather than standing – revealing all contestants have the option.
‘Fans have been noticing that Grant is sitting in a chair during his games. This is something that we always offer to contestants,’ she shared.
She added: ‘We don’t ask why. It’s not our business. If you want a chair, we’ll give it to you… So there you have it!’
DeYoung was sitting on a black swivel chair that was adjusted up to the same standing height as the others, allowing him to see out over the podium.
In the Jeopardy! subreddit from last week, a curious viewer asked why the contestant was in a chair.
‘They give it if you ask – I have some back arthritis that makes standing still for that long very difficult,’ DeYoung explained in a comment in the discussion thread.
‘I wouldn’t expect everyone who sits for Jeopardy! to disclose their reason for needing one but I don’t mind saying mine.’
While he appeared on the show, DeYoung also revealed he was hit by a car after learning he had made it onto the hit ABC show – but he was so excited he didn’t even notice.
It wasn’t the only rule that DeYoung has ended up revealing to viewers during his run on the show
Many fans were shocked by the fact that contestants could use chairs, and DeYoung explained that he suffered from ‘back arthritis that makes standing still for that long very difficult’
The grocery clerk, who hails from Prescott, Arizona, revealed that he was involved in a road traffic accident at the exact moment he received a text message confirming the news.
‘I got off work and got in the car and pulled my phone out and it was sinking in,’ he recalled on Wednesday night’s show. ‘I’m on the verge of tears there staring down at it, and I got hit and ran….’
A stunned Ken asked: ‘A car hit you while you were getting the text?’
‘I had people coming up to me after [saying]: “Are you aware you just got your car hit?” and I was like “no” holding my phone and staring at the message.’
Ken then asked whether he was doing okay.
‘The car needs some work but I’m certainly fine, thank you,’ Grant said.
Earlier in May it was announced that a Jeopardy! spinoff was coming to Amazon Prime and it would give the web-obsessed a chance to test their knowledge.
Pop Culture Jeopardy! marks the first time that the brainy series, which was created by Sony Pictures Television’s game show division, will hit a streaming service.
It will mimic the set up of the original game show – but the question segment will focus on music, films, TV shows, sports, and more.
