Who won Jeopardy! tonight? June 6, 2025, Friday

On Friday, June 6, 2025, another exciting episode of Jeopardy! aired, featuring a thrilling match between three contestants. A vet from New Jersey named Nikhil Joshi competed against a software engineer from Oakland, California, named Elizabeth Hawkins, and a graduate student from St. Louis, Missouri, named Brian O'Heron. Nikhil Joshi won the game, even though he made a few mistakes in the last round. He played well the whole time.

In the last few seconds of the game, Nikhil held on to his lead and won $14,799, even though he bet wrong on the Final Jeopardy question. Elizabeth and Brian, his competitors, tried to catch up, but Nikhil's strong play in earlier rounds made it clear that he would win. The last question, which was about Candide by Voltaire, was tough, but Nikhil still won.

Jeopardy! has kept its reputation as one of the most interesting and thought-provoking game shows. It's different from other quiz shows because of its unique format, especially the last round where contestants bet on how much they know. The episode on June 6 was another example of how popular the show has been since 1964 and enjoys a separate fan base.

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Jeopardy! episode highlights – June 6, Friday, 2025

Jeopardy round

In the Jeopardy round, the category London Literary Landmarks provided a challenge for the contestants. Nikhil Joshi quickly demonstrated his knowledge by answering correctly in the category. His early success gave him a solid lead, allowing him to extend his dominance throughout the round.

Elizabeth struggled, losing $1,000 in the first half, while Brian found himself trailing with only $200 at the first break. By the time the Jeopardy round ended, Nikhil had accumulated $4,200, while Elizabeth and Brian had $1,200 and $800, respectively.

Scores at the break:

• Nikhil: $2,000
• Elizabeth: $1,200
• Brian: $200

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Double Jeopardy Round

The Double Jeopardy round featured categories such as Volcanoes Are So Hot Right Now, Mythology, and Weights & Measures. Nikhil continued to lead, but Brian made a strong push, answering a $2,000 clue correctly in the Weights & Measures category.

Still, Nikhil was ahead because he got all the questions right, and Elizabeth was having a hard time catching up. After one round, Nikhil had a huge $16,200, Brian had $8,800, and Elizabeth was still in last place with $1,200.

Scores at the break:

• Nikhil: $4,200
• Elizabeth: $1,200
• Brian: $800

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Final Jeopardy Round

In the Final Jeopardy round, the category was Name That "-Ism".

The clue was related to the word "optimism," which originated from Voltaire’s Candide in the 18th century. Despite the challenging clue, only Elizabeth correctly answered the question.

Clue was: This word first appears in English in a letter explaining that “Candide” is meant to ridicule the philosopher Leibniz

Correct answer: What is optimism?

However, she had not wagered enough, remaining in third place. Brian, on the other hand, wagered aggressively but answered incorrectly, dropping to second place. Nikhil, with a solid lead, wagered $1,401, but his incorrect response, “existentialism,” still allowed him to win with $14,799.

Final Scores:

• Nikhil: $14,799
• Elizabeth: $1,200
• Brian: $1,399

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About Jeopardy! Contestants

Nikhil Joshi

Nikhil Joshi is a veterinarian from Montville, New Jersey. He has quickly shown that he is a strong Jeopardy! His calm and well-thought-out approach to the game has helped him win all of his matches.

In the June 6, 2025 episode, Nikhil showed how knowledgeable he was in a number of areas, giving him a big lead in the early rounds. Even though he made one small mistake in Final Jeopardy, his steady play throughout the game won it for him.

Nikhil is off to a good start on the show, with a two-day total of $20,199. He is a well-rounded player who is loved by Jeopardy! fans because he knows a lot about things like London Literary Landmarks and Weights & Measures.

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Elizabeth Hawkins

From Oakland, California, Elizabeth Hawkins is a software engineer who is known for having a sharp mind and being very good at many technical things. In the episode from June 6, 2025, Elizabeth had to deal with tough opponents, but her performance in the Final Jeopardy! round stood out because she correctly answered the clue.

She came in third place, though, because she didn't bet any money on her right answer. Elizabeth played well the whole game, and it was clear that she could think critically when she was under a lot of stress. Elizabeth's performance in this round showed that she was a skilled and knowledgeable contestant, even though she didn't win. Viewers can keep an eye on her in future Jeopardy! episodes.

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Brian O’Heron

Graduate student from St. Louis, Missouri, Brian O'Heron came into the June 6, 2025, episode of Jeopardy!. Even though he had a rough start, he made a strong push in the Double Jeopardy round and raised his score by getting several questions right. Brian was determined to keep the game close, and he bet strategically. However, he lost first place in Final Jeopardy because he gave the wrong answer.

His resilience was shown by how much he loved the game and how quickly he could get back on track after a setback. Even though Brian only won $1,399 in the end, his competitive spirit throughout the match showed he could be a future contender.

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Jeopardy! differs from other game shows

Jeopardy! stands out from typical quiz shows due to its unique format, which places a significant emphasis on the contestants' knowledge across a wide range of categories. Unlike other quiz shows, where contestants are often asked direct questions, Jeopardy! provides answers first, and contestants must then respond with the correct question. This inversion of traditional quiz show formats creates an engaging and intellectually stimulating experience for contestants and the viewers.

The Final Jeopardy round is another key feature that sets Jeopardy! apart. Contestants can wager a portion of their winnings on a single clue, adding an element of strategy to the game. The game’s fast-paced nature, combined with the high-stakes final round, has made it a cultural institution in American television. Its unique approach to trivia has kept Jeopardy! popular for decades.

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Game statistics for Jeopardy! – June 6, 2025

Contestants:

• Brian O’Heron, Graduate student from St. Louis, Missouri
• Elizabeth Hawkins, Software engineer from Oakland, California
• Nikhil Joshi, Veterinarian from Montville, New Jersey (One-day champ with $5,400)

Jeopardy Round:

Scores at first break:

• Nikhil: $2,000
• Elizabeth: $1,200
• Brian: $200

Scores entering Double Jeopardy:

• Nikhil: $4,200
• Elizabeth: $1,200
• Brian: $800

Double Jeopardy Round:

Scores entering Final Jeopardy:

• Nikhil: $16,200
• Brian: $8,800
• Elizabeth: $1,200

Final Jeopardy Round:

Final Scores:

• Nikhil: $14,799
• Elizabeth: $1,200
• Brian: $1,399
• Triple Stumper of the Day: No one knew that the grandson of Methuselah lived to the age of 950 is Noah.

Wagering Strategy:

• Elizabeth wagered $0 on Final Jeopardy, missing out on a chance for second place.
• Brian wagered $7,401, which dropped him to second place after an incorrect response.

Correct responses:

• DD1: What is “The Prince and the Pauper”?
• DD2: What is cru?
• DD3: What is pascal?
• FJ: What is optimism?

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Nikhil Joshi won the episode of Jeopardy! airing on June 6, 2025, winning a total of $14,799. Although he lost a bet in the final round of Jeopardy, his steady play throughout the game kept him ahead.

The show showed the intellectual depth and strategic gameplay that have made Jeopardy! a beloved American TV tradition for decades. People are eagerly anticipating the next episode to see if Nikhil can extend his winning streak.