Jeopardy!: Can 19-Year-Old Nikolas Polsinelli Win Again After Impressive Debut?

Jeopardy! contestant Nikolas Polsinelli has already impressed fans after one game. But could the 19-year-old college student win again?

After only winning one game, Nikolas Polsinelli, from Winter Park, Florida, is already becoming a fan favorite. The student won his first game with $17,601. On Friday, he played against Sean Carpenter, from New Lenox, Illinois, and Lydia Herndon, from Chicago, Illinois. Warning: Spoilers for the Friday, September 25, episode of Jeopardy! ahead!

Posinelli had the lead of $3,000 when he found the Daily Double on clue seven. He wagered $2,000 in “Restricted Reading in America.” The clue was “Utah had issues with ‘Oryx & Crake’ by this Canadian woman who’s unafraid to confront (or create) harsh realities.”

“Who is Atwood?” he answered correctly. This gave him $5,000.

By the end of the round, Polsinelli had $5,400. Herndon, a PhD student, was in second place with $3,600. Carpenter, a procurement manager, had $2,000.

In Double Jeopardy, Polsinelli had $11,400 when he found the first DD on clue eight. He wagered $4,000.

The clue in “Their Mona Lisa” read, “A painting by this man at the Mauritshuis that depicts a girl in a turban is sometimes called ‘The Mona Lisa of the North.’” “Who is Vermeer?” he answered correctly. This gave him $15,400, compared to Carpenter’s $4,800.

He had $18,600 when he found the second one on clue 14. Polsinelli wagered $6,000 in “Scientific Adventures.” The clue was “Before he built his thermometer, he took part in a 1736 expedition to N. Sweden that helped prove the flattening of the Earth’s poles.”

“What is Celsius?” he answered correctly. This gave him $24,600.

At the end of the round, Polsinelli had $26,800. Carpenter was in second place with $9,600. Herndon had $7,600.

The Final Jeopardy category was “Coinages of the 1980s.” The clue read, “Marc Kelly Smith had Cubs slugger Ernie Banks in mind when he chose a name for these literary events he had ‘invented.’”

Only one of the game show contestants had the correct response. Herndon wrote, “What are poetry slams?” She was correct and wagered $3,599, giving her $11,199.

Carpenter’s response was “What is Grand Slam?” He wagered $5,601, making his final total $3,999. Polsinelli wrote, “What is ? Hi” He wagered $3,800, giving him $22,400.

Polsinelli will return on Monday for his third game. He has a two-day total of $40,001.

Fans are already fond of him. A Facebook group posted about him after his first win. “A refreshing change, young and knowledgeable,” one fan said.

“He is bright!” another wrote.

“He was very impressive with his quick responses and composure!” a third added.

“I really liked him right away – so glad he won – one smart young Man,” a fan said.

“I like him. Rooting for him,” another commented.

“He’s a very good player, he has a breadth of knowledge that will help him win!” one last fan said.

Jeopardy!, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock