Full Breakdown
Jamie Ding’s 31-Game Jeopardy! Streak Ends with Greg Shahade Victory
4/29/2026, 12:21:28 AM
Streak Ends: Final Game Details
On April 27, 2026, Jamie Ding’s 31-game winning streak on “Jeopardy!” concluded when he was defeated by Greg Shahade, a Philadelphia-based chess player. In the final round, Ding entered Final Jeopardy with $16,000, Shahade with $32,600, and both answered correctly. Shahade’s $400 wager secured a $33,000 win, while Ding’s $3,010 wager left him with $19,010.
Background & Context
Ding, a Princeton University graduate and current law student at Seton Hall University, works for New Jersey’s Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency. His streak began in March 2026, quickly propelling him onto three Jeopardy! leaderboards and drawing attention from both lawmakers and longtime fans.
Timeline
Data & Statistics
- Consecutive Wins: 31 (fifth-longest overall).
- Regular-Season Earnings: $882,605 (fifth-highest in regular-season play).
- All-Time Earnings (including tournaments): Ranked seventh according to one source, fifth according to another.
- Wager Details: Ding’s $3,010 final wager; Shahade’s $400 wager.
Why It Matters / Impact
Ding’s performance placed him among Jeopardy! legends such as Ken Jennings and James Holzhauer, reinforcing the show’s appeal to academically oriented contestants. His public profile as a law student and state employee broadened the demographic perception of typical champions, while his loss highlighted the strategic importance of Final Jeopardy wagering.
Official Statements & Responses
Ding described the final game as unusual and said there wasn’t really one clue that everything hinged on. He concluded his run with a farewell note, writing the abbreviation TTFN (ta ta for now), signaling a courteous exit.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Ding’s all-time earnings rank: one lists him fifth among regular-season earners, while another places him seventh when tournament winnings are included. No additional data on Shahade’s prior game history is provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think my last game is unusual, because I was a super champ, but I also lost in a runaway, which I feel like is the first time that ever happened,” — Jamie Ding, Jeopardy! contestant
- “It almost makes me feel better about the thing because there wasn't really one clue or whatever that everything hinged on,” — Jamie Ding, Jeopardy! contestant
- “TTFN!” — Jamie Ding, Jeopardy! contestant
- “All good things must come to an end.” — USA TODAY article
What’s Next
Ding is slated to compete in the season-ending Tournament of Champions, a two-week postseason event that pits the year’s top regular-season players against each other for a larger prize pool.
