Final Jeopardy: Bodies of Water (1-29-26)
The Final Jeopardy question (1/29/2026) in the category “Bodies of Water” was:
This body of water with over 1/3 of the world’s marine mammals, like the Vaquita, has been called “the Aquarium of the World”
Semifinal 3 of the 2026 Tournament of Champions features: 7x champ, Paolo Pasco, a puzzle writer from San Diego, CA; 2x champ, Cameron Berry, a data analyst and college administrator from Brighton, MA; and 4x champ, Ashley Chan, a publicist from Lewisville, TX.
Round 1 Categories: Scottish Geography Everywhere – A Biblical Bestiary – Phrases From Sports – Music of the Spheres – From the Magazine.com – Somebody Call Me a Doctor!
Paolo found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “Phrases from Sports” under the $800 clue on the 4th pick of the round. He was the only one on the board with $2,400. Paolo made it a true Daily Double and he was RIGHT.
This 4-word phrase meaning “last minute” comes from stretching a cable across the finish lines in horse racing show
Paolo finished in the lead with $9,200. Cameron was second with $4,200 and Ashley was last with $800. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Vice Presidents – Self-Help Through the Ages – I’m Your ____berry – Inventors & Inventions – Pacific Northwest Entertainment – “E” Before “I”
Paolo found the first Daily Double in “’E’ Before ‘I’” under the $1,600 clue on the 3rd pick of the round. He was in the lead with $10,400, $5,000 more than Cameron in second place. Paolo bet $6,000 and he was RIGHT.
The great Ice Age occurred during this epoch that preceded the one we’re in now show
2 clues later, Cameron got the last Daily Double in “Vice Presidents” under the $1,200 clue. In second place with $6,600 now, he had $9,800 less than Paolo’s lead. Cameron bet all of it and he was RIGHT, just under the wire. 😉
Nominating him at the convention, ex-VP Hubert Humphrey called this man “my personal friend & a truly great American” show
Paolo finished in the lead with $24,800. Cameron was in second place with $22,000 and Ashley was last with $400. All clues were shown.
NONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS THE GULF OF CALIFORNIA (or THE SEA OF CORTEZ)?
The Gulf of California, aka the Sea of Cortez is home to “some 900 species of fish, around 90 of them endemic, and roughly one third of the World’s marine mammals,” according to UNESCO. That’s why Jacques Cousteau dubbed it “the Aquarium of the World.”
The vaquita, aka the Panda of the Sea, is a little porpoise, native to the Gulf of California. It is said to be the most endangered cetacean in the world, with only about 10 left.
Ashley went with Lake Baikal. She bet and lost her whole $400.
Cameron came up with the Mariana Trench. He lost $21,199 and finished with $801.
Paolo didn’t have a response to the clue and he didn’t bet anything either. He won the last finalist spot with the $24,800 he already had. In order for the finals to start on Monday, the powers that be scheduled an “exhibition match” for tomorrow between Scott Riccardi, Laura Faddah and Paola Pasco.
2 triple stumpers from the last round:
VICE PRESIDENTS ($2000) Ulysses S. Grant’s first Vice President, he was caught up in the Crédit Mobilier scandal
SELF-HELP THROUGH THE AGES ($2000) This “Pamela” author also wrote a popular letter-writing manual, a 1700s version of the self-help book
2 years ago: Only ONE of the players got this FJ in “GEOGRAPHY”
The first city in Australia with a municipal government, this state capital bears the name of a queen show
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We are 0 for 9 in the semifinals. All of the Final clues have been a killer. Scott, Paolo, and TJ will be competing in the finals next week.
I hope that next week will be better for FJ!