Final Jeopardy: U.S. Lakes (5-12-26)
The Final Jeopardy question (5/12/2026) in the category “U.S. Lakes” was:
This big lake named for a French marine minister begins its name with a way that official might conceivably cross the body of water
4x champ Tristan Williams, a data scientist orig. from Lincoln, NE, has now won $76,199. In Game 5, his challengers are: Laurel Gilmer, a music events director from Ithaca, NY; and Will Thornton, a teacher from Worthington, OH.
Round 1 Categories: Greenland – Holidays & Observances of the Month – Potpourri – Gone with the Win – Game of Bones – “Inter” is Coming
Laurel found the Jeopardy! round Daily Double in “‘Inter’ is Coming” under the $400 clue on the 18th pick of the round. Tristan was in the lead with $5,200 after gaining $1,200 on a reversal (see p. 2). Laurel had $1,200. She bet it all and she was RIGHT.
From German, it’s the “back” country behind a port or, more figuratively, someplace out in the sticks show
Tristan finished in the lead with $8,600. Will was in second place with $2,800. Laurel was last with $2,400. All clues were shown.
Round 2 Categories: Cold War History – Arty Supreme – Meeting in the Middle – 4 of the Same Vowel – Getting Lit – Stage Names
Laurel got the first Daily Double in “Arty Supreme” under the $800 clue on the 7th pick. She was in second place with $4,800 now, $8,200 less than Tristan’s lead. Laurel bet $3,000 and guessed “The Firebird”. That was WRONG.
Igor Stravinsky worked with Russian mystic Nicholas Roerich on this ballet originally called “The Great Sacrifice” show
Tristan got the last Daily Double in “4 of the Same Vowel” under the $1,600 clue with 7 clues left after it. There was a second reversal (see p. 2) that only affected Laurel. In the lead with $19,000, Tristan had $10,600 more than Will in second place. Tristan bet $1,500 and he was RIGHT.
Vasily Andreyev brought this 3-stringed folk instrument to the concert stage show
Tristan finished in the lead with a runaway $23,700. Will was in second place with $9,200. Laurel last with $4,600. All clues were shown.
Only ONE of the contestants got Final Jeopardy! right.
WHAT IS LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN?
Louis Phélypeaux, comte de Pontchartrain, was one of many who served as Minister of the Navy (marine means navy in French) during the reign of Louis XIV. In charge of France’s American colonies, Pontchartrain appointed Pierre le Moyne, Sieur d’Iberville to establish a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River in 1698. Sieur d’Iberville named many things in the area, including Lake Pontchartrain in honor of his patron. When Louis’ son, Jerome, took over as Minister of the Navy in 1699, he continued to support d’Iberville.
Pontchartrain is a French place name, combining “pont,” meaning bridge, with “Chartrain,” which is tied to Chartres, the prefecture (county seat) of France’s Eure-et-Loir department. Lake Pontchartrain is the largest lake in Louisiana, approximately half the size of Rhode Island. It also holds the Guinness World Record for longest continuous bridge over water, the nearly 24-mile Causeway.
Laurel thought it was Lake Champlain. (Champ means field in French) She bet and lost her whole $400.
Will wrote down Lake Swim. He was standing pat on his $9,200 so he had nothing to lose.
Tristan got it right. He bet $3,600 and won the game with $27,300 for a 5-day total of $103,499.
2 triple stumpers from the last round:
COLD WAR HISTORY ($800) The U.S. fought its longest war against this country known for harsh winters; in the early years, fighting wanted during cold weather
MEETING IN THE MIDDLE ($2000) The ancient Sasanians spoke Middle Persian, also called this, sharing the name of the dynasty of the last Shahs of Iran
More clues on Page 2, including the reversals
2 years ago: NONE of the players got this FJ in “BUSINESS LOGOS”
Early 1900s labels for this beverage brand featured a beaver sitting on a log at the top of a map show
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Tristan has qualified for the Tournament of Champions. Tristan becomes the 5th player this season to win 5 or more games.