On “Jeopardy!,” Isaac Hirsch, a noteworthy contestant, saw his nine-game winning streak unexpectedly end due to a math error in the Final “Jeopardy!” round. The episode, which aired on July 16, 2024, caught viewers by surprise as Hirsch, who had already won $215,390, was aiming for his tenth straight victory.

The game started with Hirsch, a customer support team lead from Burbank, California, pitted against Erika Stromerson from Woodinville, Washington, and Jay Fisher from Lisle, Illinois. Hirsch had a difficult start, ending the “Jeopardy!” round in third place. Fisher led with $7,000, followed by Stromerson with $600, while Hirsch had only $400.

In the Double “Jeopardy!” round, the situation became more intense. Hirsch discovered both Daily Doubles but could only answer one correctly with a conservative wager. As the round approached its conclusion, Hirsch held a second-place position with $15,300, behind Fisher’s $16,200, while Stromerson remained on $600.

The Final “Jeopardy!” clue, presented in the 1960s People category, was: “He said that California prison psych tests he took were ones he had designed, so he made himself look docile and unlikely to escape; then he did.” However, none of the contestants could correctly identify Timothy Leary as the answer.

Hirsch placed a $14,000 bet, hoping to overtake Fisher with a correct answer. When his answer proved wrong and his wager was too large, his total plummeted to $1,300. Fisher, on the other hand, wagered $14,001 and ended up with $1,799, winning the championship in a surprising turn of events. Hirsch later explained his math error on Reddit: “I was trying to subtract $14,401 from $16,200 and somehow came up with $1,300 instead of $1,800 as the number I needed to arrive at if I got it wrong, hence the $14,000 wager.”

Hirsch spoke openly about his astonishment and disappointment over the error, saying, “I spent the weeks after the taping seeing the bad math in my sleep. I remembered nothing about most of the games last week, but EVERYTHING about this game.” Despite his abrupt exit, Hirsch will return to compete in the “Jeopardy!” Tournament of Champions, reserved for those who have won five or more games.

After his loss, “Jeopardy!” fans were quick to show their support for Hirsch. One fan commented, “You had a great run and were a joy to watch, Isaac!” while another said, “That’s brutal. I’d imagine you secured a recurring nightmare for the rest of your life.” Hirsch responded by acknowledging the difficulty of the game and expressed his determination to make a strong comeback in the Tournament of Champions.

Hirsch’s time on “Jeopardy!” was characterized by remarkable performance and a unique sense of humor. As a part-time stand-up comedian, Hirsch shared hilarious anecdotes and displayed quick wit, winning over the audience. His stories ranged from impersonating actor Jeff Goldblum for a pool ballet job to performing a difficult stand-up set at a minor league baseball field.

Despite his humorous approach, Hirsch’s gameplay was no laughing matter. He answered 272 clues correctly, missed 47, and had a notable record of 14/20 on Daily Doubles and 7/10 on Final “Jeopardy!” His distinctive ’70s-inspired wardrobe and signature mustache made him a memorable figure on the show.

Reflecting on his experience, Hirsch noted the mental fatigue associated with filming multiple episodes in a single day. “‘Jeopardy!’ can be a grueling experience, and the fast-paced environment means you’re often using only a fraction of your brain capacity,” he said. However, the recognition and sense of achievement he gained from his success on the show were significant.

Adding a personal touch to his quest for victory was the fact that Hirsch comes from a “Jeopardy!” family. His father competed on the show in the 1980s. Hirsch’s previous game show experiences include winning $140,000 on The Chase in 2023 and $5,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2017.

As he prepares for the Tournament of Champions, Hirsch is concentrating on improving his weaker areas, such as geography and science, and maintaining his competitive spirit. “I’ll have much to prove in the ToC,” he said. “Not least that I can do basic arithmetic.”