Ben Henri is a music teacher from St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He played in the “Jeopardy” 2021 Tournament of Champions. (Photo by Jeopardy Productions, Inc.)
He made a gutsy move in his “Jeopardy” Tournament of Champions quarterfinals match, but it didn’t pay off. Now, this Michigan high school teacher will watch the rest of the tournament from home.
Ben Henri’s quarterfinals match aired on Thursday, May 20. Henri is a 7th – 12th grade vocal music teacher from St. Clair Shores in Metro Detroit. He won the “Jeopardy” Teacher’s Tournament this past June, taking home the $100,000 grand prize.
The 2021 Tournament of Champions began on Monday. The quarterfinals are all week with the semis beginning on Monday the 24th. The two-day finals are Thursday and Friday the 27th and 28th. The winner receives $250K with second and third earning $100K and $50K.
JEOPARDY ROUND
Henri did not do too well in this round. He answered one clue wrong for $1,000 and couldn’t recover. His opponents, Mackenzie Jones and Kevin Walsh stayed consistent. Walsh had the lead after the Jeopardy Round with $7,000, followed by Jones at $5,000 and Henri in third with $2,600.
DOUBLE JEOPARDY
“Go big or go home.” Henri’s gutsy move in this round did not pay off. He landed on the first Daily Double of the round and wagered all of his $7,000, which would have put him into the lead. He did not know the answer, however and lost everything. He couldn’t recover and finished way behind in third with $2,800. Walsh was in first with $16,000 and Jones was in second with $9,000.
FINAL JEOPARDY
The category: Colonial America
The clue: Milestones along the eastern end of the Mason-Dixon line were marked on either side with the crests of these two men. Who are Lord Baltimore and William Penn?
Henri answered incorrectly and wagered everything taking him to $0. Jones also got it wrong, but wagered nothing. Finally, Walsh also got it wrong and wagered $0, winning the game with $16,000. He advances to the semis.
Two other former champions from Michigan are among the 15 taking part in the tournament. Jennifer Quail won her quarterfinals match last night advancing into the semi finals. She is a wine tasting consultant from Dowagiac. Quail won $228,800 during her eight game run in December 2019 making her the second-most successful female contestant ever in “Jeopardy” regular play.
Andy Wood, who is a comedian from Ann Arbor, was a four-time “Jeopardy” champion last November, earning $91,999. His match is tomorrow.
Winners of the quarterfinals, as well as four wild card players with the highest scores, will all advance to the semis. The three players who win the semifinals will face off in the two-day finals.
Former champion, Buzzy Cohen, who was given the nickname “Mr. Personality” by Alex Trebek, is the guest host for the tournament.
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