Jeopardy! "fatigue analysis," Season 20 — present

The "sky's the limit" rule, allowing champions to play until defeated (vice having to retire after five victories), was introduced at the start of Season 20 on September 8, 2003.

These tables show how often a player in a given situation loses.

Current as of July 10, 2026.

By weekday of airing

Weekday All champions 5+ time champions 10+ time champions
Monday
49.5%

417 / 842
24.0%

29 / 121
12.5%

7 / 56

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding
Tuesday
46.0%

387 / 842
20.7%

24 / 116
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
Wednesday
48.7%

412 / 846
25.0%

32 / 128
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
Thursday
50.3%

423 / 841
22.2%

28 / 126
3.8%

2 / 52

Rogers, Zuffranieri
Friday
48.4%

411 / 849
23.4%

30 / 128
3.6%

2 / 56

Roach, Riccardi

By overall position in tape day

Position All champions 5+ time champions 10+ time champions
1
49.9%

422 / 845
22.0%

27 / 123
12.3%

7 / 57

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding
2
45.3%

383 / 845
22.0%

26 / 118
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
3
48.5%

411 / 847
24.4%

31 / 127
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
4
50.7%

428 / 844
22.2%

28 / 126
3.8%

2 / 52

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
48.7%

405 / 832
24.2%

30 / 124
3.6%

2 / 55

Roach, Riccardi
6
14.3%

1 / 7
100.0%

1 / 1
N/A

0 / 0

By player's nth game of tape day

Position All champions 5+ time champions 10+ time champions
1
49.9%

424 / 850
22.0%

27 / 123
12.3%

7 / 57

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding
2
52.7%

1086 / 2060
21.7%

26 / 120
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
3
44.0%

346 / 786
24.4%

31 / 127
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
4
40.6%

143 / 352
23.0%

29 / 126
3.8%

2 / 52

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
29.2%

50 / 171
23.8%

29 / 122
3.6%

2 / 55

Roach, Riccardi
6
100.0%

1 / 1
100.0%

1 / 1
N/A

0 / 0

Overall
48.6%

2050 / 4220
23.1%

143 / 619
8.0%

22 / 274

The table does account for instances in which a defending champion lost twice (Bob Mesko, Brian Lamb, Kori Tyler, and Ryan Fenster). If a player lost in their first appearance, and was subsequently brought back and won, the first loss (i.e. as a challenger) is not included.

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