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 October 14, 2026.

By weekday of airing

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

420 / 849
24.4%

30 / 123
14.0%

8 / 57

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding, Groen
Tuesday
45.8%

389 / 849
20.5%

24 / 117
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
Wednesday
49.0%

418 / 853
24.8%

32 / 129
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
Thursday
50.5%

428 / 847
22.0%

28 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
Friday
48.1%

411 / 855
23.3%

30 / 129
3.5%

2 / 57

Roach, Riccardi

By overall position in tape day

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

425 / 852
22.4%

28 / 125
13.8%

8 / 58

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding, Groen
2
45.2%

385 / 852
21.8%

26 / 119
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
3
48.8%

417 / 854
24.2%

31 / 128
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
4
50.9%

433 / 850
22.0%

28 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
48.3%

405 / 838
24.0%

30 / 125
3.6%

2 / 56

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
49.8%

427 / 857
22.4%

28 / 125
13.8%

8 / 58

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

1095 / 2079
21.5%

26 / 121
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
3
44.2%

350 / 791
24.2%

31 / 128
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
4
40.5%

143 / 353
22.8%

29 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
29.1%

50 / 172
23.6%

29 / 123
3.6%

2 / 56

Roach, Riccardi
6
100.0%

1 / 1
100.0%

1 / 1
N/A

0 / 0

Overall
48.6%

2066 / 4253
23.0%

144 / 625
8.3%

23 / 277

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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