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 23, 2026.

By weekday of airing

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

421 / 850
24.4%

30 / 123
14.0%

8 / 57

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

389 / 850
20.5%

24 / 117
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
Wednesday
48.9%

418 / 854
24.8%

32 / 129
10.9%

6 / 55

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

429 / 849
22.0%

28 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
Friday
48.2%

413 / 857
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%

426 / 853
22.4%

28 / 125
13.8%

8 / 58

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding, Groen
2
45.1%

385 / 853
21.8%

26 / 119
9.1%

5 / 55

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

417 / 855
24.2%

31 / 128
10.9%

6 / 55

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

434 / 852
22.0%

28 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
48.5%

407 / 840
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
49.9%

428 / 858
22.4%

28 / 125
13.8%

8 / 58

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

1097 / 2082
21.5%

26 / 121
9.1%

5 / 55

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

350 / 792
24.2%

31 / 128
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
4
40.4%

143 / 354
22.8%

29 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
29.5%

51 / 173
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%

2070 / 4260
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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