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 November 13, 2026.

By weekday of airing

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

422 / 853
24.4%

30 / 123
14.0%

8 / 57

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding, Groen
Tuesday
45.7%

390 / 853
20.5%

24 / 117
9.1%

5 / 55

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

419 / 857
24.8%

32 / 129
10.9%

6 / 55

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

430 / 852
22.0%

28 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
Friday
48.1%

414 / 860
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%

427 / 856
22.4%

28 / 125
13.8%

8 / 58

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

386 / 856
21.8%

26 / 119
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
3
48.7%

418 / 858
24.2%

31 / 128
10.9%

6 / 55

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

435 / 855
22.0%

28 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
48.4%

408 / 843
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%

429 / 861
22.4%

28 / 125
13.8%

8 / 58

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding, Groen
2
52.6%

1098 / 2088
21.5%

26 / 121
9.1%

5 / 55

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

352 / 796
24.2%

31 / 128
10.9%

6 / 55

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

144 / 356
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
48.5%

2075 / 4275
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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