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 June 18, 2026.

By weekday of airing

Weekday All champions 5+ time champions 10+ time champions
Monday
49.7%

417 / 839
24.4%

29 / 119
12.7%

7 / 55

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

386 / 839
20.2%

23 / 114
7.4%

4 / 54

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde
Wednesday
48.9%

412 / 843
25.2%

32 / 127
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
Thursday
50.4%

422 / 838
22.6%

28 / 124
3.8%

2 / 52

Rogers, Zuffranieri
Friday
48.6%

411 / 845
24.0%

30 / 125
3.6%

2 / 55

Roach, Riccardi

By overall position in tape day

Position All champions 5+ time champions 10+ time champions
1
50.1%

422 / 842
22.3%

27 / 121
12.5%

7 / 56

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding
2
45.4%

382 / 842
21.6%

25 / 116
7.4%

4 / 54

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde
3
48.7%

411 / 844
24.6%

31 / 126
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
4
50.8%

427 / 841
22.6%

28 / 124
3.8%

2 / 52

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
48.9%

405 / 828
24.8%

30 / 121
3.7%

2 / 54

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
50.1%

424 / 847
22.3%

27 / 121
12.5%

7 / 56

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding
2
52.8%

1085 / 2055
21.2%

25 / 118
7.4%

4 / 54

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde
3
44.1%

345 / 783
24.6%

31 / 126
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
4
40.9%

143 / 350
23.4%

29 / 124
3.8%

2 / 52

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
29.8%

50 / 168
24.4%

29 / 119
3.7%

2 / 54

Roach, Riccardi
6
100.0%

1 / 1
100.0%

1 / 1
N/A

0 / 0

Overall
48.7%

2048 / 4204
23.3%

142 / 609
7.7%

21 / 271

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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