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 March 24, 2026.

By weekday of airing

Weekday All champions 5+ time champions 10+ time champions
Monday
50.1%

414 / 827
24.3%

27 / 111
12.0%

6 / 50

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker
Tuesday
46.4%

384 / 827
20.4%

22 / 108
8.0%

4 / 50

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde
Wednesday
49.3%

409 / 830
26.1%

31 / 119
10.0%

5 / 50

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer
Thursday
50.9%

420 / 825
23.9%

28 / 117
4.2%

2 / 48

Rogers, Zuffranieri
Friday
49.1%

409 / 833
25.4%

30 / 118
4.0%

2 / 50

Roach, Riccardi

By overall position in tape day

Position All champions 5+ time champions 10+ time champions
1
50.5%

419 / 830
22.1%

25 / 113
11.8%

6 / 51

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker
2
45.8%

380 / 830
21.8%

24 / 110
8.0%

4 / 50

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde
3
49.1%

408 / 831
25.4%

30 / 118
10.0%

5 / 50

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer
4
51.3%

425 / 828
23.9%

28 / 117
4.2%

2 / 48

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
49.4%

403 / 816
26.3%

30 / 114
4.1%

2 / 49

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
50.4%

421 / 835
22.1%

25 / 113
11.8%

6 / 51

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker
2
52.9%

1078 / 2036
21.4%

24 / 112
8.0%

4 / 50

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde
3
44.7%

344 / 770
25.4%

30 / 118
10.0%

5 / 50

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer
4
41.8%

142 / 340
24.8%

29 / 117
4.2%

2 / 48

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
31.3%

50 / 160
25.9%

29 / 112
4.1%

2 / 49

Roach, Riccardi
6
100.0%

1 / 1
100.0%

1 / 1
N/A

0 / 0

Overall
49.2%

2036 / 4142
24.1%

138 / 573
7.7%

19 / 248

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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