JEOPARDY! producers have confessed that there were doubts about adding Mattea Roach to the first ever Masters tournament.
The former 23 day champion is battling against some of the most successful and popular past contestants of all time. The popular champion went on a 23 game winning streak Appearing on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast, executive producer Michael Davies let slip that Mattea's participation came with some reservations.
"Let’s just give Mattea some credit," he said on the latest episode, in which he, Sarah Foss and Buzzy Cohen broke down week one of the massive event. "Because there was some doubt expressed about Mattea in many circles before they were invited to Masters."
Mattea, 23, who is non-binary, prefers to go by the pronouns they/them. Although he didn't reveal any specific reason for the doubts, Michael went on to praise Mattea as a great competitor.
Jeopardy! champ flaunts sacred family keepsake with jaw-dropping price tag Amy Schneider shades Jeopardy! Masters in cryptic tweet after losing "Mattea went on a 23 game winning streak at the age of 23. Mattea is the greatest young Jeopardy! players on planet Earth, and is really proving their right to be in this competition."
Michael went on to compliment their buzzer skills, calling them faster than everybody, competitive and able to get on a roll. "(Mattea) gets hot every now and again and there’s just no stopping them," Michael gushed. "They are simmering trying to find a way to get back into this game."
Mattea is currently in fourth place in the two-week event, with nine points and two wins. But she has already outlasted ousted competitors Amy Schneider and Sam Buttrey. And they continue to play strong even in the face of personal tragedy. The beloved Canadian contestant's father, Phillip Henry Roach, recently passed away.
Mattea's sudden loss was reported by Nova Scotia Buzz, which is the 24-year-old's hometown. Phillip Roach "died of a brain aneurysm at his home in Halifax on May 2, 2023," the outlet wrote, adding that his four children with his wife Patti McKinnon were "the greatest joy of his life."
Mattea's father enjoyed playing Trivial Pursuit with his children, the local outlet wrote, and he was proud to have passed down his love of rock music to them.
Mattea was never shy to boast about their bond with their dad on or off stage after first competing on Jeopardy! in April 2022. Mattea's proud parents hosted a watch party at their home for each and of their original 23 wins last year.
Their parents decorated their glass front door with a sign that read: "This is Jeopardy!" Jeopardy! Masters - which has invited back six-fan favorite contestants- finished out its second of three can't-miss weeks.
James Holzhauer, 38, has dominated the Jeopardy! Masters tournament so far, having won five of his six matches with his calling card "all in" Daily Double bets. The tournament's leaderboard showed James so far ahead that he joked the other stats that would determine the eventual $500,000 grand prize weren't even necessary.
With only the semi-finals and finals left starting next Monday, he sarcastically tweeted: "Good thing we had those tiebreakers to establish a clear number 1 seed."
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