Warning: This page contains spoilers for the January 31, 2025, game of Jeopardy! — please do not scroll down if you wish to avoid being spoiled. Please note that the game airs as early as noon Eastern in some U.S. television markets.
Here’s today’s Final Jeopardy (in the category U.S. Place Names) for Friday, January 31, 2025 (Season 41, Game 105):
Before 1867, this city that lends its name to a type of tree was known as Novo Arkhangelsk
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Kevin Laskowski, an Episcopal priest from Falls Church, Virginia
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Allison Gross, a data scientist from Cleveland, Ohio
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Mark Fitzpatrick, a content manager from Riverside, Connecticut
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
Day 5 of the 32nd Tournament of Champions features Mark Fitzpatrick, Allison Gross, and Kevin Laskowski. Mark comes in as the favorite from the prediction model, but as this tournament has seen upsets galore, there are absolutely no guarantees at this point.
In other news, I’ve been combing through lots of old games recently getting ready to cover the 2nd Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament, set to tape next week and air immediately following the Tournament of Champions. Best of luck to all involved!
(Content continues below)
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Correct response: What is Sitka, Alaska?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2025 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
Sitka, known as Novo Arkhangelsk (New Archangel) when it was under Russian rule, was the site of the transfer ceremony of the Alaska Purchase in 1867, when ownership of Alaska transferred to the United States in that year. It also served as territorial capital until Juneau gained economic importance after the Klondike Gold Rush; the capital moved in 1906. The city also gives its name to Picea sitchensis, or the Sitka spruce, a spruce tree prevalent in the Sitka area.
Although there are multiple steps required to reach a correct response, this is a straightforward path to solve: the Russian name + “before 1867” + the category tells you that it’s an Alaskan place. From there, you need to know what Alaskan place also names a tree.
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Game Recap & Tonight’s Game Stats:
Looking to find out who won Jeopardy! today? Here’s the Friday, January 31, 2025 Jeopardy! by the numbers, along with a recap:
Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: World Facts; “H.R.”; Lucky 13; The Theater; Of Equal Measure; Playing Sportsball)
Mark found the Daily Double before either of his opponents had a chance to speak. After 15 clues, the scores were Mark $4,800 Allison $1,600 Kevin $600.
Statistics at the first break (16 clues):
Mark 6 correct 1 incorrect
Allison 3 correct 1 incorrect
Kevin 2 correct 2 incorrect
Today’s interviews:
Kevin took some flak because he didn’t ring in on KJV questions—because Episcopalians don’t use the KJV.’
Allison had a watch party at her grandparents’ assisted living facility.
Mark does not want to apologize to Scaramucci after getting a clue about him wrong.
Mark picked up another seven correct after the break to extend his lead.
Statistics after the Jeopardy round:
Mark 13 correct 2 incorrect
Allison 5 correct 1 incorrect
Kevin 6 correct 2 incorrect
Scores after the Jeopardy! Round:
Mark $7,000
Allison $2,600
Kevin $2,200
Double Jeopardy! Round:
(Categories: What An Artist Dies In Me; Etymology; Way, Way Back In The Day; On The Movie Soundtrack; Nature; Playing Non-Sports”Ball”)
Allison got DD2 incorrect, while Mark picked up $5,000 on DD3. Allison played well over the final twelve clues to make sure it wasn’t a runaway—and all three players were in contention going into Clue 61.
Statistics after Double Jeopardy:
Mark 22 correct 4 incorrect
Allison 15 correct 2 incorrect
Kevin 10 correct 3 incorrect
Total number of unplayed clues this season: 26 (0 today).
Scores going into Final:
Mark $16,400
Allison $10,400
Kevin $6,200
This Final Jeopardy was a Triple Stumper; Mark’s position going into Final Jeopardy makes him the winner as he advances to the semifinals!
Tonight’s results:
Kevin $6,200 – $6,199 = $1 (What is Juneau?)
Allison $10,400 – $2,001 = $8,399 (What is Palm Sp)
Mark $16,400 – $4,401 = $11,999 (What Newport) (Semi-Finalist)
Other Miscellaneous Game Statistics:
Daily Double locations:
1) WORLD FACTS $1000 (clue #4)
Mark 1800 +1800 (Allison 0 Kevin 0)
2) ETYMOLOGY $2000 (clue #2)
Allison 4200 -3000 (Mark 5400 Kevin 2200)
3) WHAT AN ARTIST DIES IN ME $1600 (clue #18, $9600 left on board)
Mark 11400 +5000 (Allison 6000 Kevin 6200)
Overall Daily Double Efficiency for this game: 72
Clue Selection by Row, Before Daily Doubles Found:
J! Round:
Mark 5 4 3 5*
Allison
Kevin
DJ! Round:
Mark 5 4 5 4*
Allison 5* 3† 3 5 4 2 3
Kevin 4 3 2 3 4 2† 5
† – selection in same category as Daily Double
Average Row of Clue Selection, Before Daily Doubles Found:
Mark 4.38
Allison 3.57
Kevin 3.29
Unplayed clues:
J! Round: None!
DJ! Round: None!
Total Left On Board: $0
Number of clues left unrevealed this season: 26 (0.25 per episode average), 0 Daily Doubles
Game Stats:
Mark $12,200 Coryat, 22 correct, 4 incorrect, 42.11% in first on buzzer (24/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
Allison $13,400 Coryat, 15 correct, 2 incorrect, 24.56% in first on buzzer (14/57), 2/2 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
Kevin $6,200 Coryat, 10 correct, 3 incorrect, 19.30% in first on buzzer (11/57), 1/2 on rebound attempts (on 5 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $31,800
Lach Trash: $12,200 (on 12 Triple Stumpers)
Coryat lost to incorrect responses (less double-correct responses): $10,000
Lead Changes: 0
Times Tied: 0
Player Statistics:
Mark Fitzpatrick, career statistics:
151 correct, 31 incorrect
4/5 on rebound attempts (on 27 rebound opportunities)
38.44% in first on buzzer (153/398)
13/17 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $34,600)
2/7 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $16,371
Allison Gross, career statistics:
92 correct, 17 incorrect
8/10 on rebound attempts (on 21 rebound opportunities)
30.71% in first on buzzer (86/280)
5/8 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $1,800)
1/5 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $13,200
Kevin Laskowski, career statistics:
74 correct, 17 incorrect
7/12 on rebound attempts (on 31 rebound opportunities)
24.56% in first on buzzer (70/285)
2/4 on Daily Doubles (Net Earned: $0)
3/5 in Final Jeopardy
Average Coryat: $11,400
Andy’s Thoughts:
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Mark $16,400 Allison $10,400 Kevin $6,200)
Mark: Standard cover bet over Allison is $4,401. (Actual bet: $4,401)
Allison: Cover bet over Kevin is $2,001—because Kevin is still in contention for victory, you can safely just make the cover bet here. (Actual bet: $2,001)
Kevin: You have to bet at least $5,800 to have a chance of victory. (Actual bet: $6,199)
Updated ToC odds:
Adriana +720
Isaac +570
Drew B. +660
Will +1000
Amy +1400
Neilesh +410
Ryan +830
Mark +840
Drew G. +1900
Amar +3900
Lucas +5500
Finals length odds:
3 games: +710
4 games: +320
5 games: +210
6 games: +290
7 games: +710
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Figuring it had to be Alaska given the Russian name, but having no idea what Alaskan city has a ‘tree’ name, I just went with Juneau. If you had given this to me as a multiple choice with Sitka as an answer, I still would not have known. I am not familiar with the Sitka Spruce.
Similarly, I knew it had to be an Alaskan city from the Russian name and 1867. Novo made me think of Nome, so I went with that, lol.
I had the same alliterative idea about Nome at first but went with Anchorage.
I was aware of Sitka Spruce, but though I followed Andy’s steps (prior to reading them), I got hung up on Anchorage SOUNDING kind of like Arkhangelsk [not translated] and could not think of any other cities in Alaska at all — just a mental block, I DO know of Juneau, Nome, Fairbanks, Homer, Wasilla and Sitka!
TBH, I think all of us who immediately thought it would be in ‘Alaska’ should feel good about getting so much farther than 2 out of 3 of these champions (including the prediction model favorite).
I know a lot about sitka spruce because I collect guitars and the majority are made with sitka body tops these days. Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of Sitka Alaska
I got as far as “some Alaskan city” and then hit a brick wall.
The Russian name and 1867 immediately told me it was Alaska, and then it was a matter of figuring out the city name associated with a tree; precisely the route you then suggested in your write-up. I couldn’t remember if the Sitka was a spruce or other type of evergreen, but I put that aside because the category was “US Place Names”, so the species of tree wasn’t important. 😀
All I know is that my Alaskan friend would certainly know the correct response to this FJ!!
I got it right with Sitka, but my brain manufactured the nonexistent species “Sitka Pine”.
Well, pine, spruce, some kind of “Christmas tree” 😉.
Today’s Final Jeopardy was fullof “If’s” for me. If had recognized the orginal name as Russian, If I had realized the official transfer of Alaska took place in that year, etc.
I knew none that.
Except of Celebrtity Jeopardy’s Final Jeopardy, I had no “gets” this week. Again, not surprising. Final Jeopardy’s in Tournament play shouldn’t be easy
Good game. Congratulations, Mark!
Just like many other Protestant pastors/churches, some Episcopalian churches still use King James Version while others might pick the New International Verson (NIV) or Revised Standard Version (RSV) or any of another dozen versions. The choice seems to depend on the age/education/style of the pastor and congregation.
I had Alaska on my mind, but then settled on Fargo, ND. Oops! The one thing that I do remember about Sitka, is it being the place that Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds go to in the movie “The Proposal,” where his parents live.
Retro congrats to Mark on that win. Down to 11 of the 21 that started the TOC. Monday will bring us the last Quarterfinal. Should be good, as we see the return of Drew Goins, who was a non-winner before Second Chance and here he is. 4 game winner Amar Kakirde returns, along with 3 game winner Lucas Partridge. Lucas is the participant in this TOC that played in Season 39. Unfortunately he lost in his 4th game, which was the 1st game of Season 40 Regular play.
Have a great weekend everyone! 🙂
I didn’t get to see today’s show beyond the first half of the J! round (special report about the plane crash). I just finished David Remnick’s “Lenin’s Tomb,” so I don’t know if I have Russia on the brain or what, but I figured it out in about two seconds.
I also knew exactly what DD2 was referring to just from your reference.
I enjoyed Mark’s choice for his interview comment.