Warning: This page contains spoilers for the April 9, 2026, 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 Writers In Residence) for Thursday, April 9, 2026 (Season 42, Game 154):
In 1759 he purchased Ferney, the French home where he lived for 2 decades, largely because of its proximity to the Swiss border
(correct response beneath the contestants)
Today’s Jeopardy! contestants:
Prithish David, a financial advisory consultant from Washington, DC
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Alexandra Leith, a national account manager originally from Dedham, Massachusetts
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Jamie Ding, a bureaucrat & law student from Lawrenceville, New Jersey (19-day total: $539,573)
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Andy’s Pregame Thoughts:
In a game that made a lot of fans think Jamie’s run had ended—especially after Good Morning America ran a story about him yesterday morning—Jamie Ding survived a scare in Final Jeopardy and is now a 19-day champion. Today, he faces off against D.C.’s Prithish David and Massachusetts’s Alexandra Leith.
What else is at stake today for Jamie?
- Victory today would tie Jamie with Julia Collins for 7th place in terms of regular-play games won;
- Jamie is $9,923 away from #14 Jason Zuffranieri on the list of all-time winnings (including tournaments and consolation prizes);
- Jamie is $21,410 away from #6 Mattea Roach on the list of regular play winnings;
- Jamie is 15 correct responses away from #12 Jason Zuffranieri on the list of correct responses all time and 35 correct responses away from #11 Andrew He;
- Jamie is 43 correct responses away from Mattea Roach for #6 in terms of correct responses in regular play.
(Content continues below)
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Correct response: Who is Voltaire?
More information about Final Jeopardy:
(The following write-up is original content and is copyright 2026 The Jeopardy! Fan. It may not be copied without linked attribution back to this page.)
Due to his outspoken advocacy of civil liberties and his satires of 18th-century French institutions, which often left him at odds with the French monarchy to the point where he was banned from Paris by Louis XV in 1754, the French writer Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet) purchased an estate at Ferney, on the French side of the France–Switzerland border. The location was certainly chosen in case Voltaire needed to escape across the border on a moment’s notice. The commune, now part of the Geneva metropolitan area, was renamed Ferney-Voltaire after the writer in the 19th century.
Certainly, even if one knew significant details of the life of other writers of the era, say Rousseau, knowledge of the Geneva area (and knowledge of the existence of Ferney-Voltaire) should be enough to tip the answering scales in the direction of the famed satirist.
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Game Recap:
Even though Jamie led at the midpoint, It looked for a second like Alexandra Leith might get some momentum going in Double Jeopardy when she found a Daily Double immediately; however, Jamie found the last Daily Double and ran a pair of categories on the second board in order to cement another strong runaway performance.
Jamie put the exclamation point on today’s victory, going conservative with his wager and getting the opportunity to put his score back to an even number at $572,600. He’ll try to end the week and pick up victory #21 tomorrow.
Scores going into Final:
Jamie $32,200
Prithish $6,600
Alexandra $6,000
Tonight’s results:
Alexandra $6,000 – $601 = $5,399 (Who?)
Prithish $6,600 – $100 = $6,500 (Who is Wyss?)
Jamie $32,200 + $827 = $33,027 (Who was Voltaire?) (20-day total: $572,600)
Game Stats:
Jamie $26,400 Coryat, 30 correct, 4 incorrect, 52.63% in first on buzzer (30/57), 1/2 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
Prithish $6,600 Coryat, 9 correct, 1 incorrect, 12.28% in first on buzzer (7/57), 2/3 on rebound attempts (on 6 rebound opportunities)
Alexandra $5,600 Coryat, 13 correct, 3 incorrect, 26.32% in first on buzzer (15/57), 0/0 on rebound attempts (on 3 rebound opportunities)
Combined Coryat Score: $38,600
Jamie Ding, to win:
21 games: 75.230%
22: 56.596%
23: 42.577%
24: 32.031%
25: 24.097%
Avg. streak: 23.037 games.
Andy’s Thoughts:
- A commenter on Facebook felt that she hadn’t seen a lot of science categories lately, with the implication that she thought Jamie wasn’t particularly strong in the category. I think seeing Jamie run a science category certainly puts that crackpot theory to rest.
- Today’s J!6 clues can be found at the monthly archive.
Final Jeopardy! wagering suggestions:
(Scores: Jamie $32,200 Prithish $6,600 Alexandra $6,000)
Jamie: You can safely bet up to $18,999 today. (Actual bet: $827)
Alexandra: In the battle for second, bet between $1,201 and $4,799; betting at least $1,201 defends against the possibility that Prithish will bet less than $600 here. (Actual bet: $601)
Prithish: In the battle for second, standard cover bet is $5,401. You could also bet between $2 and $599, forcing Alexandra to be correct and bet at least $1,200 to beat you. (Actual bet: $100)
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