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 October 30, 2026.

By weekday of airing

Weekday All champions 5+ time champions 10+ time champions
Monday
49.5%

421 / 851
24.4%

30 / 123
14.0%

8 / 57

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding, Groen
Tuesday
45.7%

389 / 851
20.5%

24 / 117
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
Wednesday
49.0%

419 / 855
24.8%

32 / 129
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
Thursday
50.5%

429 / 850
22.0%

28 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
Friday
48.3%

414 / 858
23.3%

30 / 129
3.5%

2 / 57

Roach, Riccardi

By overall position in tape day

Position All champions 5+ time champions 10+ time champions
1
49.9%

426 / 854
22.4%

28 / 125
13.8%

8 / 58

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding, Groen
2
45.1%

385 / 854
21.8%

26 / 119
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
3
48.8%

418 / 856
24.2%

31 / 128
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
4
50.9%

434 / 853
22.0%

28 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
48.5%

408 / 841
24.0%

30 / 125
3.6%

2 / 56

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
49.8%

428 / 859
22.4%

28 / 125
13.8%

8 / 58

Madden, Collins, Holzhauer, Amodio, Long, Whitaker, Ding, Groen
2
52.6%

1097 / 2084
21.5%

26 / 121
9.1%

5 / 55

Jennings, Fisher, Pannullo, Lalonde, Remsen
3
44.3%

352 / 794
24.2%

31 / 128
10.9%

6 / 55

Chu, Jackson, Wilson, Schneider, Harmeyer, Williams
4
40.4%

143 / 354
22.8%

29 / 127
3.8%

2 / 53

Rogers, Zuffranieri
5
29.5%

51 / 173
23.6%

29 / 123
3.6%

2 / 56

Roach, Riccardi
6
100.0%

1 / 1
100.0%

1 / 1
N/A

0 / 0

Overall
48.6%

2072 / 4265
23.0%

144 / 625
8.3%

23 / 277

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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