Nov. 17--It must hurt to win "Jeopardy" so much.
Chicago currency trader Alex Jacob answered the Final Jeopardy clue about African countries with "What is Aleve" in Tuesday's episode of the quiz show.
No matter, because Jacob, an eight-time "Jeopardy" winner, was thousands of dollars ahead of his opponents and could not be caught in the Final Jeopardy round. He easily defeated Vaughn Winchell, a math graduate student from Maryland, and Brennan Bushee, a Massachusetts software developer, to advance in the "Jeopardy" Tournament of Champions.
Jacob, 31, had $28,200 entering Final Jeopardy to Bushee's $11,600 and Winchell's $8,000. No one correctly guessed the Final Jeopardy answer of rhyming African countries Zambia and Gambia. Jacob wagered nothing.
The semi-final rounds were held this week. The overall winner of the tournament, which is expected to wrap up Friday, gets $250,000.
Jacob, a former professional poker player, went on a six-day "Jeopardy" win streak in April that earned him $149,802. In Friday's tournament round, he defeated three-day champion Michael Bilow, who grew up in Highland Park, and California attorney Scott Lord, a five-day champion.
"Jeopardy," which is in its 32nd season, airs on ABC at 3:30 p.m.
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