Alex Jacob Stuns Viewers with Two All-Ins on Jeopardy T of C

Using skills reminiscent of his days as a professional poker player, Alex Jacob destroyed his opponents in the first round of the finals of the Tournament of Champions on the popular TV game show "Jeopardy."

A gasp was heard from the crowd in the studio and likely echoed by viewers at home when Jacob had a huge lead with $15,200 in the Double Jeopardy round and shoved all-in when landing on a Daily Double clue. The category was "North" and "South" America and after hesitating as if he wasn't sure of the correct response, Jacob posed the proper question and doubled up to $30,400.

That was the former poker pro's second all-in of the day, the first coming on a Daily Double early in the Jeopardy round when his bankroll sat at $5,000. Jacob boosted his total to $10,000 even before the midpoint of the first round and never looked back.

Blowing Away the Competition

By the time host Alex Trebek did his daily back and forth with the contestants at the commercial break, Jacob was miles ahead with $10,600. Matt Jackson, a paralegal from the nation's capital, was in 2nd place with $2,000. Kerry Greene, a volunteer advocate for children in New Hampshire, was stuck on $0 after one correct and one incorrect response.

After the Jeopardy round, Jacob had upped his cash total to $12,400. Jackson's bankroll increased to $4,000, and Greene was in the red at minus $200.

Immediately following Jacob's shocking true Daily Double that put his total at $30,400 in the Double Jeopardy round, he was incorrect on two consecutive clues that knocked his score to $26,800. Jackson then landed on a Daily Double with $5,600 in his stack and wagered $5,000, submitting the correct question and picking up a bit of momentum to go with his new total of $10,600 in cash.

The paralegal gained a little more ground on the front-running Jacob before the end of the Double Jeopardy round, finishing with $14,600 to the $29,600 of the poker pro turned currency trader. Had it been a one-round event, Jacob would have scored a runaway victory, as Greene was even further off the pace with $8,200.

Final Jeopardy

However, the finals of the Tournament of Champions is a two-day affair, so the contestants will have at it again tomorrow. But their totals going into day two are even more lopsided in favor of Jacob due to the results of the Final Jeopardy round.

The game became even more interesting when none of the contestants were correct on the final clue. Jackson dropped $11,600 of his stack to fall to $3,000, Greene wagered $4,800 and missed, taking over 2nd place with $3,400.

And Jacob? He wisely sat on his lead and didn't bet a dime, finishing the day with $29,600 and an overwhelming lead over his T of C opponents.

Don't expect the ex-poker pro with more than $2.6 million in live tournament cashes to sit on the lead tomorrow in the second and final day of action. He is well on his way to winning the first place prize of $250,000 and the title in Jeopardy's Tournament of Champions.

Way to go, Alex!