‘Jeopardy! Masters’ Has Officially Moved Beyond James Holzhauer — Here’s the Champion Who’s Actually Redefining the Game

Image by Zanda Rice

 

For the second year in a row, Jeopardy! legend James Holzhauer is absent from the Masters spotlight — but don’t worry, someone else has taken the reins. Yogesh Raut, the unapologetic trivia assassin and last year’s runner-up, has stepped into Holzhauer’s shoes—and smashed right through them. With high-risk wagers, viral buzzer antics, and a flair for villainy, Raut is turning this year’s Masters tournament into must-see TV currently airing on ABC.

Yogesh Raut Has Taken James Holzhauer’s Role as the ‘Jeopardy!’ Villain

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Yogesh Raut was a three-time champion on regular Jeopardy! which aired January 2023 during Season 39. He moved to the 2024 Tournament of Champions, where he defeated Ben Chan and Troy Meyer in the finals after a strong showing throughout the competition. Raut’s TOC win guaranteed him a spot on the 2024 Jeopardy! Masters, where he would finish in second behind Victoria Groce, despite putting up gaudy scores in nearly every match. Raut is currently a standout on 2025 Jeopardy! Masters turning in dominant performances early in the season.”

Since his first stint on Masters, Raut has modeled his game after Jeopardy!‘s signature high-roller, James Holzhauer, by placing massive wagers on Daily Doubles, resulting in big scores that often leave his competition in the dust. Thanks to multiple all-or-nothing Daily Double gambles, Raut posted dominant scores in early matches, thanks to aggressive Daily Double wagers. His range of knowledge shows no boundaries, as he can approach any subject with the utmost confidence. When Raut appears in a special competition, he is a force to be reckoned with.

Every noteworthy Jeopardy! contestant should possess a signature trait or flourish, from Holzhauer’s “all-in” gesture to Matt Amodio’s “what’s” phrasing. Viewers at home can’t miss Raut’s indelible feature: aggressive buzzing. Whenever Raut buzzes in, which happens a lot, he looks like he’s using the clicking device as a stress ball and smashing it to a pulp. Everyone has their own unique strategy to master the buzzer, but Raut’s approach has him convinced that the harder you press down on it, the more likely you are to ring in before your opponents. Fans online are quick to complain about his buzzer strategy being distracting, but it’s always a hilarious sight gag.

One missed syllable prevented this ‘Jeopardy!’ contestant from winning.

In his two Jeopardy! Masters appearances, Raut has taken the mantle of “game show villain,” a self-proclaimed title long held by the self-assured Holzhauer. Without partaking in any bits, Raut’s constant smirking and amusement with his risky betting (who recently joked about betting it all when it would’ve been unnecessary to do so), has made him a natural antagonist on the stage.

Raut’s outspoken personality translated off the stage after appearing on standard Jeopardy! He embarked on a lengthy social media rant, railing against the long-running game show for being “fundamentally incompatible with true social justice,” as well as a faux test of one’s knowledge and a “glorified reality show.” If someone criticizes him in the press, he shows no hesitation in responding to his critics, as a writer from Slate learned. Credit to Jeopardy! producers for swallowing their pride by inviting Raut back to their special tournaments despite his disparaging statements online.

‘Jeopardy!’ Has Successfully Found New Stars

 

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In a post-Holzhauer world, the Las Vegas gambler who shattered all show records due to his high-risk wagers and inspired everyone in his wake to chase after Daily Doubles, Jeopardy! has seen an onslaught of super-champs and major money earners. When examining the all-time leaderboards, recent competitors like Matt Amodio, Amy Schneider, Mattea Roach, and Cris Pannullo sit at the top. However, regular-season success has not always translated into tournament glory. Raut didn’t light the world on fire during his run on regular Jeopardy!, but he steps up his game when the lights shine the brightest in primetime.

As long as he is active in the trivia world, no one would imagine a Jeopardy! Masters tournament without the presence of Jeopardy James himself, Holzhauer. Have no fear, though–the show’s primetime tournament can survive without the game show heavy, as Raut is here to be the final boss that all contestants must bypass.