‘Jeopardy!’: Mattea Roach Comments on Facing Matt Amodio and Amy Schneider in the Tournament of Champions
Toronto resident Mattea Roach just won her fifth consecutive game on Jeopardy!. Now a qualified competitor for the coveted Tournament of Champions, Roach may go up against Jeopardy! quiz whizzes Matt Amodio and Amy Schneider and shared her thoughts on the potential matchup.
Mattea Roach has something in common with Alex Trebek
Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Roach is currently a tutor for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Proud to be representing her home country of Canada, Roach pointed out the common bond she shares with late game show icon, Alex Trebek, who was born in Sudbury, Ontario.
“To be a Canadian on Jeopardy! is always very special,” Roach said, according to Jeopardy.com. “Alex Trebek’s legacy is such a big part of the show. So, yeah, I’m just glad that I’m putting on a good show for all the folks back up North.”
Following her fifth consecutive win, the 23-year-old’s jackpot now totals $117,200. After her initial victory, Roach shared that she planned to use the money to pay off her student loans. Now with more cash winnings, she’s seeking some guidance on how to best utilize the windfall.
“I’m going to talk to a financial advisor and see how I can invest it wisely,” Roach noted. “It’s absolutely unbelievable, like a life-changing amount of money, for someone at my age.”
‘Jeopardy!’ champ may compete against record breakers
Roach once again triumphed on April 11 and had her eye on a placement in the esteemed Tournament of Champions going into her fifth game.
“It feels wild,” she remarked. “After the fourth game I was thinking, ‘I really want to be in that TOC,’ especially with the incredible season, and all the amazing streaks and fantastic players that have been on.”
Jeopardy! champs Amodio and Schneider became famous faces on Jeopardy! after breaking records for consecutive wins. Amodio hit 38 victories with Schneider later passing him with a total of 40. Roach is keeping a positive attitude on possibly squaring off against one – or both – of the two brainiacs in the TOC.
“I will probably lose to them – but it will be an honor to lose to them.” she said of Amodio and Schneider, then referred to their current records. “I’ll try my best, but, I don’t know, 40 and 38, that streak is a long way away.”
Mattea Roach sees ‘no downside’ to taking the ‘Jeopardy!’ test
The first requirement to appear as a Jeopardy! contestant is to take their test in order to qualify. Roach decided to take a stab at the test when she was having some downtime during the global lockdown due to COVID-19.
“I applied during the pandemic,” she told Global’s The Morning Show, as reported by ETCanada.com. “I was, like many people my age, spending a bit more time at my parents’ house than I really expected to. And I was bored and I thought, ‘You know what? Why not shoot my shot?’”
Roach’s perspective of ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’, paid off big time, where she has won a total of over six figures and is on her way to the Tournament of Champions.
“Like, the worst thing that happens is I don’t hear back, and the best thing that happens is maybe I got on the show, so there’s literally no downside to taking the test,” Roach explained. “Then I got the best possible outcome.”
Roach attempts to continue her winning streak on April 12, 2022.
