Danger! Champion Troy Meyer holds back tears as he discusses defeats and reveals biggest rival for Tournament of Champions

DANGER! Recent big winner Troy Meyer has admitted losing after six games was a tough pill.

He revealed in an emotional new interview that he was “sad” and needed a reminder he was returning for the 2023 Tournament of Champions.

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Troy — a music executive from Tampa, Fla. and an online trivia wonder — became a household name ahead of Friday’s shock surprise totaling $214,802.

Jake DeArruda, a Vermont delivery handler, defeated the Jeopardy! champion on 27.01.

Jake took first place with $22,797; Dee Williams was second with $6,600 and Troy was third with $0.

Jake and Troy traded hints, but things turned in Jake’s favor when he grabbed the final “Daily Double,” added a whopping $10,000 and pounded his chest on screen.

All three contestants were unable to compete with Final Jeopardy! and Troy gambled his entire $15,600 on his last bet.

Troy opened up to longtime producer Sarah Foss in a post-game interview and his eyes filled.

“I AM SAD TO SEE IT END”

Proudly positioned on his podium, he announced that Jeopardy! has: “been a big part of my life and everyone here has been so nice – just being here is an amazing thing.

“I’m sad it’s ending,” he added.

Producer Foss comforted when Troy will return to the $250,000 winners tournament in September: “Well, it’s over for now!”

“Yep,” Troy confirmed with a smile.

He was then asked for his thoughts on the tournament and didn’t shy away from citing a winner that he will judge.

“Well, Kris [Pannullo] is obviously an incredible player and someone I will definitely be looking for in the Tournament of Champions,” said Troy.

“[I plan] to bring my game and play as well as possible.”

The tournament is for players from the previous season who have won more than 4 games.

So far this season, four more contestants have won who were big enough to qualify for next year’s tournament.

That would be fan favorite Ray Lalonde with 13 wins, former poker ace Cris with the most money and most wins (21 and $748,000), five-day champion Luigi de Guzman, and four-day champion and priest David Sibley.

“This is the biggest dream come true,” Troy continued, “I knew I could do it if I ever got a chance.”

The highlight is “just being able to live a dream,” he concluded somberly.

“I HOPED HE WOULD WALK MORE”

Fans felt for Troy in response to the clip shared on YouTube and admitted they were hoping for a longer series as well.

One wrote: “Hope he’s ok I’ve seen him [sitting] in a chair and he didn’t look like himself in his last game, so I hope he’s okay.”

And another: “Troy was great to me. I was really hoping he would do a few more. But these challengers go in and steal the show.”

Execs admitted on their weekly podcast that Troy had “demanded” to sit for his last two games and they were happy to comply.

MADE FOR DANGER!

Troy’s life certainly seemed to his Jeopardy! Appearance, which is perhaps why it was difficult to put everything into words.

He revealed on stage that his wife Genevieve Sheehan was a contestant in 2009 – they met anonymously online on a message board when she was practicing for the competition. They share a son, 10.

Troy also humbly admitted that he’s on what is technically “the best quiz team in the world” – having won the Online Quiz League seven times in a row.

He teamed with The Chase’s Brandon Blackwell and Victoria Groce and won the global competition.

Brandon and other fellow chasers were in the audience at his games, as was his wife, and he definitely made them proud.

Troy’s emotional victories had him looking up close to tears during his run for the sweetest reason.

His mother passed away last year and host Ken revealed he has “a great love” for watching Jeopardy! together.

Meanwhile, Troy’s first four wins were outliers, meaning he’d won the W before Final Jeopardy – a great stat to go home with.

Troy’s fifth win earned him $1 more than Amy Scheider’s total at the same time in 2022 – she won last year’s Tournament of Champions.

“My son is obsessed with trains,” Troy added in his new chat about what he’ll be doing now. “I think the first thing we buy is a really nice train set for him and we’re going to work in this music studio.”

Ken Jennings, 48, hosted Troy’s high-score run and Mayim Bialik, 47, will switch for the contestant-turned-host starting in late February.

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