Claire McNear, Rolling Stone (spoiler alert for the week-ago episode):

As Final Jeopardy!’s soothing doo-doo-doo came to a close, host Ken Jennings turned to contestant Alison Betts, who trailed her two opponents in a distant third place. But Betts hadn’t attempted to work out which 1960s book character had been rewarded by having “his brave act go unrecognized.” Instead, she placed a small bet and wrote, “I hope they both bet everything” along with a smiley face. The studio audience laughed. Then Jennings turned to the contestant to Betts’ right, Isaac Hirsch — who was wrong and did indeed bet everything, sending him to zero. And then it was Josh Hill’s turn to reveal his results. Another wrong answer. Another wager of everything. Another zero.

The most un-Jeopardy! of sounds rang out across the Alex Trebek Stage: Gasps! Cries! Somewhere in the country, surely, dentures tumbled. Betts collapsed into her lectern, the come-from-behind winner with a ticket punched for the Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament’s semifinals.

I loved the logic behind Betts’ betting (really, is there a more perfectly named contestant for this story?). There are many reasons I’d tank on Jeopardy! but mathing under stress is high on the list.