Jeopardy single-day record set, surpasses WIZM’s Williams 1990 total by $102,014

CULVER CITY, Calif. — A 34-year-old professional sports gambler from Las Vegas won more than $110,000 on “Jeopardy!” yesterday, breaking the record for single-day cash winnings.

James Holzhauer won the episode with a total of $110,914.

That’s 102,014 dollars more than a journalist from La Crosse, Wisconsin, won back in 1990. That’s when WIZM’s own Brad Williams finished in second place with 8,900 dollars.

Of course, Williams may have come away the winner that day had he gotten this $500 answer right: “Wines from this state include Chesapeake Blanc, Plantation Blush & James River White.”

Williams’ question/answer: What is Maryland? But the correct state was Virginia.

Williams did, however, get Final Jeopardy correct.

That answer: While a regular on Major Bowes’ radio show, she said, “I’m 7 years old & I can sing 23 arias.”

Williams bet $4,400 of his $4,500 with this correct question/answer: “Who is Beverly Sills?”

The other two contestants got it wrong, but the winner, Tom Stimson, wagered enough that he would never relinquish his lead heading into Final Jeopardy. See the entire show log here.

The previous single-day Jeopardy record of $77,000 was set by Roger Craig in 2010.

Tuesday’s win was the fourth consecutive victory for Holzhauer, whose winnings total more than $244,000. He will face two new challengers Wednesday.

“Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek revealed in March that he was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer but said he intends to fight the disease and keep on working. The episode that aired Tuesday was taped Feb. 11.