Puzzling Jeopardy! rule change gives Grant DeYoung shock Tournament of Champions entry

A rule change on Jeopardy! is giving an unexpected contestant a chance at the Tournament of Champions.

Jeopardy! viewers are scratching their heads after an apparent change of the rules that is letting four-day winner Grant DeYoung potentially take part in the show’s next Tournament of Champions.

The quiz show has caused fans to raise eyebrows in the past and raised ire recently, specifically with the announcement of a new pop culture version of the show fans feel will ruin the original. 

The show has suffered from losses in viewership as well over the ways that fans have felt alienated, but in the end, it is still going strong.

However, DeYoung, who has also left fans confused over other rules he seemingly has broken, has proven to be the most puzzling contestant yet.

After noticing a special accommodation he had during gameplay, fans also took note of a hint that he could be in the Tournament of Champions.

Grant DeYoung was given a place in the Tournament of Champions confusing fans (Image: Instagram)

DeYoung impressively racked up a total prize total of $81,203 after a four-day winning streak that ended on May 21.

His impressive play saw Ken Jennings tell him that his four wins could make it likely he would appear in Tournament of Champions–which led fans to be confused, as the the usual requirement for participation in the tournament is five consecutive wins.

However, others quickly clarified on an Instagram post that he actually could qualify.

“All 4 game champions were eventually qualified at TOC in the last 3 editions,” one fan wrote.

“With a shorter eligibility window and the expansion of TOC field in the last 2 editions. I think Grant might get in the 32nd TOC. Since 2021 TOC where al 4 game champions competed, some o them made it to the semifinals like: Veronica, Ryan B, Ryan H, Maureen, John & David,” they added.

DeYoung will face off against two other contestants so far in the next tournament (Image: Instagram)

The Tournament of Champions has seen several winners go on to win impressive amounts of cash after everything was said and done with the most recent champ, Yogesh Raut, taking home $250,000.

The current bracket for the next tournament sees DeYoung at the bottom of the pack.

It includes Celebrity Jeopardy Season 2 winner Lisa Ann Walter, who has so far won $1,000,000 for Charity.

The other participants are two five-game winners. They are Alison Betts of San Jose, California, who won $121, 500, and Amy Hummel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who won $100,994.