Who is: The latest UChicago student to become a Jeopardy! champion?
Fourth-year data science and statistics double major Liam Starnes closed out a six-day winning streak on the iconic game show last month, qualifying for the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions, the show’s annual competition for its top players.
“It was definitely a dream come true,” Starnes said of his run. “I’ve been a very huge Jeopardy! fan for a long time.” On his second day on the show, he told the audience that he once had a Jeopardy!-themed birthday party.
Despite his regard for the show, Starnes was skeptical when he first heard from the show’s producers. “I thought it was a scam,” he said of the text message inviting him to call back. “It seemed really hard to believe at first, but it was real.”
For Starnes, the journey to the Jeopardy! main stage was a long one. “First you take an online test and, if you do well enough on that, you go to an audition,” Starnes explained. “At the audition, there’s another test, and if you do well on that, then you play a mock game, and the producers interview you and find out if they want you on the show.”
After auditioning, Starnes waited 18 months before learning he had been selected. “I had kind of already given up,” he said.
When the invitation finally arrived, Starnes had years of preparation to draw upon. Having competed in quiz bowl since middle school, Starnes led his high school team to the National Academic Quiz Tournaments’ High School National Championship Tournament.
Starnes continued his quiz bowl career in college, joining the University of Chicago College Bowl Team in his first year. The team, according to its website, “has won more national championships than any other team in the modern era of the game.” Starnes currently serves as a vice president for club activities.
“Most of my knowledge is from years of quiz bowl and just learning other things, but I did study right before I went on,” Starnes said. In the weeks leading up to his Jeopardy! appearance, he familiarized himself with the show’s question style.
Reflecting on his six-day winning streak, which earned him about $127,000 in cumulative prize winnings, Starnes said his approach shifted over the course of the competition.
“At first, I definitely just focused on enjoying the moment and having fun,” Starnes said. “Obviously, I wanted to win, but I was feeling really nervous and told myself, ‘No matter what, just have fun and see what happens.’ Then as I kept winning, all of a sudden, it was like, ‘I can do this. I can stay on the show for a long time.’”
Starnes also noted the demanding nature of the show’s fast-paced schedule, which involved filming five episodes per day.
“When I was winning, I obviously kept coming back and kept playing, so that was really tiring,” he said. “But it worked out.”
Remembering how he managed the stress and exhaustion of the game, Starnes said, “I would just focus on how amazing an experience I was having and how happy I was just to be there.”
Now back on campus, Starnes is adjusting to newfound fame.
“I was not expecting to get this much attention,” Starnes said. “It seems like almost every day somebody recognizes me and says, ‘Hey, were you on Jeopardy!?’ I was not expecting to be that famous…. It’s just good to see that everyone’s really happy for me.”
When asked about online comments comparing him to The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper, Starnes said, “I don’t really see the resemblance.”
Starnes will return to Jeopardy! next winter for the show’s Tournament of Champions.
“I don’t know how well I’ll do against some really great players, but I’ll try to study and brush up on my weak spots over the next few months,” Starnes said. “I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Offering advice to others interested in quizzing, Starnes said, “Just keep learning new things. If you have something that interests you, don’t be afraid to learn more about it…. You never know what you’ll discover.”
