Beloved Jeopardy! champion Adriana Harmeyer has made her Jeopardy! Masters season 3 debut, and she now reveals the surprising reason that she didn't think that she'd be invited to play in the tournament. Adriana had a 16-game winning streak in 2024, during which she won a total of $351,600. She then placed third in the 2025 Tournament Of Champions, behind winner Neilesh Vinjamuri and runner-up Isaac Hirsch. After Adriana's first Jeopardy! Masters season 3 game, she's currently in sixth place, behind Yogesh Raut, Roger Craig, Isaac, Victoria Groce, and Matt Amodio, but ahead of Neilesh, Juveria Zaheer, and Brad Rutter.

Adriana revealed that she didn't think that she'd be invited to play in Jeopardy! Masters season 3 because the tournament used to have only six players instead of nine, and she didn't think that she qualified.

In an interview with the Lafayette Journal & Courier, Adriana revealed that she didn't think that she'd be invited to play in Jeopardy! Masters season 3 because the tournament used to have only six players instead of nine, and she didn't think that she qualified.

Adriana explained that she was shocked to get the call, saying, "I was very surprised, because, based on the way they did it last year, I probably wouldn't have because they used to have only six people for Masters, and only the winner of the Tournament of Champions would go on to compete in it, too. This year I guess they decided to expand it so that the finalists in ToC could go through, too."

I was very surprised, because, based on the way they did it last year, I probably wouldn't have because they used to have only six people for Masters, and only the winner of the Tournament of Champions would go on to compete in it, too. This year I guess they decided to expand it so that the finalists in ToC could go through, too.

What Adriana’s Surprising Addition To Jeopardy! Masters Means

Adriana Deserved A Chance To Play In The Jeopardy! Masters Tournament

Adriana's surprising addition to Jeopardy! Masters means that the producers decided there were too many great players to only include six. Expanding the contestant pool to nine meant that more deserving contestants could compete in the tournament, and Adriana is definitely one of them. It's going to be thrilling to see what she can do as she plays against these eight other Jeopardy! greats, especially because she's relatively new to the game and hasn't faced off against many of them yet.

Our Take On Adriana Being Surprised By Jeopardy! Masters Invitation

Adriana Has Another Chance To Prove Her Greatness

Adriana's surprise at being invited to play in Jeopardy! Masters season 3 is a testament to what a respectful player she is. She knew that if there were only six contestants in the season, then she wouldn't qualify to play because she didn't win the Tournament Of Champions. However, placing third in that tournament is still very impressive considering how competitive it is. Adriana, Neilesh, and Isaac are now in a rematch, so she'll have the chance to prove her greatness again.

I'm thrilled that Jeopardy! Masters season 3 expanded from six to nine players because I wanted to see Adriana play again. She's an intelligent, interesting, and poised contestant who makes every game exciting. She deserved a chance to compete in this prestigious tournament. I hope that she advances and has the chance to play against legendary Jeopardy! players she hasn't gone head-to-head with yet, including Victoria, Matt, Roger, Yogesh, Juveria, and Brad. I'm rooting for Adriana to go far in Jeopardy! Masters season 3.

Jeopardy! Masters airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.

Source: Lafayette Journal & Courier