Victoria Groce Reveals What She Really Regrets About Her ‘Jeopardy! Masters’ Loss

Victoria Groce came remarkably close to another Jeopardy! Masters title, but losing the championship is not what bothers her most. After finishing runner-up in Season 4, Groce revealed there is only one thing she wishes had turned out differently.

The writer and speaker from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, competed against Yogesh Raut of Vancouver, Washington, and Andrew He of San Francisco, California, in the September 8 finale.

Raut ultimately won both games of the final and made history as the first two-time Jeopardy! Masters champion. He previously won Season 3, while Groce claimed the Season 2 title and James Holzhauer won the inaugural season.

The One Thing Groce Wishes She Could Have Changed

Despite falling short of another championship, Groce said she has no reason to regret her performance.

There was, however, one part of the result that left her disappointed: she did not secure the $100,000 donation to her chosen charity, Partners in Health (PIH).

The Jeopardy! Masters champion receives $500,000, the Alex Trebek Trophy and the title, along with $100,000 for their selected charity. PIH works with communities and local governments to provide quality medical care and strengthen public health systems.

Speaking on Reddit after the finale, Groce explained why the loss itself did not weigh heavily on her.

“Various people asked me last year if I was disappointed in how the finals came out. I expect I’ll get some of the same questions this year. And the answer’s the same: beyond not securing the donation for PIH, of course not. How could I be?”

Groce compared her repeated appearances on Jeopardy! to Dante from Clerks, quoting the character’s disbelief at simply being there: “I’m not even supposed to be here today!”

She said she never expected to be invited back in 2024 and recognized how many uncertain moments stood between receiving the call to compete and eventually standing on the Jeopardy! stage.

Groce Credits the Unpredictability of the Game

Rather than dwelling on the result, Groce emphasized how many factors can influence a Jeopardy! match.

She said contestants have to accept that their opponents, the board, wagering opportunities, physical condition and even their rhythm with the buzzer can all affect the outcome.

“Keep your eyes on your own paper,” she wrote, explaining her approach to things beyond her control.

For Groce, that mindset makes it easier to accept both victories and defeats. She believes nothing in Jeopardy! is guaranteed or owed to any contestant, and that recognizing this allows players to focus on being grateful for the opportunity.

Her Season 4 run ultimately ended with a $250,000 prize, while Andrew He finished with $150,000.

Raut walked away with the biggest prize and another piece of Jeopardy! history, but Groce’s reaction showed that her disappointment was not about losing the title. It was about missing the chance to turn her performance into a major donation for a cause she cared about.

“Thanks to everyone at Jeopardy! and my fellow contestants for being their delightful selves,” Groce wrote. “And thanks to y’all for watching and making the show possible in the first place <3.”