JEOPARDY! icon Juveria Zaheer has apologized to fans in a recent message after her loss during the game show’s 2024 Tournament of Champions.

Juveria shared a heartfelt message thread on X, formerly known as Twitter, at the end of February after her unexpected Jeopardy! loss.

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Jeopardy! contestant Juveria Zaheer has shared a message on X to fans about her unexpected loss during the 2024 Tournament of ChampionsCredit: Instagram/Jeopardy!

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She referred to her loss as ‘midnight for Cinderella’ and thanked friends and family for their supportCredit: Instagram/Jeopardy!
“It’s midnight for Cinderella, but every moment of this experience has been the most unexpected gift of my life,” the contestant wrote.

“So grateful to everyone on the Jeopardy! team (especially John Barra!) who saw something in me I couldn’t even see in myself.”

She then thanked her family, her university, and Canada, as well as “the nice people on the internet who reached out and watched.”

“I am so sorry to have let you down,” Juveria wrote.

“I did the best I could and I am so so grateful for your support.”

But that wasn’t all Juveria had to share with viewers, as she had some words on what’s next for her.

She teased going back to the “real world” and responding to emails and rescheduling meetings.

“Although my buzzer had turned into a pumpkin, I wouldn’t trade any of it. Anything worth trying is also worth failing at – and all we can do is be brave and take chances to do our best,” she said.

The competitor kept a positive attitude despite her loss.
‘We were rooting for you’ Jeopardy! fans cry as Juveria Zaheer loses Tournament of Champions in heartbreaking nail-biter

TOURN APART

Juveria’s loss during Jeopardy!’s 40th season at the 2024 Tournament of Champions left fans devastated.

The talented player was eventually dethroned by a relentless Luigi de Guzman.

The Whitby, Ontario, psychologist faced three-day champ Kevin Belle, a trail planner from Silver Spring, Maryland; and five-day champ Luigi, an attorney from Arlington, Virginia.

Juveria became a Jeopardy! sensation by advancing to the ToC, winning both the Second Chance tournament and the Champions Wildcard.

But much like Second Chance winner Rowan Ward in the previous ToC, it all went south for the Canadian fan-favorite in the end.

In the Jeopardy! round, things were looking promising when she leaped to $9,000 on a True Daily Double.

A battle of True Daily Doubles ensued, but it was Luigi who seized the moment, finding both and doubling up to $20,000 on the latter snatching the lead.

Undeterred, Juveria managed to score “just enough to keep the lead,” as noted by host Ken Jennings, heading into Final Jeopardy.

The climactic Final Jeopardy! question on “World Travel” proved to be the deciding factor.

While Kevin’s “Eerorail” was incorrect with a $0 wager, Luigi’s correct response of “Eurostar” catapulted him to a whopping $43,999 total.

All eyes were on Juveria, whose “The Chunnel” response cost her $21,000, leaving Luigi as a semifinalist with the highest total yet.

‘HEARTBREAKING’

Despite the intense gameplay, fans hated to see Juveria’s departure since she was the highlight of a frustrating, past-player-riddled season.

“All my faves are dropping,” one fan wrote on Reddit.

“This tournament has been heartbreaking so far tbh. Lots of drama this year!” wrote another.

“Congratulations to Luigi! That’s a heck of a match!” applauded a third.

“This ToC has been terrible so far tbh,” ripped a fourth.

Another fan wrote, “All of the fan favorites and high seeders are dropping like flies and this is so interesting to watch! Ray Lalonde, please break the pattern on Monday!”

“If Luigi hadn’t gotten the FJ correct, Kevin would have made it to the semis. Truly an awe-inspiring game. Some of the best players to ever play the game haven’t escaped the QFs, beaten by worthy opponents,” someone else observed.

Applause to Juveria, nevertheless. Truly an amazing player! Hope she gets an invite to the JIT after this upcoming one because she’s clearly capable of great things.”

“I was rooting for Juveria so much. But congrats Luigi!” another penned.

“Once again, daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn !!!!!!!!” wrote one more.

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Juveria added that she was sorry she let her friends and family down but was grateful for the experienceCredit: Instagram/Jeopardy!

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She noted she would be going ‘back to the real world’ after departing Jeopardy!Credit: Instagram/Jeopardy!

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That included answering emails and scheduling meetings, according to the playerCredit: Instagram/Jeopardy!