Amy Schneider wins hard-fought 'Jeopardy!' Tournament of Champions

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Writer Amy Schneider took home the honor of winning the popular show Jeopardy's! "Tournament of Champions" Monday.

San Francisco software developer Andrew He got second place, while Pacific Grove, California native Associate Professor of Operations Research Sam Buttrey received the third place award.

The tournament had a total of six games. At the end of the final round, Schneider, of Oakland, California, claimed the $250,000 prize, while He took $100,000 home and Buttrey received $50,000.

After her win, Schneider said, "I feel amazing. Earlier in the finals, I had this sudden moment of seeing myself and being like 'I’m on stage in the Tournament of Champions finals,' and that was crazy. And I won! It’s a great feeling."

Schneider is the first openly transgender contestant to play in and take home the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions first prize.

She commented, "I’m going to keep going out there and being me ... being in places where people like me haven’t been before, it’s a very powerful thing to do."

Season 38 was ultimately one for the books, in which Schneider broke records alongside other competitors like Matt Amodio and Mattea Roach. The season also included a new "Second Chance" event and the largest Tournament of Champions field in history.