Jeopardy! Champ James Denison Impresses Opponent with Buzzer Dominance

Contestant Jonathan Rosales calls Denison a "buzzer beast" after narrow loss

Mar. 10, 2026 at 3:10pm

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New Jeopardy! champion James Denison impressed his opponent Jonathan Rosales with his dominant performance on the buzzer during their game that aired on Monday. Despite Rosales acknowledging it would be an "uphill battle" against Denison, he had nothing but praise for the champion, calling him an "absolute beast on the buzzer" and a "great guy." Denison's two-day total of $81,798 put him just $808 shy of tying the record set by James Holzhauer.

Why it matters

Denison's performance has sparked excitement among Jeopardy! fans, with many predicting he could go on to become a Jeopardy! great if he continues his winning streak. His opponent's positive comments also highlight the camaraderie and sportsmanship among the show's contestants.

The details

On Monday's episode, Denison, from Alexandria, Virginia, competed against Rosales, from Glendale, California, and Katie Hoppenjans, from Atlanta, Georgia. Denison won the game after a dominant performance in Double Jeopardy, finishing with a total of $45,599 for the day and a two-day total of $81,798 - just $808 shy of tying James Holzhauer's record.

  • Denison's game aired on Monday, March 9, 2026.
  • Denison is set to face off against two new opponents on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

The players

James Denison

The new Jeopardy! champion from Alexandria, Virginia, who narrowly missed tying James Holzhauer's two-day record.

Jonathan Rosales

Denison's opponent from Glendale, California, who praised the champion's performance and called him a "buzzer beast".

Katie Hoppenjans

Another contestant who competed against Denison and Rosales on the episode that aired on Monday.

James Holzhauer

The Jeopardy! champion whose two-day record of $82,606 Denison nearly tied.

Roger Craig

A former Jeopardy! champion whose two-day total of $114,000 ($77,000 in game two alone) Denison may be aiming to surpass.

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What they’re saying

“Big congrats to James, an absolute beast on the buzzer, and an all-around great guy!”

— Jonathan Rosales, Jeopardy! contestant

“James is a monster! I mean this in the most complimentary way. Katie and Jonathan played well, but James ran away with the game.”

— Reddit user

“An absolute monster on that buzzer! You're in for a good game tomorrow!”

— Jonathan Rosales, Jeopardy! contestant

What’s next

Denison is set to face off against two new opponents, Tim Swankey and Sapana Vora, on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

The takeaway

Denison's impressive performance on the buzzer and near-record-breaking two-day total have generated excitement among Jeopardy! fans, who are eager to see if he can continue his winning streak and potentially become a Jeopardy! great.