Matt Amodio won his first 2026 Jeopardy! Invitational quarterfinal, advancing to the semifinals.

Matt Amodio began defending his 2025 Jeopardy! Invitational Tournament title on February 5, 2026, defeating Drew Basile and Karen Farrell in the first quarterfinal. Leading throughout, Amodio reached $18,800 after Final Jeopardy, where he incorrectly guessed Kenya in the “Coins of the World” category despite wagering $0. Farrell correctly identified Gibraltar and finished with $16,400, while Basile also answered correctly and ended with $7,200. Amodio advanced to the semifinals, where he will face the winner of another quarterfinal. The JIT is an invitation-only event for past champions, with the winner earning $150,000 and a spot in the Jeopardy! Masters tournament.