Main Line Woman Wins 'Jeopardy!' Monday

MERION STATION, PA — A local woman has been crowned the newest "Jeopardy!" champion.

Melissa Klapper, of Merion Station, secured her second appearance on the long-running quiz program Monday night.

Klapper, who holds a PhD and is a professor of American and women's history at Rowan University, came out on top with $25,801 after Final Jeopardy Monday.

She defeated one-day champion Kelly Barry.

Klapper, who has published several books, went into Double Jeopardy in second place with $5,200, just behind competitor Jake Garrett who had $6,800.

Early in Double Jeopardy, Klapper was in third place, but she forged ahead and put herself in a solid position by nailing two Daily Double questions late in the round.

Klapper's lead was nearly unbeatable going into Final Jeopardy with $24,400. Garrett went into Final with $12,400 and Barry $8,200.

"Countries of Africa" was the category for Final Jeopardy, and the clue was:

At one time a province of the Roman Empire, this kingdom is known to Arabic scholars as Al-Maghrib Al-Aqsa, “the far west”

All three players answered correctly — Morocco — with Garrett betting his total score to give him $24,800.

But Klapper's bet of $401 secured her champion status by just $1 over Garrett.

According to Rowan University, Klapper passed a series of online written tests.

"After an audition over Zoom, which entailed playing a mock game, she was to become a contestant," the university said in a news release. "Over winter break, Klapper traveled to Los Angeles to appear on the show. 'Jeopardy!' tapes two to three months before the show’s actual air date."

Klapper will face off against Charlotte Diffendale and Brandon Anderson at 7 p.m. on ABC Tuesday in her second "Jeopardy!" appearance.