Joey Kornman, a graduate of West Hartford’s Hall High School and currently a junior at Brandeis University, was the winner of his game and has reached the next phase of Jeopardy’s National College Championship.

Joey Kornman of West Hartford on Jeopardy on Feb. 9, 2022. Courtesy photo

By Ronni Newton

Joey Kornman did a great job keeping his win in the first round of Jeopardy’s National College Championship a secret, and was thrilled to finally be able to talk about that particular game after the episode aired Wednesday, Feb. 9.

He even had a cameo on Jimmy Kimmel Live the night his episode aired, when his correct response to a “historic mean tweet” voiced by the show’s Guillermo Rodriguez was replayed.

“It has been a bit overwhelming to receive this much support from all over the internet, and also funny to see how many people are mad at me for missing a question about ‘Gossip Girl,’” Kornman told We-Ha.com from Athens, Greece, where the Brandies University junior, who is majoring in classical studies and economics, is spending the semester abroad. The question was: 2007 CW show starring Blake Lively and Leighton Meester.

Korman is a 2019 graduate of Hall High School, and went through a lengthy process, which started with a test last winter, before securing a spot on the show – which he said is the “pinnacle” of trivia competition.

“You know what you know, and you can’t be too nervous about it,” Kornman said previously about competing. He said he did cram for one category – novels and authors – and knows sports and pop culture aren’t his strengths. “I am a geography-history kind of guy.”

Kornman’s next appearance on Jeopardy’s National College Championship will be in the semifinal round on Friday, Feb. 18. The show begins at 8 p.m. on ABC (locally on WTNH), and his game is the second, which will begin at 8:30 p.m. and will also be available the following day on Hulu.

Getting to the semifinals earned Kornman at least $20,000. The three semifinalists with the highest scores will advance to the finals.

The overall winner, which will be revealed at the conclusion of the finals on Feb. 22, will earn a $250,000 grand prize and the title of “Jeopardy! National College Champion.”

More information, including a list of all participants, can be found here.

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