By Charlotte Underwood 

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – LaFollette’s Brian Henegar won the quarter semi-finals on Jeopardy!’s Tournament of Champions on Friday, advancing to the next round, which will air on March 11 on WBIR Channel 10 at 7:30pm. 

Henegar faced off against against eight game champion Stephen Webb and wildcard entrant John Saak for the win to move on to the semifinals. 

Henegar said he went into the tournament of champions, “thinking of it as a bonus.”

TOP PHOTO: Ken Jennings (left) and La Follette’s Brian Henegar.

“I had already had my moment in the sun as a Jeopardy! champion so I am intending to just enjoy the moment and play as hard as I can,” Henegar said.

During Final Jeopardy! Henegar only risked $4,001 which allowed him to win with $8,799.

“When I had the lead going into Final Jeopardy! I did the math over and over again to make sure I had the right wager, but it didn’t sink in that I had won until Ken Jennings announced me the winner, and at that moment all of the stress that had built up over that game, completely evaporated, and every drop of adrenaline in my body came out at once.  And I just reacted naturally,” Henegar said.

What the viewers didn’t see was as soon as the game was over Henegar walked over and “shook Josh’s hand and wrapped them up in a bear hug.”

“I was so grateful for the amazing opportunity and I made sure he knew that I thought he was a formidable opponent.  And I said the same thing to Stephen. Neither one of them made this easy on me, and I feel so blessed that I was able to get a victory against such amazing competition,” Henegar said.

He advances to the semi final round where he will face off against five game champion Luigi de Guzman and a yet to be announced quarterfinals. 

Tune in March 11 on WBIR Channel 10 at 7:30pm to catch Henegar’s next competition and cheer him on. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/05/2024-6AM-PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN HENEGAR)

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