LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — Yogesh Raut, crowned champion of the 2025 Jeopardy! Masters tournament, took home $500,000, the Alex Trebek trophy, and secured a place on the game show’s all-time winnings leaderboard. But while Raut celebrated the achievement, he also expressed disappointment with how his final appearance on the show was edited—and how his name was pronounced.
In a Facebook post published on Saturday, June 7, Raut revealed that “a good portion” of his final interview, including his commentary on racism and specific thank-you messages, was cut from the final broadcast. He also said host Ken Jennings mispronounced his name on air—and that his request for a correction was omitted.
“They also cut out me saying, ‘Ken, when Neilesh [Vinjamuri] was up here he made a point of thanking you for pronouncing his name correctly, and I’d love to do the same — just as soon as you start,’” Raut wrote.
When Jennings introduced Raut during the finals alongside fellow contestants Victoria Groce and Juveria Zaheer, he reportedly mispronounced both his first and last names—saying “Yo-GESH Raut” instead of “Yo-gaish Raut,” and pronouncing his surname to rhyme with “shout” rather than “write.” Several pronunciation websites support Raut’s preferred pronunciation. TVLine and other outlets confirmed the broadcast’s audio and the Facebook post.
Raut, who has now won over $1 million on Jeopardy! across various tournaments, also noted on Facebook that his thanks to crew members like stage manager Jimmy McGuire and sound technician Mitch, who he said “consistently pronounced [his] name correctly,” were left on the cutting room floor.
Despite the disappointment, Raut reflected positively on his overall experience during an appearance on the Inside Jeopardy! podcast with executive producer Sarah Whitcomb-Foss. He praised his fellow competitors and emphasized camaraderie over rivalry.
“Even though we had to compete against each other, compared to the world at large, we have more in common with each other than we do with the rest of the world in many ways,” he said. “We’re all kindred spirits.”
Raut secured the Master’s title in a high-stakes game that hinged on Final Jeopardy wagers. He edged out 2024 champion Victoria Groce and Jeopardy! Wildcard winner Juveria Zaheer to claim the top prize. His chosen charity, the Equal Justice Initiative, also received a $100,000 donation as part of his win.
Reflecting on the tournament, Raut said he was simply focused on “controlling what I can control” and letting the game unfold. He credited the skill and quick reflexes of his opponents and noted the friendly atmosphere backstage.
“There’s no real point in having spite towards each other,” he said on the podcast. “These are people who are most similar to you. The more the merrier.”
Raut also shared a personal anecdote about a mishap at LAX airport, where a fall on an escalator could have led to serious injury. He thanked an anonymous Good Samaritan who helped him recover, expressing hope to thank them publicly in the future.
With his Masters win, Raut now ranks sixth on the show’s Leaderboard of Legends with total winnings of $1,096,403. He previously won the Tournament of Champions in 2024 after debuting in 2023 with a three-game win streak. Raut’s victory guarantees him a return in 2026, where he could become the show’s first two-time Masters champion.
“It’s a very exclusive club, and I’m very lucky to be a part of that,” he said.
