Liam Starnes: Jeopardy's Rising Star

Liam Starnes has emerged as an impressive contestant on "Jeopardy!" in April 2025, captivating viewers with his remarkable knowledge and gameplay skills.

Background and Education

Liam Starnes is a 20-year-old undergraduate student from Barrington, Illinois, currently attending the University of Chicago. He's pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in data science and statistics with a strong academic record, maintaining a GPA of 3.79 out of 4.0. Specifically, he's studying biostatistics as a college senior.

Before college, Liam graduated from Barrington High School in 2021, where he accumulated numerous achievements:

• National Merit Scholar
• Latin Team standout
• Recipient of the John Armstrong Memorial Scholarship
• First captain to lead the BHS Scholastic Bowl team to a national championship

Professional Experience

Despite his young age, Liam has already gained significant professional experience: he was a Research Assistant Fellow at the Illinois Broadband Lab, where he helped validate over 1 million data points to expand internet access to underserved communities. Moreover, he interned at Alpharroc, developing software using tools like Streamlit and Plotly. He is skilled in programming languages including Python, R, SQL, and Java, and serves as Vice President of the University of Chicago's College Bowl team.

Jeopardy Journey and Achievements

Liam's Jeopardy success has been remarkable: as of April 26, 2025, he has won six consecutive matches on the show and accumulated $123,000 in prize winnings through his sixth match. He secured a spot in the Tournament of Champions after his fifth win on April 24, 2025. Prior to his TOC qualification, he had amassed $103,002 in winnings.

Fan Reception

Viewers have enthusiastically embraced Liam as a fan favorite. Some fans have nicknamed him "Baby Shark" for his formidable gameplay, while others have noted his resemblance to the fictional character Sheldon Cooper from "The Big Bang Theory." He is believed to be the youngest regular Jeopardy champion in the show's history.

Personal Interests

Liam's passion for knowledge and trivia began early. He traces his love of learning back to childhood, mentioning that around age six, he got hold of the Guinness World Records book for 2011. He started playing Scholastic Bowl in sixth grade at Station Middle School, meeting his coach and mentor Jeffrey Price. Being on Jeopardy has fulfilled a lifelong dream he's had since grade school.

In his own words: "It's been a dream ever since I was much younger than I am now," and "I didn't think I'd make it on, but one day, I got the call. It was such a great experience, being up there on the stage and getting to meet Ken Jennings and everything."

Liam's journey is not just an inspiration for trivia enthusiasts but also serves as a roadmap for aspiring contestants leveraging their knowledge and skill sets. By focusing on relevant educational and professional experiences, aspiring participants can enhance their potential success in competitive environments like Jeopardy.

This phenomenon of captivating intellectual competition is reflective of our own company’s commitment to excellence and expertise in the consulting space, particularly in areas requiring rapid, adaptive learning and application—much like what our clients seek in dynamic business environments.

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Visit our website for more insights and become a part of a journey where knowledge meets opportunity.