James Holzhauer tops $2M with 27th straight win on 'Jeopardy!'

CULVER CITY, Calif. — Professional gambler James Holzhauer continues to beat the odds on “Jeopardy!”

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The 34-year-old became the second contestant in the television game show's history to top $2 million in winnings, earning $74,000 in an episode that aired Friday night to win for the 27th consecutive time, The New York Times reported.

Holzhauer is still $455,000 behind all-time earnings champion Ken Jennings, who cashed in with $2,520,700 during a 74-game winning streak in 2004. But Holzhauer is quickly closing in.

Holzhauer now has $2,065,535 in total winnings, People reported.

Holzhauer, who entered Final Jeopardy with $39,400, wagered $35,000 of it and answered “What is Sun Valley?” after the final clue -- “Astronomy buffs visit Idaho for the USA’s first Dark Sky Reserve. Oddly, part of it is this resort area with a bright name.”

Holzhauer uses a method called the "Forrest Bounce," in which he chooses tiles out of order and goes for the higher cash values early, CNN reported.

Holzhauer is averaging $76,500 per episode, the Times reported. At that rate, Holzhauer would top Jennings's earnings in six more episodes.

If Holzhauer matched Jennings’ streak of 74 games and continues his current average of cash won, he would win more than $5,6 million, the newspaper reported.

His next game will be aired Monday, CNN reported.

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