“Wheel of Fortune” viewers witnessed a heart-wrenching moment on Thursday, February 6,
when contestant Christopher Young came agonizingly close to winning a major cash prize—only to fall short by a single word in the Bonus Round.
Christopher Young’s Strong Performance Throughout the Game
Young, a recently retired 24-year Army veteran from Chino, California, came into the competition with a lively personality and an impressive background.
Having served at West Point and completed deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan,
he also revealed to host Ryan Seacrest that he was once a professional powerlifter, boasting jaw-dropping stats: a 905-pound squat, a 550-pound bench press,
and a 705-pound deadlift. Now, in his post-military career, he works as a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) instructor at a high school.
From the very beginning, Young demonstrated his competitive spirit, securing an early lead by correctly solving the opening $2,000 Toss-Up puzzle. He continued his winning streak by solving the Round 1 “Travel Tips” puzzle, earning a total of $5,900.
His momentum carried over to the Express Round, where he not only racked up more winnings but also landed a dream trip to Ireland. By the end of that round, he had accumulated an impressive total of $24,298.
Although he didn’t manage to secure any victories in the Triple Toss-Up round, he bounced back to solve the final Speed-Up puzzle, finishing the main game with a commanding total of $27,398 in cash and prizes.
A Devastating Close Call in the Bonus Round
With his wife, Megan, cheering him on from the audience, Young entered the Bonus Round full of confidence. Before he made his letter selections, Seacrest playfully teased Megan, jokingly asking, “Is he always this quiet?” in reference to Young’s high-energy personality throughout the episode.
Choosing the “What Are You Doing?” category, Young strategically picked his additional letters, prompting Seacrest to quip, “You planned that out.”
When the puzzle board was revealed, it displayed the phrase:
“R _ D _ N _ / M _ / _ _ _ E / T _ / _ _ R _.”
As the 10-second timer started, Young quickly pieced together most of the phrase, correctly guessing, “Riding My Bike To…” However, he struggled to identify the final word. He first attempted “Yards” and then “Cars,” but neither was correct.
When time ran out, Vanna White turned over the final word, revealing the full answer:
“Riding My Bike To Work.”
Upon seeing the answer, Young laughed and took the loss in stride, saying, “Ahh, see, I work too far away. I would never do that.”
Missing Out on a Major Cash Prize
Seacrest then opened the prize envelope to reveal what Young had narrowly missed out on: an additional $40,000.
The moment left both the audience and viewers at home in disbelief. Fans took to YouTube to share their reactions, with one commenting, “OUCH THAT HURTS!!!!” Another expressed shock, writing, “I’m surprised he got ‘bike’ but not ‘work.’ He still did well, though.”
Many fans empathized with Young’s struggle, with one person adding, “Can’t believe he couldn’t end up figuring it out. My work is many miles away as well, but it still popped into my head.”
Even the official Wheel of Fortune YouTube account weighed in on the situation, writing, “He was on the right track! So close, but he did great!!”
A Fan Favorite Despite the Loss
Despite the tough loss in the Bonus Round, Young made a lasting impression on fans with his vibrant personality and positive attitude. Many viewers praised him for his entertaining presence on the show, with one fan writing, “Regardless of the show’s outcome, nobody can deny that Christopher is an absolute character. Very likable!”
Though he didn’t walk away with the additional $40,000 prize, Young still had an incredible night, winning a total of $27,398 in cash and prizes, including his trip to Ireland.
Did You Solve the Puzzle?
For those watching at home, the Bonus Round was a nail-biter. Did you manage to guess the final word before time ran out? Let us know in the comments!
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