Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in March 2016.
Every weekday evening, America’s beloved game show, Wheel of Fortune, graces our television screens, giving an unrivaled dose of amusement. The sheer thrill of seeing participants accumulate riches and leave with more than their initial expectations is wonderful. However, the height of excitement occurs when someone solves the elusive bonus round puzzle and wins a significant sum.
In a recent episode, a contestant called Shawn was first perplexed, with his guessed letters providing few hints. However, in an unexpected turn of events, he quickly reversed the tide, leaving the entire studio audience stunned.
Shawn’s performance in the previous rounds had established him as a formidable competitor. As the time came for Shawn to face the bonus round, hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White exuded confidence, believing Shawn had the potential to win the grand prize.
Shawn chose the “Person” category for the bonus puzzle, which consisted of two words totaling ten letters. The board has already revealed the most popular letters: R, S, T, L, N, and E. Shawn was allowed to choose three more consonants and a vowel.
Shawn chose M, D, C, and A as his four letters, drawing on the knowledge of prior Wheel of Fortune champions. Unfortunately, Shawn’s luck did not shine this time. Only four of the ten letters appeared on the board, and none matched his estimations.
In the Wheel of Fortune universe, such a scenario is discouraging, forcing participants to solve the riddle with only the available letters.
Pat Sajak couldn’t hide Shawn’s uphill battle, saying, “That’s all you get to work with—obviously, it’s challenging.” He said, “Keep talking. Stranger things have happened. Ten seconds. Person. Good luck.”
As Sajak remained unsure of the solution, and spectators at home pondered, Shawn’s serendipitous thinking at the perfect time became clear. Within a second of the bonus round’s start, he said two words that revealed the puzzle’s solution.
Shawn’s revelation stunned the audience, including the seasoned Sajak. “I don’t get this game,” Sajak joked, his jaw slackened. Opening the card, Sajak revealed Shawn’s earnings, which totalled $33,000 in addition to his usual games winnings.
Watch Shawn’s incredible victory in the video below. Wheel of Fortune remains America’s favorite game, with unexpected twists and large cash prizes that keep fans interested and eagerly anticipating each evening’s broadcast.
