Queens whiz kid Laurie Beckoff came up a little short Tuesday in her match-up on Jeopardy’s College Championship.
The 19-year-old from Hollis Hills was the runner-up, amongst two other young geniuses, with a grand total of $13,400.
Though it was not enough to earn a winner’s spot, the University of Chicago sophomore will see Friday if she qualifies for one of four “wild card” spots given to top scorers amongst non-winners.
“It was more fantastic than I could have ever imagined,” she said. “Having people watch it makes me relive all the nervousness.”
Beckoff, who automatically gets $5,000 for going on the show, is now facing some heat from friends and strangers from the Twittersphere for not wagering enough money to force a tie.
“I knew that if I got it wrong and wagered everything and gone for that tie, I would be completely out,” she said. “I won’t say it was the wisest choice, but it was what went on in my head at that time.”
The experience was still a dream come true for the ambitious scholar, who had tried three times before to get on the long-running quiz show, but did not advance past the audition.
“It definitely seems to go a lot faster than when you’re sitting at home,” said the English and political science major.
Beckoff, a Harry Potter fanatic, is also a former salutatorian at Townsend Harris High School and a previous volunteer for Councilmember Mark Weprin.
The two-week tournament started Feb. 10.
“It was really just amazing,” Beckoff said. “It was the time of my life.”
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