French gameshow contestant's epic 21-month winning streak finally ends
Émilien, 22, made his first appearance on the '12 Coups de midi' daily game show on September 25, 2023, according to a statement from French TV network TF1, which announced the end of his run on Sunday. The network has not revealed his surname.
In the show, four contestants compete in a general knowledge quiz. The winner then answers a series of questions to determine their prize pot for that day, before returning to take on a new slate of opponents the day after.
Émilien won more than 2.5 million euros ($2.93 million) in cash and other prizes, as well as 23 cars, making him the biggest winner in French game show history, said TF1. His haul more than doubled the previous record of one million euros ($1.17 million), held by Bruno Lafourcade.
'I never expected to have the chance to stay for such a long time,' said Émilien, who comes from southwest France. 'It's amazing everything that has happened. It's hard to understand.'
Prior to appearing on the show, Émilien studied history at university and was aiming to become a teacher.
He then paused his studies to concentrate on his record-breaking run, which came to an end when he ran out of time to answer a question during Sunday's show.
Despite his loss to Romain, an architect, Émilien has become the world record holder for the most solo game show appearances, and the European record holder for prizes won, according to TF1.
His run became something of a sensation in France, with his defeat drawing an average of 5 million spectators on Sunday.
TF1's '12 Coups de midi' has some similarities with popular US quiz show 'Jeopardy,' which airs every weekday for 30 minutes.
The record for the highest number of consecutive wins on 'Jeopardy' is held by Ken Jennings, who won 74 games in a row in 2004, followed by Amy Schneider, who won 40 consecutive games in 2022.
Jennings also holds the record for the highest amount of prize money won on 'Jeopardy,' at $2,520,700, followed by James Holzhauer on $2,462,216.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Gabby Thomas Turns Surprise Drug-Tester Visit Into TikTok Gold
Sprint star Gabby Thomas is also quick on her feet when it comes to awkward situations. In a TikTok video she shared Monday, the Paris Olympic triple-gold medalist was having a drink with friends at an event when a drug-tester showed up. Anti-doping agents take their unannounced visits seriously to catch cheats. Instead of fuming over the intrusion, Thomas played it for laughs and set it to the comic song 'Me, You and Steve' ― which is basically about an unwelcome third wheel named Steve. The video quickly panned to the smiling tester and back to Thomas going on with her socializing. 'I can't believe that it's finally me and you, and you and me/ Just us/ And your friend Steve,' the song goes. Thomas captioned the footage 'When antidoping surprises you but you had plans.' Click to watch it here. The clip appears to be on the up and up. The doping control official was recognized by former Olympic swimmer Erica Sullivan, a 1500-meter silver medalist at the Beijing Games in 2021. 'Wait she's tested me before,' Sullivan wrote. 'She's the best, loved gabbing to her about her kids drama.' Another commenter, who might have been aware of Thomas' whereabouts last fall, asked: 'What happens if you leave the country, or spending time in private areas? Like if you went to a resort in the Maldives where the island is owned by the hotel and can only be reached was sea plane transfer (you wouldn't be able to drive up and walk in without questions) for a week or two, would they come find you?' Replied Thomas: 'If you're out of the country, they use that country's doping control officers to find you. But yeah if you go to a diff country, less likely to be tested as frequently. And I actually did vacation in the Maldives last year and I wasn't tested, so I guess they can't find you there 😂.' Drug-testing has not always been a laughing matter for Thomas. She ran afoul of the Athletics Integrity Unit in 2020 for allegedly missing three tests and got provisionally suspended. But Thomas was able to prove her innocence in one instance and the ban was lifted. Related... Olympian Gabby Thomas Claims She's Being Stalked While Traveling Olympic Sprint Champ Gabby Thomas Swears She Doesn't Have It All. Here's Why. Olympian Gabby Thomas Shuts Down Racist Comments Accusing Her Of Faking Harvard Degree
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
The World's Best Sauvignon Blanc Wine—According To The 2025 Decanter
Sauvignon Blanc wine with grapes on old wooden table getty Six Sauvignon Blanc wines took top honors at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards. One wine was awarded Best in Show, and five received Gold Medals, each scoring 96/100 points. The DWWA is the largest wine competition globally and is considered one of the most prestigious in the world. Over 18,000 wines were entered in the recently completed 2025 judging. Here is a brief overview and tasting note for each of these wines. Domaine Landrat‑Guyollot is based in Pouilly-sur-Loire, on the eastern side of the Loire Valley. A boutique operation, they specialize in two premium cuvées. Gemme de Feu is produced from flinty soils, and Gemme Océane comes from calcareous-clay sites near the river. Their aim is a pure expression of terroir, with minimal oak and stainless-steel aging. It was the highest-rated Sauvignon Blanc wine and was awarded Best in Show in the category. The wine exhibits floral and fruity aromas of orange blossom and white flowers, complemented by notes of grapefruit, green apple, and gooseberry, with a subtle hint of smoke and flint. It's smooth and silky on the palate, with a pronounced acidity and intense flavors of ripe grapefruit, citrus zest, and a flinty minerality. The finish is long and brisk, with lingering citrus notes and a chalky minerality. Château de Tracy is one of the oldest Pouilly‑Fumé domaines. It's located on the banks of the Loire. Renowned for distinctive smoky, flinty Sauvignon Blancs that reflect the silex-rich soils and cooler microclimate of the appellation. The wine features aromas of pear, apple, and grapefruit, with an underlying note of gunflint and white floral notes. It's medium-bodied and savory on the palate, with brisk acidity, showcasing flavors of citrus fruit framed by a tangy, flinty, and mineral core. The finish is long and refreshing with smoky accents, lingering salinity, and a chalky minerality. Vineyards of Sauvignon Blanc in Eppan municipality of South Tirol, Italy. getty Founded by Markus Prackwieser in Alto Adige/Südtirol, Gump Hof is known for terroir-driven whites. The Praesulis sits near Tramin, at elevations of 1,000 feet or higher, thriving on mountain soils of dolomitic limestone and metamorphic soils. The wine exhibits notes of citrus, green apple, peach, and herbaceous flavors, complemented by a delicate minerality. It's fruity on the palate, with crisp acidity and a persistent minerality, showcasing flavors of orchard fruit and citrus zest. The finish is long, slightly resinous, with lingering stone-fruit freshness. Rapaura Springs, Rohe Rapaura, Sauvignon Blanc, 2024, Marlborough, New Zealand, 14% ABV, 750 ml. $11 Rapura Springs is a family-run winery in Rapaura, Marlborough—New Zealand's premium Sauvignon producing region. It's known for juicy, expressive whites that channel classic Marlborough herb, melon, and passionfruit characters. The wine exhibits pronounced aromas of passion fruit, ripe melon, citrus, and fresh-cut grass. The palate features a brisk acidity, showcasing tropical fruit flavors of mango and passionfruit, accompanied by layered crisp green apple and herbal tones. The finish is long and refreshing with lingering notes of tropical fruits and citrus zest. Durbanville Hills, The Tangram, 2023 Durbanville, Cape Town, South Africa, 14.12% ABV, 750 ml. $12 Durbanville Hills is a pioneering estate near Cape Town, specializing in cool-climate whites produced from ancient shale and decomposed granitic soils. 'The Tangram' is their signature Sauvignon Blanc cuvée. The wine features aromas of citrus zest, green fig, gooseberry, and hints of herb and wet stone minerality. It's crisp and layered on the palate with a crisp acidity showcasing flavors of lime, pear, grapefruit, accompanied by a stony minerality. The finish is long and elegant, with lingering saline and tangy lemon notes. Clos du Val, 2023 Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Yountville, California, USA, 13.6% ABV, 750 ml. $75. Clos du Val, founded in 1972, is a cornerstone Napa Valley estate in Yountville. It was the top-ranked American Sauvignon Blanc wine at the 2025 DWWA. Its white wines emphasize balance and food friendliness, pairing well with a wide assortment of foods. The fruit comes from well-drained gravel and alluvial soils. The wine features aromas of ripe pear, melon, honeydew, and fresh citrus zest. It's fruity on the palate, with a touch of minerality and brisk acidity, showcasing flavors of ripe orchard fruit layered with lemon-lime notes and subtle herbal hints. The finish is long and crisp with a touch of minerality and lingering citrus peel. These selections showcase how Sauvignon Blanc adapts and thrives across diverse climates, both cool and warm, and soils—from the flinty terroirs of the Loire and Italy's alpine foothills to Cape Town's cool shale and California's gravel beds. Each wine brings a distinct expression of acidity, aroma, and finish, offering a global tasting tour of this increasingly popular grape varietal. More From Forbes Forbes The Top American Wines, According To The Decanter World Wine Awards By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The Best New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Wines, According To The Top Wine Competitions By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The Best California Sauvignon Blanc Wines, According To The Top Wine Competitions By Joseph V Micallef
New York Times
5 hours ago
- New York Times
100 Years On, Art Deco Still Influences Watch Design
'Patek Philippe as we know it today wouldn't exist without Art Deco influence,' said John Reardon, an expert in the brand's vintage watches. 'Sometimes it is subtle — it could be a flourish buckle, the crown, the lugs, the index shapes.' 'Other times more obvious," he noted, 'like with the new desk clock,' the Ref. 27000M, a green and gold addition to the brand's Grand Complications collection that was inspired by a 1923 design. Mr. Reardon, who founded the online education and sales platform Collectability, also cited the Patek Philippe Ref. 5101 P, introduced in 2003. 'With this towering watch on your wrist you feel like you are part of the New York skyline,' he said. 'And it has the salmon dial inspired from that era.' But as Art Deco marks its centennial this year, it is clear that Patek Philippe is not the only watch brand that has been inspired by the style's bold lines and architectural details. Consider Cartier's geometric designs, Jaeger-LeCoultre's linear Reverso or even the newly reimagined Mini DolceVita by Longines. In the watch universe, Art Deco has become an enduring inspiration. Art Deco was popularized in 1925, when millions visiting the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris saw the style showcased in its architecture and exhibits. Van Cleef & Arpels, for example, won the grand prize in the jewelry category for a set that included the Fleurs enlacées (entwined flowers) bracelet of red and white roses in brilliant-cut diamonds. 'This put us on the international map,' said Natacha Vassiltchikov, the house's heritage retail director. 'Diamonds in different cuts and platinum were the main materials. Sometimes contrasted with one color or onyx. These pure, graphical and elegant aspects are one of the reasons why Art Deco pieces remain so popular and work so well in combination with pieces from other periods.' Why has Art Deco had such a strong effect not only on watch and jewelry design, but also in the wider design universe? Some answers are likely to emerge from 'One Hundred Years of Art Deco,' an exhibition of more than 1,000 items ranging from watches and clocks to life-size interiors of the Orient Express that is scheduled to open Oct. 22 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. 'We will show the many facets of Art Deco,' said Anne Monier Vanryb, the main curator of the exhibition. 'Not only the geometric, streamlined, bold, refined and elegant aesthetic that combines modernity and preciousness. There are also many delicate, floral objects and exotic directions in Art Deco.' Ms. Monier Vanryb said the 1920s were known for technical innovations, the use of sensual materials and the development of a cosmopolitan clientele — references that also could apply to Cartier, which is to have more than 50 necklaces, tiaras, boxes, accessories and timepieces displayed in the exhibition. The pieces, lent by Cartier or already a part of the museum's collection, were chosen by Mathieu Rousset-Perrier, the museum's jewelry curator. 'The Art Deco development of wristwatches corresponds to the liberation of the silhouette of men,' he said. 'Men wore suits that were less rigid, they were living a more active, dynamic life. And they could not wear pocket watches anymore as they were not wearing waistcoats. Just look at the tonneau and square watches from Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre, the modernity — they are so current.' To Mikael Wallhagen, the head of watches for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Sotheby's Geneva, Cartier's timepieces defined the Art Deco era. And, he noted, 'I don't know if it has to do with the centenary of Art Deco — but at the moment, shaped vintage watches are very popular.' 'We recently sold watches from the bejeweled Cartier Tutti Frutti collection, sautoir watches, the Portico Mystery table clocks, Chrysler Building-inspired pocket watches. And, of course, early models of the Tank — they are always popular,' he said, citing a platinum Tank Normale from 1920 that recently sold for 96,000 Swiss francs (about $120,300). As for the most popular Art Deco-inspired watch, Mr. Wallhagen said it had to be the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso. The rectangular watch allows the wearer to flip the case over and lock it in place, a feature originally envisioned as a way polo players could protect their watches' crystals during matches. At the headquarters of Jaeger-LeCoultre in Switzerland's Vallée de Joux, Jérôme Lambert, the brand's chief executive, explained why the Reverso had become such a hallmark of the company: 'Reverso is a story of style and modernity. And it is almost the only existing watch still in production true to its style since its creation in 1931.' 'The Reverso,' he noted in a follow-up email, 'embodied that aesthetic of Art Deco, a style rooted in geometry, symmetry and understated elegance. Its reversible case is not only a technical achievement but a design statement that remains relevant, modern and instantly recognizable.' Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre's designers have continued to reinterpret Art Deco's geometry and defined lines by incorporating such elements as mother-of pearl, enamel and precious stones. Consider the Reverso One Precious Colors, a limited-edition model in white gold and geometric enamel patterns, accented with bands of brilliant-cut diamonds (price on application). Yet, 'Art Deco was never just about design,' Mr. Lambert said. 'It was a cultural phenomenon, a worldwide artistic language. It transcended borders and disciplines, shaping architecture, fashion, design and watchmaking alike.' Its influence also has extended into more affordable watch brands, such as Longines, which this month debuted a steel and gold version of the Mini DolceVita, a quartz reinterpretation of a Longines timepiece from 1927 (starting at $1,700). 'Art Deco represents the fusion of modernism, design and artistic expression,' Giuseppe Miccio, the brand's head of product development, wrote in an email. 'It emerged during a period of great technological and cultural progress — an era when pioneers in aviation, transportation, architecture and industry were redefining the boundaries of possibility.' And to Mr. Miccio, Art Deco endures because it has captured a rare balance: 'That harmony between progress and elegance has a universal appeal, transcending both generations and disciplines.'
