An Ottawa-born man is the new champion of Jeopardy.

Robert Kennedy, who now lives in California, defeated a current Ottawa resident, George Tsuji, and another competitor to become champion of the popular American television quiz show.

Kennedy, a linguistics professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara, won $17,700, capping his win by correctly answering "What is a Quarter Horse?" to the question "This American breed was named for its ability to race a distance of 1,320 feet" in the horse breeds category.

Both Ottawans started the game slowly, and almost midway through the game Kennedy was below zero. But Kennedy — going by Bob on the show — would go on a roll, seizing the lead on a golf question and never relinquishing it.

Tsuji only trailed Kennedy by $3,000 heading into the final round. He also answered the horse question correctly but didn't wager enough to beat the professor.

During the show host Alex Trebek, originally from Sudbury, Ont., was reminded he had met Kennedy once at the University of Ottawa.

On Kennedy's convocation day, Trebek, on hand to collect an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, congratulated him for achieving a university gold star for his academic achievements.

Kennedy will compete again Wednesday.

Jeopardy airs on CBC TV at 7:30 p.m. ET.