Wheel of Fortune player solves ‘impossible’ puzzle in one second
Wheel of Fortune contestant Traci Demus-Gamble stunned viewers by solving a nearly blank bonus puzzle in seconds, leaving Ryan Seacrest speechless.
A Texas contestant stunned Wheel of Fortune viewers, and even host Ryan Seacrest, by solving a Bonus Round puzzle in just over a second.
Traci Demus-Gamble, an English teacher, delivered one of the most memorable solves in recent show history during the January 17 episode. With minimal help from the board and little time to think, Demus-Gamble correctly guessed the phrase “They Go Way Back,” leaving Seacrest nearly speechless.
The segment, which aired earlier this year, and later posted to the show’s YouTube channel, captured Demus-Gamble walking up to the final round stage and waving to her husband in the audience.
She was given the “Phrase” category and the usual R-S-T-L-N-E letters, but only two showed up on the board.
She then selected her additional letters, M, C, D, and O.
“Again, not too much more,” Seacrest said, trying to encourage her. “But who knows, you’ve had a lot of good luck tonight. Maybe it’ll strike you.”
As soon as the 10-second countdown began, Demus-Gamble said, “They go way back.” The bells rang, the puzzle turned over—and Seacrest looked stunned.
“That was amazing,” he told her. “How in the world did you solve that last one?”
Demus-Gamble replied, “I just dug deep.”
The impressive moment capped off an already strong game for the contestant, who had previously dominated both the Mystery and Express rounds earlier in the show.
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By that point, she had already secured $28,650 in cash and two Caribbean cruise vacations.
Despite appearing nervous during the Bonus Round, Demus-Gamble’s quick solve instantly made her a standout contestant.
Viewers online compared the moment to the show’s best-ever solves, and Seacrest even jokingly checked her for an earpiece on-air.
Demus-Gamble, who teaches in Texas, said she relied on intuition and language instincts honed over years in the classroom.
“I just saw it,” she said afterward. “It clicked.”
