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Jeopardy! Contestant Explains Why He Wrote Message of Support for Alex Trebek

Excuse us while we go SOB

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Lindsay MacDonald

Jeopardy! fans have been an emotional mess ever since host Alex Trebek announced his ongoing battle with cancer earlier this year, but on Monday's episode, Trebek was the one catching feelings. In the Final Jeopardy round, rather than writing an answer, contestant Dhruv Gaur used the opportunity to send a message of support to Trebek.

"What is we [heart] you, Alex!" Gaur wrote. It was obviously not the correct answer based on Jeopardy! rules, but it was most definitely the right answer in terms of human compassion. Trebek was visibly shaken by the show of love and support, as he announced the answer cost Gaur $1,995, leaving him with just $5.

TOTALLY. WORTH. IT.

Gaur recently appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to talk about his unexpectedly viral message of support, explaining that the Jeopardy! episode had actually been filmed back in September, after Trebek announced he would need to go through another round of chemotherapy. "Obviously I wasn't going to win the game or anything, so I could try to figure out the right answer or I could do something for this person who might need it right now," Gaur said.

Trebek first announced his diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer in March of this year and an early progress report seemed to suggest he was having a positive response to treatments. As mentioned above, he then announced in September that he was undergoing another round of chemotherapy after receiving some less than desirable test results, but he remained firm that he would continue to host Jeopardy! during the treatments.

"As long as I can walk out and greet the audience and contestants and run the game, I'm happy," he said during a segment on Good Morning America.

This story has been updated with Gaur's comments on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.