It’s the end of season 4. Rather than looking at the history from the episode, we’re writing new stories. So, we’re going to look at the final results and how it impacts each Challenger’s legacy If you want to watch the full episode, stream it on Paramount+.
8. Derek Chavez
We started the episode by watching Derek get eliminated. While last place isn’t the best performance in a final, this marks Derek’s first time making it to the final.
7. Leroy Garrett
After getting eliminated at the Balance for Survival checkpoint, Leroy became the second person to depart from the final. This is his sixth loss in the final, meaning he’s lost more finals than any other Challenger without a win.
5. Veronica Portillo (tie)
Veronica generally does well with checkpoints, but her biggest mistake was picking Marble Blast during Bluff Night. She handled the game with calmness and logic, but this was a tricky checkpoint. While she didn’t win the final, this was Veronica’s first appearance in a final since 2005’s Inferno 2.
5. Nicole Zanatta (tie)
Similarly to Veronica, Nicole’s mistake was picking Marble Blast. Unlike Veronica, Nicole was not composed at all. She was hectic and took many wild shots, likely costing her a lot of extra time. This was Nicole’s third appearance in a final, and it was her third time losing, though she was medically ejected from the Vendettas final.
4. Ace Amerson
Ace made it to the second day of the final, which would arguably make this his best season to date. He struggled during the checkpoints (especially the Connect It puzzle) during Star Loop, but this is his most impressive performance to date. However, he did go home empty-handed, and he won $10,000 when he was on the runner-up team on The Inferno 3 in 2007.
3. Steve Meinke
Steve did quite well this season, and he was on pace to win the whole thing. But, a poor decision meant he couldn’t skip the last checkpoint, and he was forced to get harnessed and complete the Swing It stage of Star Loop. Still, this was a really impressive showing for his first final ever, but the rookie mistake also reminds us this was his first final ever.
2. Cara Maria Sorbello
Based on the commentary throughout the race, it became clear this final would be a Laurel vs. Cara Maria game. In the end, Laurel had more advantages thanks to the stars she received. Cara persevered through almost every checkpoint, and she wasn’t far behind Laurel. The runner-up position isn’t bad, but it’s familiar for Cara. She has lost seven finals in the past, but she never lost a final to Laurel before. The two hugged it out in the end. Perhaps they’re rivals, but friendly rivals this time around.
1. Laurel Stucky
Laurel has been noted for being an intense, abrasive player, but she received three additional stars in the final thanks to the friendships she made this season. This gave her multiple advantages, and she was able to get her second Challenge win. While this may not have been Laurel’s most dominant season in daily Challenges, she beat seven other people in the final — arguably making it her most dominant performance in the finals yet.
Stop Being Polite 