The Chase viewers were left stunned when 20-year-old Eden Nash pulled off an extraordinary solo victory, defeating Darragh Ennis to win a remarkable £75,000.
The young contestant delivered a standout performance in the Final Chase, answering 18 questions correctly as he faced the Chaser alone.
When Eden finally secured the win, host Bradley Walsh could barely contain his excitement.
“That is the highest ever single win in TV quiz show history – and you’re only 20!” Bradley told him.
“That is brilliant for a 20-year-old, amazing; you scored 18 – you must be happy with that. Extraordinary. Well played.”
Darragh was equally gracious after the result, simply telling his opponent: “Well done, Eden.”
Eden had to keep the win secret
There was another remarkable detail behind Eden’s appearance.
The episode had actually been filmed around a year before it was broadcast, meaning Eden had to keep his £75,000 victory completely under wraps for more than 12 months.
According to the Daily Star, contestants are not permitted to reveal whether they won or lost before their episode airs.
That meant Eden could not publicly celebrate his huge victory or tell people how the game had ended while he waited for the episode to finally reach television screens.
A record-breaking solo performance
Eden’s 18 correct answers in the Final Chase proved decisive, allowing him to take the entire £75,000 prize without the support of teammates.
Darragh later praised the performance on social media.
“I see it was me getting beaten by Eden on @ITVChase for £75k. What a great game he played, and I hope he squandered the money and had lots of fun,” he wrote.
Eden subsequently retweeted the message and thanked viewers who had supported him.
The achievement prompted an enthusiastic reaction from viewers, with many praising the 20-year-old for taking on the Chaser by himself and walking away with such a substantial prize.
One fan wrote: “What a legend! What a bloody legend! Yes, Eden!”
Another described him as a “20-year-old on his own” who had won £75,000, while another viewer even suggested Eden could have a future as one of the show’s Chasers.
One particularly impressed fan admitted they had “never been as immersed in an episode of The Chase as that one”.
What did Eden plan to do with the money?
During the programme, Bradley asked Eden what he intended to do with his winnings.
His answer was remarkably understated.
“I’ll just look at it in my bank account,” he said.
By the time the episode eventually aired, however, Eden admitted to Darragh that he had “enjoyed himself” since securing the life-changing prize.
The win marked an extraordinary achievement for someone so young, particularly given that he had to spend an entire year knowing the outcome while keeping it secret from the public.
Another talented contestant leaves empty-handed
The story of Eden’s incredible victory comes as another Chase contestant received high praise from a Chaser despite being eliminated.
In a separate episode, Shaun Wallace, known as “The Dark Destroyer,” faced a talented contestant whose performance impressed him so much that he described the player as potentially “the best player ever”.
The episode featured four contestants — Tom from Liverpool, Jessica from Lincoln, Felix from Ilfracombe and Linda from Lowestoft — as they attempted to build a prize fund before facing the Chaser.
Tom chose to take the higher offer after discussing his options with his teammates.
However, his run ended during the subsequent head-to-head, with just one question remaining.
Despite eliminating him, Shaun was full of admiration for Tom’s performance.
“That was a superb effort. I’m telling you, I think you are the best player I’ve ever met,” he told him.
While Tom left without the prize, Eden’s remarkable solo run remains a standout example of just how quickly fortunes can change on The Chase.