Heartbreak on The Chase: ‘Best Player Ever’ Sent Home Empty-Handed

Viewers of The Chase were left heartbroken during an intense episode when a standout contestant was sent packing, despite being hailed by Chaser Shaun Wallace as “the best player ever.” The emotional moment unfolded after Tom, a contestant from Liverpool, made a bold move that ultimately ended in disappointment.

The episode began with four hopeful contestants—Tom, Jessica from Lincoln, Felix from Ilfracombe, and Linda from Lowestoft—teaming up to face the formidable Chaser in a bid to win a prize fund in the final round. Tom set the bar high from the start, delivering a flawless performance in the cash builder round, where he racked up an impressive £10,000, via the Mirror.

As the game progressed to the offer stage, Shaun Wallace, also known as “The Dark Destroyer,” could not hide his admiration for Tom’s skills. He advised Tom not to settle for the lower offer of £3,000 and instead dangled an enticing high offer of £60,000. Praising Tom’s performance, Shaun said, “Tom, you’re probably one of the best players I’ve ever played against in my 14 years of The Chase. Try this for size.”

With such high praise from one of the show’s most respected Chasers, Tom took the bold step to go for the higher stake. After conferring with his teammates, he confidently chose the £60,000 option, ready to take on the challenge. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned. In a nail-biting round, Tom was caught by Shaun just shy of the finish line, missing out on a place in the final round.

Despite the setback, Shaun once again commended Tom’s incredible effort. “That was a superb effort. I’m telling you, I think you are the best player I’ve ever met,” he said. Although the result was heartbreaking, Tom remained gracious in defeat, replying, “I’ll take that as a huge compliment, thank you. You’ve got to go for it, haven’t you?” With no regrets, he left the stage to applause from both his fellow contestants and the viewers at home, reports the Express.

Fans of the show quickly took to social media to express their disappointment, with many echoing the sentiment that Tom deserved better. One fan tweeted, “Heartbreak! Unlucky. That’s depressing for a Monday. Dang it #TheChase.” Another viewer shared their frustration, saying, “I am so disappointed. I wanted Tom to go through, and everyone else to go low so that Twitter/X would explode into a fit of rage. #TheChase.”

Others pointed out the difficulty of Tom’s questions, with one user commenting, “So unfair! They definitely got the questions out of the hard box for Tom! Clever lad. #TheChase.” Some even joked about Shaun Wallace’s relief at knocking Tom out, with a viewer writing, “@TheShaunWallace did himself a huge favour knocking out Tom #TheChase. Tough break for the team.”

The episode left many fans wondering what could have been, as Tom’s knowledge and bravery made him a fan favorite. The Chase is known for its twists and turns, but seeing such a talented contestant walk away empty-handed was a tough pill to swallow for many viewers. As one final tweet summed up, “Unlucky Tom, deserved to get through especially when you see people scrape through with little or no knowledge. #TheChase.”

Though Tom may not have won the £60,000, he certainly won the respect and admiration of the audience, as well as Shaun Wallace himself—an accolade few contestants on The Chase can claim.