Who Won ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Season 1 on Netflix?

Rock, paper, scissors, bitch! Squid Game: The Challenge has dwindled its 456 players to the final three, and one is taking home the large cash prize of $4.56 million. Who will it be? The untouchable Mai, Phill and his beautiful mane, or the bearded sneak Sam? Continue reading for all you need to know.

The Netflix reality show premiered November 22, 2023 and aired over three weeks, with the final week culminating in the finale — which aired December 6, 2023 at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT on the streamer.

Up until now, the reality show has offered a few memorable moments, including the silly feud between Leann and Lorenzo, Spencer getting ruthlessly bullied to tears, Ashley sabotaging everybody during the Glass Bridge challenge, and TJ’s tearful elimination.

The penultimate episode saw the remaining nine contestants playing “Circle of Trust,” and blindly eliminating each other until there were only three players left in the competition. In a strange turn of events, Mai lied to the other finalists about who she eliminated and viewers were left with a feeling of distrust.

But now, all has been revealed! Dressed in dapper suits, “One Lucky Day” shows the three contestants as they play their last rounds — both based on luck v.s. skill — of the competition. Sam is the first to go after getting eliminated during a game that involved each contestant pressing a random button, one of which turns red and signifies the losing player. Then, Mai and Phill proceeded to play “rock, paper, scissors” — a typically low-stakes game.

Mai wins after playing “scissors” to Phill’s “paper.”

She grows emotional as a narrator proclaims, “You have won.”

That’s right: Mai Whelan won Squid Game: The Challenge Season 1.

“Anything is possible, even when you feel down and afraid. You have to pick yourself up. Be a strong person and focus,” Mai says in her exit interview. “Whatever your fear is, fight it, with everything you’ve got. And you can accomplish anything… it’s proven tonight.”

There you have it! Mai has gotten her hands on the largest cash prize in reality and game show history, and hopefully she plans on sharing the wealth.

If you’ve been left craving more, or perhaps, dying to participate in the competition yourself, you’re in luck as Netflix has renewed the reality show for a second season and is currently casting at SquidGameCasting.com. May the odds be ever in your favor, or whatever they say.