'Squid Game: The Challenge' Runner-Up Reveals Winner Mai Risked Elimination For Him
Runner-up Player 451 (Phill) revealed that the winner of the reality competition series, Player 287 (Mai), cared a lot about him and even risked her elimination for him in two different challenges.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly published on Thursday, Phill revealed some things and scenes that got cut out from the aired episodes. According to him, Mai "stuck out her neck" for him twice, even if it meant risking her elimination.
Phill revealed that during the Glass Bridge challenge, Mai offered to take a jump for him. In another instance, Mai offered to throw his dice for him during the Dice Game. Both times, Phill shared that he didn't take the offer.
"No, Mai, it's okay. I've got this. I'm going to take this responsibility," Phill shared what he told Mai at the time.
According to him, Mai's gestures made him realize how much she cared about him and how deep their connection was during the competition.
Mai Whelan is announced the winner during the Squid Game: The Challenge Finale Watch Party on December 06, 2023
For the Glass Bridge challenge, the remaining players competing for the $4.56 million cash prize had to cross a bridge made of 17 pairs of glass tiles. One in each pair was tempered glass, while the other was normal glass, and if a contestant were to step on the latter, he/she would fall and get eliminated. The goal was to make it through the bridge without falling.
Meanwhile, in the Dice Game, the players were tasked to select a leader who would go first. After that, they would either nominate themselves or another player to roll the dice and take turns doing so. The first three players to roll a "6" were eliminated.
Mai Whelan is announced the winner during the Squid Game: The Challenge Finale Watch Party.
Reacting to Mai's victory, Phill said, "She really earned that victory... She really won in a landslide," and shared that he was genuinely happy about her win.
In related news, Mai used her winnings to renovate her home and build a dock for a small boat. When she's done with the renovations, she hopes to use her cash prize to help others.
"My heart is with people, animals and climate change," she said in an interview with Cosmopolitan after the series ended. "If we continue what we're doing, there won't be a future for all the little kids growing up right now."
Mai beat Phill and Player 16 (Sam) in the final game -- Rock, Paper, Scissors.
