Wheel of Fortune came oh so close to giving out its first $1 million prize in years, and while the big winner still won over $100k, she almost blew it all.

Thursday night’s episode featured Catrice Sandt from Thomaston, Connecticut, Nadia Exama from Miami and Roy Chinn from Cypress, Texas.

Early on in the game, Thomaston landed on the $1 Million wedge – squeezed between two Bankrupt slots – and got to pick it up when she correctly guessed the letter M.

However, two spins later, Catrice landed on a Bankrupt, dashing her million-dollar dreams, though it proved to be the start of a comeback.

Catrice went on to win the Prize Puzzle – an African safari worth $12,900 – taking her to $19,800, more than enough to secure her trip to the bonus round.

Not only did she solve the Bonus Round puzzle correctly, but won $100,000 as well… which would have been $1 million if she didn’t hit that bankrupt… though two extra words in her solve almost sent her away with nothing.

Catrice went on to win the Prize Puzzle – an African safari worth $12,900 – taking her to $19,800, more than enough to secure her trip to the bonus round.

Not only did she solve the Bonus Round puzzle correctly, but won $100,000 as well… which would have been $1 million if she didn’t hit that bankrupt… though two extra words in her solve almost sent her away with nothing.

Wheel of Fortune came oh so close to giving out its first $1 million prize in years, and while the big winner still won over $100k, she almost blew it all.

Catrice selected “What Are You Doing?” for her Bonus Round, and she landed on the W when she spun the mini-wheel.

The bonus round was a two-word puzzle with the first word featuring nine letters and the second featuring five.

With the automatic letters of R S T L N E she was given a bit of help, the E for the second letter of the first word, and N’s for the fifth, sixth and eighth letters of the first word, and the fifth letter of the second word.

She chose B G M A for her own letters, that nearly completely filled the puzzle – BEG_NN_NG AGA_N, which caused her to smile and say, ‘Oh my gosh,’ indicating she clearly could solve the puzzle.

However, when the 10-second timer started, she stated, ‘I am beginning again,’ with those two extra words ‘I am’ resulting in the clock still ticking.

While host Ryan Seacrest hesitated to say she won, he ultimately said, ‘That’s it,’ before Catrice uttered, ‘Beginning again,’ as the audience applauded.

Seacrest then took a peek at the envelope she landed on, adding,’ Catrice, I need to show you this,’ before revealing the $100,000 prize.

Her husband, mother and stepfather mobbed the big winner as confetti flew from above as Vanna White came from the puzzle board to meet Catrice and her family.

However, two spins later, Catrice landed on a Bankrupt, dashing her million-dollar dreams, though it proved to be the start of a comeback.

She chose B G M A for her own letters, that nearly completely filled the puzzle – BEG_NN_NG AGA_N, which caused her to smile and say, ‘Oh my gosh,’ indicating she clearly could solve the puzzle.

While host Ryan Seacrest hesitated to say she won, he ultimately said, ‘That’s it,’ before Catrice uttered, ‘Beginning again,’ as the audience applauded.

Seacrest then took a peek at the envelope she landed on, adding,’ Catrice, I need to show you this,’ before revealing the $100,000 prize

Her husband, mother and stepfather mobbed the big winner as confetti flew from above as Vanna White came from the puzzle board to meet Catrice and her family.

Seacrest then revealed Catrice had won a total of $119,800, as Seacrest noticed that Catrice’s mother was in tears after the big win as the episode came to an end.

While it all worked out for Catrice, her extra addition of ‘I am’ almost spelled doom for her match, as users on the Wheel of Fortune Reddit pointed out.

‘She almost blew it there at the end by prefacing the answer with “I am” before saying the answer!!’ posted Reddit user kerosenehat63.

‘She was wrong but Ryan started to say she was right just before she actually just said the answer on its own!’ the Redditor added.

‘She almost lost $100,000!! How do people not understand to just say the answer!!’ the user concluded.

Another Redditor, Isonychia, wondered, ‘Does it matter in the bonus round how she says the answer as long as the correct two words are spoken in the correct order? People babble stream of consciousness and sometimes stumble on the answer. It’s not like a regular round puzzle where you get one chance to say the answer.’

Yet another Reddit user, nijobo, added, ‘I think the puzzle still counts if you say words before the puzzle but still say the puzzle in its entirety. There was another episode this season where a contestant answered, “is it”, then the puzzle, and it still counted.’

The user continued, ‘For example, “I am beginning again” counts, because the statement contains “beginning again”. However, an answer like “beginning once again” would not count.’

Wheel of Fortune winner KNOCKS DOWN Ryan Seacrest after win

Seacrest then revealed Catrice had won a total of $119,800, as Seacrest noticed that Catrice’s mother was in tears after the big win as the episode came to an end.

‘She almost blew it there at the end by prefacing the answer with “I am” before saying the answer!!’ posted Reddit user kerosenehat63.

Another Redditor, Isonychia, wondered, ‘Does it matter in the bonus round how she says the answer as long as the correct two words are spoken in the correct order? People babble stream of consciousness and sometimes stumble on the answer. It’s not like a regular round puzzle where you get one chance to say the answer.’

One fan – latecraigy – chimed in, ‘Omg how I screamed when she stopped after “I am beginning again.”‘

Others like Alternative-Koala933 said, ‘Tonight was just a whirlwind of emotions watching.’

Wheel of Fortune bonus round stumps contestant with ‘phrase’

One fan – latecraigy – chimed in, ‘Omg how I screamed when she stopped after “I am beginning again.”‘

Others like Alternative-Koala933 said, ‘Tonight was just a whirlwind of emotions watching.’

The Redditor added, ‘And she would’ve been a millionaire if she managed to hold on to the MDW…’ referring to the Million Dollar Wedge.

‘In all seriousness, it’s a whole lot different actually playing in the studio than yelling at your TV,’ the user concluded.