The final fire-making challenge on Survivor 49 did more than determine the last finalist—it ended the game of the player many considered its strategic frontrunner. In an exclusive interview following the December 17 finale, Rizo “Rizgod” Velovic reflected on his elimination and the victory of his ally, Savannah Louie, who went on to become the Sole Survivor.
Rizo, a 25-year-old tech salesperson from Yonkers, New York, was eliminated on Day 25 after losing the fire-making challenge to Louie. This sent him to the jury and secured Louie’s spot in the Final Tribal Council, where she ultimately won in a 5–2–1 vote against Sophi Balerdi and Sage Ahrens-Nichols. The outcome dismantled the tight trio—which Rizo had dubbed the “unbreakable Tres Leches”—just one step short of the end.
The Path to the Final Fire-Making Showdown
The season’s three-hour finale began with five players remaining: Savannah Louie, Rizo Velovic, Sage Ahrens-Nichols, Sophi Balerdi, and Kristina Mills. Louie entered the night holding significant power, having just won her fourth individual immunity challenge—a feat that tied the Survivor women’s record and placed her among an elite group of winners.
The first vote of the finale saw the elimination of Kristina Mills. Louie advocated for this move, fearing Kristina’s proven skill in fire-making, which she viewed as a direct threat to her own path to the Final Three. This set the stage for the final four: Louie, Velovic, Ahrens-Nichols, and Balerdi.
The decisive turn came when Sophi Balerdi won the final individual Immunity Challenge. With sole power to choose one person to join her in the Final Three, Balerdi selected Sage Ahrens-Nichols. This sent Rizo Velovic and Savannah Louie—the two remaining members of the core “Tres Leches” alliance—into a head-to-head fire-making duel for the last seat.
“I think what we didn’t see was how upset the jury was with Sage,” Rizo told E! News, revealing that the televised edit omitted some jury reactions. “Because the reality is that the final 10, me, Savannah and Soph were in a minority out of seven people and here we are, us three in the final four.”
Breaking the “Unbreakable” Alliance
The fire-making challenge became the symbolic end of Rizo’s game. Savannah Louie successfully ignited and sustained her flame first, burning through the rope to claim victory. As his torch was snuffed, host Jeff Probst honored Rizo’s request to be called by his nickname, declaring, “Rizgod, the tribe has spoken.”
In his exit, Rizo stated, “sometimes not all the best players win,” but expressed pride in his performance. Reflecting after the season, he emphasized his broader goals were achieved. “I feel like a million bucks without winning the million,” he said. “I wanted to represent my country of Albania that’s never been represented on CBS reality TV… And I feel like I just did that.”
His elimination directly enabled the season’s historic outcome: the first all-female Final Three since Survivor‘s 29th season in 2014.
Also Read:
Inside the Jury’s Perspective and the Final Vote
Rizo’s post-game insights shed new light on the jury’s dynamics. He suggested that while the jury was visibly frustrated with Sage Ahrens-Nichols for her gameplay decisions, the true architects of their eliminations were himself, Louie, and Balerdi.
At the Final Tribal Council, the jury’s questioning highlighted different facets of each finalist’s game. One memorable moment came when juror Kristina Mills challenged Savannah Louie on her social connections, asking her to name each jury member’s family members or partners. Louie attempted but stumbled through the task, an moment highlighted in post-finale discussions about jury conduct and gameplay.
Ultimately, the jury awarded the title and $1 million prize to Savannah Louie. Her winning argument rested on a well-rounded game: a record-tying four immunity wins, strategic control in the mid-to-late game, and clear ownership of her decisions. Sophi Balerdi, who highlighted her survival without reliance on immunity wins, placed second, while Sage Ahrens-Nichols finished as the second runner-up.
Looking Ahead to Survivor 50
The story for both the winner and the fallen strategist continues. Both Savannah Louie and Rizo Velovic are confirmed to return for the landmark 50th season of Survivor, titled Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans, premiering on February 25, 2026.
For Rizo, the return is a chance to pursue the title that slipped away in his first outing. “If you asked me a year ago from today if… I would have been on Survivor once, but twice,” he marveled, “And the second time being on Survivor 50, the biggest season of all time? I would say you’re a liar, but I guess you’re not cause here I am living that dream.”
Also Read: Harry Potter HBO Series Cast: Meet All the Actors Taking on the Iconic Roles
