Alex Moore, a 27-year-old political communications director, became the third member of the jury with an emotional blindside. The Survivor 49 episode aired November 19 and sent shockwaves through the remaining contestants. Alex’s alliance believed he was safe entering tribal council, unaware that his dangerous strategy of playing both sides had caught up with him. The six-vote elimination marked a devastating end to his journey on the island.
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🔥 Quick Facts:
- Alex Moore voted out in Episode 9 aired Wednesday, November 19, 2025
- Blindsided with 6 votes against him at tribal council
- Age 27 from Evanston, Illinois, working as communications director
- Rizo Velovic orchestrated the blindside by targeting Alex’s middle-game play
- Final Eight remaining includes Jawan, Kristina, Savannah, Sage, Sophi, Sophie, Steven, and Rizo
Playing Both Sides Finally Caught Up
Alex Moore’s downfall traced directly to his strategy of working with conflicting alliances. After Michelle “MC” Chukwujekwu was eliminated the previous week, the game shifted into two distinct sides. On one end, Sage Ahrens-Nichols and Jawan Pitts formed one alliance. On the other, Rizo Velovic, Savannah Louie, and Sophie Balerdi controlled crucial advantages.
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Alex positioned himself in the middle, attempting to connect both groups. Rizo noticed this immediately and recognized Alex as a threat. During the reward challenge, Kristina Mills urged Alex to vote with her alliance, while Rizo spread word that Alex was too “loose with his lips” and untrustworthy. The damage was done before tribal even started.
In his exit interview, Alex acknowledged his strategy failed. He stated: “I can’t say I’m surprised, honestly. I was a little too loose of the lips and that’s why I’m sitting here.”
Why This Tribal Council Mattered
This elimination represented a major power shift on Survivor 49. Rizo’s influence grew significantly after successfully orchestrating the blindside without playing his hidden immunity idol. Steven Ramm won individual immunity, while Savannah Louie won the female version for the second consecutive episode, making her increasingly dangerous.
The vote demonstrated that middle-game strategies rarely survive the merge phase. Alex’s connections with multiple players actually worked against him, as each group began questioning his loyalty. Sophie Segreti reportedly rubbed players the wrong way by surviving the previous vote, creating distance that also benefited Rizo’s plan to eliminate a perceived connector.
The Final Eight and Remaining Game Dynamics
With Alex Moore’s elimination, the game entered critical territory with eight players remaining. The breakdown looks like this:
| Player Name | Age | Voting Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jawan Pitts | 28 | Vote not aligned |
| Kristina Mills | 36 | Split vote attempt |
| Rizo Velovic | 25 | Vote wielder, idol owner |
| Savannah Louie | 31 | High on targets (immunity) |
| Sage Ahrens-Nichols | 30 | Alliance strategist |
| Sophi Balerdi | 27 | Extra vote advantage |
| Sophie Segreti | 31 | Free agent building |
| Steven Ramm | 35 | Individual immunity holder |
Sophi Balerdi now stands alone as the last Kele tribe member. All three other Kele members voted out or medically evacuated before the merge. Rizo remains unpredictable, still holding his hidden immunity idol while controlling votes through Savannah’s extra vote advantage. The final eight battle shapes up between Rizo’s trio and the Jawan-Sage alliance.
What To Watch For Moving Forward
- Will Rizo continue his dominance without idol clues available?
- Can Jawan and Sage mount a comeback or are they now underdogs?
- Sophie’s free agent status may prove pivotal to final votes.
- Savannah faces increasing pressure despite immunity wins.
- Four more people voted out before finale in coming episodes.
Could Playing Both Sides Ever Have Worked?
Alex Moore’s political background seemed perfect for Survivor. Working in Congress as a communications director meant Alex understood coalition building. However, island dynamics move faster than capital politics. Survivor players bond through shared hardship and quickly spot outsiders. Alex’s connections across factions made him expendable to everyone simultaneously.
The consensus vote against Alex marked an impressive achievement for Rizo. Getting seven players to agree on a target rarely happens this deep into the game. Jeff Probst remarked that Rizo reminded him of Parvati Shallow, one of Survivor’s most legendary players. Whether Rizo can carry this momentum to the end remains the season’s biggest question moving into the final stretch.
Sources
- TVLine – Survivor 49 Episode 9 Recap
- USA Today – Survivor Season 49 Episode 9 Analysis
- Entertainment Weekly – Post-Tribal Council Breakdown
Jessica Morrison is a seasoned entertainment writer with over a decade of experience covering television, film, and pop culture. After earning a degree in journalism from New York University, she worked as a freelance writer for various entertainment magazines before joining red94.net. Her expertise lies in analyzing television series, from groundbreaking dramas to light-hearted comedies, and she often provides in-depth reviews and industry insights. Outside of writing, Jessica is an avid film buff and enjoys discovering new indie movies at local festivals.