"Ability to manipulate someone": Squid Game: The Challenge Player 98 talks strategy and reveals his choice for nomination

Squid Game: The Challenge
Squid Game: The Challenge | Image Source: Netflix/ Tudum

Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 premiered on November 4, 2025. Netflix released the first four episodes on the premiere day.

Episode 4 featured a strategic move from Player 98. It happened after he was called to the boiler room. He had to choose one of the fellow players for nomination. Along with that nominated player, he would also be nominated.

However, he strategized and told fellow participants his side while sobbing. Many of them sided with him, seeing him getting emotional. Later, he revealed Player 431 as his nomination. While strategizing for the upcoming elimination, Player 98 confessed to the cameras.

"I'm trustworthy, but I also have the ability to manipulate someone if I needed to. This could be my last chance to speak out and have the players feeling for me. And if they can feel for me as a person, I may have a real chance of them voting for me," confessed Squid Game: The Challenge's Player 98.

Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 Episode 4: Player 98 plays out a smart strategy to get fellow participants on his side for the upcoming elimination

Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 Episode 4, titled, Mingle, started with player 98, Matthew, being called to the boiler room. He was on the phone. His instructions were to nominate one of the fellow players.

"Player 98, you must now choose a player at risk of elimination. The dormitory will then vote whether to eliminate them or you. Player 98, the vote will begin in 15 minutes. Make your choice now."

While on the phone, Player 98 was supposed to make a choice.

"I've been in law enforcement pretty much my whole life. It seems like I'm an innocent type of guy. Once someone gets to know me, they like me," confessed Player 98.

As he arrived from the boiler room, Player 402 was in the lobby. He asked him to get everybody and meet Player 98 by the stage. In his private confession, he noted that he could manipulate someone.

Soon, he asked everyone to gather around the stage. While walking up the stage, he started crying, which many of the fellow players noticed. He started sobbing and got on stage.

"It's a rough game. When I went to the boiler room...I was told that, I had to put myself up against somebody else and that a vote must happen. So later tonight, it will be me or another player. And, later, we'll see who the other player is," announced Player 98.

Squid Game: The Challenge's Player 98 added that he was not a sneak, and he hated being put into positions to hurt someone else. He didn't reveal that he was given the choice to select the nominated contestant.

"I start to cry, and I see the other players start to feel it. Felt like that worked in my advantage," he confessed.

Player 111, August, talked about the intense situation. He mentioned Player 98 and the upcoming nomination. He noted that he had been lucky. However, he noted that at some point, everyone's luck will run out.

On the other hand, Player 98 was still emotional and sobbed as he sat alone. He confessed that he was looking to get sympathy from fellow players.

While some of the participants felt his emotions and comforted him, Player 324 felt otherwise. She thought that he was playing everyone. Soon, the voting started. Player 98 chose Player 431 for the nomination. The announcement revealed that both of them were at risk of elimination.


To know more about the nomination process, fans can stream Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 Episode 4 on Netflix.

Edited by Gira Rathod