2025 Crossword Competition
Anyway, the competition is next weekend. As always, it’s a grind to make it to the finals, which is the 3 top scorers. He presently has the longest streak of top 3’s, I think 5?
I’ll be giving the usual updates next Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully WoV will be having a member as a world champion!
Speaking of which, there is a chance the 2027 world championship will be in Las Vegas; that will be decided next week.
Main Street Daily News (Gainesville, Florida)
Seth Johnson author
There is a great article about my son and the contest in general.
I of course am incompetent at posting a viable link.
Quote: SOOPOOFor long time members, my son, who technically is a member here, is one of the top crossword puzzlers in the world. The New York Times sponsors a yearly ‘(DeFacto) world championship. David has been entering for 15 years or so. He won the ‘Junior’ division I think 5 times until he aged out. Won the entry division his first crack at it. And has been in 3rd or 2nd overall consistently the last decade. Second last year. I think he won $1k for that.
Anyway, the competition is next weekend. As always, it’s a grind to make it to the finals, which is the 3 top scorers. He presently has the longest streak of top 3’s, I think 5?
I’ll be giving the usual updates next Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully WoV will be having a member as a world champion!
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I will be following your updates.
Does he do any type of preparation other than crossword puzzles for these competitions?
Quote: DRichQuote: SOOPOOFor long time members, my son, who technically is a member here, is one of the top crossword puzzlers in the world. The New York Times sponsors a yearly ‘(DeFacto) world championship. David has been entering for 15 years or so. He won the ‘Junior’ division I think 5 times until he aged out. Won the entry division his first crack at it. And has been in 3rd or 2nd overall consistently the last decade. Second last year. I think he won $1k for that.
Anyway, the competition is next weekend. As always, it’s a grind to make it to the finals, which is the 3 top scorers. He presently has the longest streak of top 3’s, I think 5?
I’ll be giving the usual updates next Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully WoV will be having a member as a world champion!
link to original post
I will be following your updates.
Does he do any type of preparation other than crossword puzzles for these competitions?
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Not ‘specifically’. He does trivia contests as well. And he does occasionally keep a record of difficult or surprising or interesting clues and answers.
His breadth of knowledge is what’s most astounding.
1980’s baseball
1970’s Oscar winners
2025 world capitals
Las Vegas casinos
1990’s rock stars
Astronomy
Greek history
Etc…..
Quote: SOOPOO4/24/2024
Main Street Daily News (Gainesville, Florida)
Seth Johnson author
There is a great article about my son and the contest in general.
I of course am incompetent at posting a viable link.
link to original post
I, on the other hand, am quite good at it
Quote: ThatDonGuyQuote: SOOPOO4/24/2024
Main Street Daily News (Gainesville, Florida)
Seth Johnson author
There is a great article about my son and the contest in general.
I of course am incompetent at posting a viable link.
link to original post
I, on the other hand, am quite good at it
link to original post
Thanks! I think it’s a great article for my son, and a pretty concise summary of the Crossword Puzzle competition, and some of its nuances.
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: ThatDonGuyQuote: SOOPOO4/24/2024
Main Street Daily News (Gainesville, Florida)
Seth Johnson author
There is a great article about my son and the contest in general.
I of course am incompetent at posting a viable link.
link to original post
I, on the other hand, am quite good at it
link to original post
Thanks! I think it’s a great article for my son, and a pretty concise summary of the Crossword Puzzle competition, and some of its nuances.
link to original post
I would have never guessed that the same puzzle is used for all of the divisions in the finals.
Quote: SOOPOO4/24/2024
Main Street Daily News (Gainesville, Florida)
Seth Johnson author
There is a great article about my son and the contest in general.
I of course am incompetent at posting a viable link.
link to original post
Congrats to SOOPOO Jr., and best of luck in future competitions!
After two puzzles there are 8 enigmatists who are tied for 1st. David is one of them. There are 7 of ‘the usual suspects’ and one rookie.
As a reminder, the organizers always make ‘puzzle 5’ particularly difficult and that puzzle separates the competitors. That one is going on right around now.
I of course will keep providing updates.
Quote: MDawgIt takes a certain kind of person to do well at those crosswords so he must be a smart kid AND have a good spatial recognition type mind.
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All true. He is now in a 4 way tie for 1st after 3 puzzles. You really just want to ‘make the stage’ with a chance to win, and that requires a top 3 finish.
Quote: DRichSoopoo, can you share a link where we can follow the progress of the tournament?
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https://www.crosswordtournament.com/2025/index.htm
You'll need to click on Results / Individual to see how David (and the others) are currently standing.
Quote: DieterQuote: DRichSoopoo, can you share a link where we can follow the progress of the tournament?
link to original post
https://www.crosswordtournament.com/2025/index.htm
You'll need to click on Results / Individual to see how David (and the others) are currently standing.
link to original post
Thank you.
David may try being ‘reckless’ on puzzle 7. If there are a few empty squares he may ‘intuit’ what the answers may be without actually looking at the clues to save time.
Quote: SOOPOOOh well. After puzzle 6 David is solo fourth. Trailing 2nd and 3rd by 1 minute. David says the two guys who he trails by a minute tend to be faster than him and it would be a huge surprise if he overtakes either with one puzzle to go.
David may try being ‘reckless’ on puzzle 7. If there are a few empty squares he may ‘intuit’ what the answers may be without actually looking at the clues to save time.
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You never know. Anything could happen. If he makes it to the final round do the scores accumulate or are they reset for the final round?
essentially reset. Some years they gave the higher seed a few second head start. Not sure what happens this year.Quote: DRichQuote: SOOPOOOh well. After puzzle 6 David is solo fourth. Trailing 2nd and 3rd by 1 minute. David says the two guys who he trails by a minute tend to be faster than him and it would be a huge surprise if he overtakes either with one puzzle to go.
David may try being ‘reckless’ on puzzle 7. If there are a few empty squares he may ‘intuit’ what the answers may be without actually looking at the clues to save time.
link to original post
You never know. Anything could happen. If he makes it to the final round do the scores accumulate or are they reset for the final round?
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Quote: DRichCongratulations to Soopoo Jr. Fourth place is still a hell of an accomplishment.
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Thanks. There’s always next year….
