American Crossword Puzzle Tournament

Program

46th Annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament
April 5-7, 2024

The live tournament has reached capacity!

A limited number of Friday Games with Wine and Cheese reception tickets are still available. Purchase here while they last!

You can still sign up for the Virtual Tournament

Contact [email protected] with any other questions.

Jump ahead on this page to: Registration Info | Hotel Reservations | Schedule | Scoring | Who Competes
Pairs Competition | Non-Competitors | Prizes | About the Puzzles | Constructors | The Judges | Stamford | Solving at home

2024 Registration Information

All Events as a Competitor (including Friday)$270
All Events as a Competitor (beginning Saturday morning)$230
All Events as a Competitive PAIR (including Friday)$470/pair
All Events as a Competitive PAIR (beginning Saturday morning)$400/pair
All Events as a Non-Competitor (including Friday)$215
All Events as a Non-Competitor (beginning Saturday morning)$165
Friday Evening Games and Reception Only$  75
Spectator for Sunday Playoffs (starting at 11AM) + Puzzles$  35
Refunds will be made if you are unable to attend by writing to [email protected] prior to the tournament beginning.

Hotel Reservations

The Marriott is sold out for Friday and Saturday nights. We have opened up a block of rooms at the nearby Stamford Hotel, 700 E Main St, Stamford, CT 06901.

Space is limited, so act now! You are responsible for making your own room reservations!

  1. Online: Reservations at the nearby Stamford Hotel are available now for Friday and Saturday nights. Stamford Hotel ACPT Group Rate
  2. By phone: Phone in your reservation to the Stamford Hotel by calling 203-358-8400 and be sure to ask for the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament group rate

Marriott cancellation policy for this group: Room cancellations can be made prior to 72 hours before your arrival to get a full refund. Cancellations made within 72 hours of your arrival will be charged for one night's stay.

Schedule

Friday, April 5
7:00-8:00pm

Sign-in

8:00pm-10:00pm

An evening of warm-up puzzles and entertainment including (more to come):

  • "Connections" competition, based on the hit New York Times game, played on participants' smartphones
  • Remarks by Wyna Liu, the creator of "Connections," on how she prepares the boards, with stories from solvers
  • Sprint Contest -- featuring Cryptic Crossword, Code Crossword, Split Decisions, Spiral, Quote Boxes, and other puzzles from future issues of Games World of Puzzles
10:00pmWine and cheese reception.
11:00pmAwards for all the evening games.
Saturday, April 6
All dayPuzzle market — Sale of puzzle books and products [in the Pavilion; continues between rounds all day]
9:30-10:45amTournament sign-in (continued)
11:00am-12:45pmPuzzles 1, 2, and 3
2:15-4:45pmPuzzles 4, 5, and 6
Scores will be posted online as they become available
8:00-10:00pm

Another evening of games and entertainment, including:

  • "The ACPT Photo Archive" — presentation by Don Christensen and Donna Mayers on 40+ years of American Crossword Puzzle Tournament images, digitized and indexed, with examples
  • Presentation of the annual Merl Reagle MEmoRiaL Award for lifetime achievement in crossword construction to Andrea Carla Michaels. With film and oral tributes
  • and more
Sunday, April 7
9:00amPuzzle 7
11:00am-Noon“Crossworders Got Talent” — a puzzlers’ variety show
Noon-12:30pmPresentation of the prizes, followed by the announcement of the Division A, B, and C playoff contestants
12:30-1:45pmPuzzle 8 — Championship Playoffs. The Division A and B playoffs will be announced jointly by Ophira Eisenberg, comedian and radio host; and composer/puzzlemaker Greg Pliska

Scoring

Scoring is based on accuracy and speed. Score as follows:

  1. 10 points for every correct word you entered across and down
  2. A bonus of 25 points for each full minute you finished ahead of the suggested solution time — BUT reduced by 25 points for each missing or incorrect letter (but not beyond the point the bonus returns to zero)
  3. A bonus of 150 points for each completely correct solution

For the purpose of scoring, a "word" consists of any series of letters written between black squares in the grid, or between a black square and the border of the grid, whether it is a single word, a phrase, or otherwise.

Complete rules will be explained prior to competition.

Who Competes?

Contestants simultaneously compete in all events for which they are eligible:
Division AEveryone
Division BContestants who have not won a Division A or Division B prize during their last seven tournaments
Division CContestants who have not finished in the top 20% during their last three tournaments
Division DContestants who have not finished in the top 40% during their last three tournaments
Division EContestants who have not finished in the top 65% during their last three tournaments
Age DivisionsSolvers 25 years and under (Juniors), 50-59 years (Fifties), 60-69 years (Sixties), 70-79 (Seventies) and 80+ (Seniors)
Regional DivisionsSolvers in each of 11 geographical regions:
Connecticut, Other New England, New York City, Long Island, Westchester/Upstate New York, New Jersey, Other Mid-Atlantic, South, Midwest, West, Canada/Foreign [map]
RookiesContestants competing for their first time. Rookies are not eligible for "D" or "E" prizes.

Pairs Competition

New in 2024. Pairs Competition!

Our Pairs Competition has reached capacity. Click here if you would like to be added to the waiting list.

  • Pairs will compete in a separate room from solo competitors
  • Each Pair will receive two copies of the puzzle but only one will be turned in and scored.
  • Pairs may occasionally whisper to their partner a few words but silence is generally expected.
  • Scoring methodology and other ACPT rules apply.
  • Scoring will be posted separately from solo competitors
  • Cash prizes for First and Second Place finishers
  • Trophies for First, Second and Third Place finishers
  • Cost is $470/pair for all events starting Friday or $400/pair for all events starting Saturday.

Non-competitors

There are three categories of non-competitors:

  • All Events as a Non-Competitor - have a seat in the ballroom during the competition and receive / solve all the puzzles. Puzzles are not turned in for grading. Seating is in chairs along the edge of the ballroom, so we recommend you bring a clipboard to write on. You will also receive the Solvers packet upon registration check-in, name badge, etc. $165 beginning Saturday morning; $215 inculding Friday Games and the Wine and Cheese Reception.

  • Friday Evening Games and Reception Only Join us for the Friday Evening Games, starting at 8pm and the Wine and Cheese Reception that follows. $75

  • Spectator for Sunday Playoffs (starting at 11AM) + Puzzles - includes entry to the ballroom on Sunday for the talent show, awards ceremony and playoffs, plus a copy of the tournament puzzles at the end of the playoffs. $35

  • Spouses, partners, and chaperoned children who are accompanying competitors or non-competitors are welcome outside the ballrooms at all times.

Prizes

Division A1st Prize$7,500
2nd$3,000
3rd$1,500
4th-10th (each)Trophy
Division B1st Prize$700
2nd$300
3rd$200
Division C1st Prize$150
2nd$100
3rd$75
Each of Divisions D and E; Juniors, Fifties, Sixties, Seventies, Seniors1st-3rd PrizesTrophy
11 Regional Winners (each) [map]1st & 2nd PrizesTrophy
Rookies1st Prize$500
2nd$250
3rd$100
4th & 5thTrophy
Pairs1st Prize$500
2nd$250
3rdTrophy

Plus Every prizewinner receives a New York Times crossword collection from St. Martin's Press.

About the Puzzles

All crosswords have been specially created and edited for the tournament.

Will I be able to compete? Are the puzzles too hard for me? These questions can be answered by actually solving a puzzle that was used in a previous Tournament. The tournament crosswords vary in difficulty. This sample puzzle is "medium." If you can complete it in 15 minutes, you would be competitive at the tournament. A time of under 10 minutes would be excellent.

Download Puzzle 1 from the 2014 tournament (pdf)

The Judges

The judges and referees include leading names in crossword puzzling.

The Constructors

  • Tracy Bennett
  • Kevin Christian
  • Joel Fagliano
  • Lynn Lempel
  • Anna Shechtman
  • Mike Shenk
  • Sid Sivakumar
  • Robyn Weintraub

Photo Gallery of Constructors and Officials

Stamford, CT: Directions and Information

243 Tresser Boulevard
Stamford, Connecticut 06901 USA

Flying Into...

JFK 42 miles. Driving Directions: Take Van Wyck Expressway to Whitestone Bridge. Follow signs to I-95 North to Connecticut. Take I-95 North to Exit 8. Go up two lights, make a left on Canal Street. Second light make a right on Tresser Blvd. Then make first right into Marriott hotel, go to end and make a right into the Marriott Hotel parking garage. Taxi: Estimated $110 cab fare. Shuttle: Royal Club Limo/Connecticut Express Shuttle; fee: 145 USD (one way); reservation required.

LaGuardia - LGA: 35 miles. Driving Directions: Exit airport, take Grand Central Parkway towards Whitestone Bridge. Follow signs to I-95 North to Connecticut. Take I-95 North to Exit 8. Go up two lights, make a left on Canal Street. Second light, make a right on Tresser Blvd. Then make first right into the Marriott Hotel, go to end and make a right into the Marriott Hotel parking garage. Taxi: Estimated $110 cab fare. Shuttle: Alternate transportation: Royal Club Limo/Connecticut Express Shuttle; fee: 135 USD (one way); reservation required.

Westchester County White Plains Airport - HPN: 13 miles. Driving Directions: Take Route 684 South to 287 East. Follow signs for I-95 North to Connecticut. Take I-95 North to exit 8. Go up two lights and make a left on Canal Street. Second light make a right on Tresser Blvd. Then make a right into the Marriott Hotel, go to the end and make a right into the Marriott Hotel parking garage. Taxi: No estimate available. Shuttle: Alternate transportation: Royal Club Limo/Connecticut Express Shuttle; fee: 70 USD (one way); reservation required.

Public Transportation to the Stamford Marriott

The Stamford Marriott hotel is about 0.6 miles from the Metro North New Haven Line Stamford station. There are several economical ways to get to the Marriott from LaGuardia, JFK and Newark airports via public transportation. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) has a booklet that tells how to connect to the railroad:
http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/airconn/AirportBrochure.pdf

Solving At Home

You can take part in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament from your own home!

  1. On Your Computer: Enter the Virtual Tournament -- Solve the puzzles online on the weekend of the tournament, including most Friday games. Join in the livestream and chat with other Virtual Tournament contestants.

  2. On Your Computer: Solve the puzzles online following the tournament. You can also select from previous tournament puzzles. Click to purchase puzzles.

  3. By Mail: Receive this year's puzzles (upon completion of the tournament) by mail. Please note - we are no longer judging your puzzles or ranking against the actual contestants at the tournament. Click to purchase puzzles.

If you need help, call Michael Smith at 215-266-2802 (msmithacpt@gmail.com).
For questions regarding the hotel, call the Stamford Marriott at (203) 357-9555.

Tournament Sponsors

Games World of Puzzles AmuseLabs Will Shortz Games Try Hard Guides Crossword Answers 911 New York Times Ad stmartin