American Crossword Puzzle Tournament

 Crossword Tournament

Crossword Tournament Program

31st Annual Crossword Puzzle Tournament
February 29-March 2, 2008

NOTE: The information below is from the 2008 tournament.
Please revisit in January 2009.
Jump ahead on this page to: Registration Info | Schedule | Scoring | Who Competes | Accommodations
Directions | Prizes | About the Puzzles | The Judges | Solving at home
Click here to Register

Registration/Reservation Information

Entry to all events plus the awards luncheon$275
Crossword Tournament only$150
Friday evening (games and reception) only$75
Spectator for Sunday Playoffs only$30
Sunday's awards luncheon only$75
Noncompetitor status (all events & awards luncheon, but not entered in tournament)$225
Rooms are available at a special rate of $169 (single or double occupancy). More information below.

Space is limited, so act now!
If you need to, you can call Helene Hovanec at 718-797-0264 (HeleneHov@aol.com) for additional details. (For questions regarding hotel accommodations, call the Marriott at 718-246-7000.)

Schedule

Friday, February 29
8:00PMLimber up your brain — and meet the contestants and judges — in an evening of games and entertainments. Special feature: Brooklyn Crossword Extravaganza — A Brooklyn-themed team competition by Eric Berlin.
10:00PMWine and cheese reception.
11:00PMAwards for all the evening games.
Saturday, March 1
All dayPuzzle market — crossword books, magazines, and gifts.
  • New York Times Digital
  • Puzzle Prezzents
  • Village Book Store
9:30AMTournament sign-in
11:00AMPuzzles 1, 2, and 3
2:30PMPuzzles 4, 5, and 6
8:00PMGame Show Night. Also: "Wordploy," a film by Ed Stein.
Sunday, March 2
8:30AMStandings posted.
9:00AMPuzzle 7
11:00AMChampionship playoff, in which the top three contestants in Divisions A, B, and C compete in successive sudden-death rounds conducted on giant grids. Grant Barrett, co-host of public radio's "A Way With Words," and crossword constructor Merl Reagle will give live, play-by-play commentary on the A and B finals.
1:00PMAwards banquet. The prizes will be presented by Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett, co-hosts of public radio's "A Way With Words."

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, Foreign
RookiesContestants competing for their first time. Rookies are not eligible for "D" or "E" prizes.

Accommodations

The Brooklyn Marriott (see next) provides special low guest room rates, available for contestants Friday and Saturday nights.

You are responsible for making your own room reservations. There are three choices:

  1. By mail: Click here and we'll send you a room reservation request card, which you will send directly to the Marriott.
  2. By phone: Phone call in your reservation to the Marriott in Brooklyn at 718-246-7000
  3. Online: Click here and in the right column fill in the dates you want (February 29-March 2, 2008), and use the "group code" PZTPZTA

Be prepared with the following information:

  1. Group name: American Crossword Puzzle Tournament
  2. Dates: February 29-March 2, 2008
  3. Number of people and choice of 1) single; 2) double w/1 bed; 3) double w/2 beds
  4. Your name, (firm), address, and who you are sharing with. Note: to avoid duplication, submit one reservation for room shared by two or more people
  5. Arrival date (Friday, February 29, or Saturday, March 1)
  6. Departure date (Sunday March 2)
  7. Credit card info (number and expiration date)

The rates are $169/night PER ROOM regardless of your choice. This rate is guaranteed through February 22, 2008 (rates afterward subject to room availability)

Note that reservations will be held until 6pm unless guaranteed for late arrival by a check for the first night's room deposit, company guarantee of payment, Club Marquis membership, or by one of the following credit cards: MasterCard • Visa • American Express • Diner's Club • Carte Blanche • Club Marquis

Check-in time is 3pm. Check-out time is noon.

Brooklyn: Directions and Information

After 30 years, the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament has finally left Stamford for a larger venue: the Brooklyn Marriott. Many longtime solvers are sad that the tournament will no longer take place in the same arena where it always has, and wonder what the experience will be like in Brooklyn.


View Larger Map

Prizes

Division A1st Prize$5,000
2nd Prize$600
3rd Prize$300
4th-10th Prizes (each)Trophy
Division B1st Prize$200
2nd$150
3rd$100
Division C1st Prize$75
2nd$50
3rd$25
Each of Divisions D and E; Juniors, Fifties, Sixties, Seventies, Seniors1st-3rd PrizesTrophy
11 Regional Winners (each)1st-2nd PrizesTrophy
Rookies1st-5th PrizesTrophy

Plus Every divisional winner receives a quality reference book from Merriam-Webster. And every prizewinner receives a New York Times crossword collection from St. Martin's Press.

No more than one cash prize per person.

About the Puzzles

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

The Judges

The judges and referees include leading names in crossword puzzling.

Solving At Home

Now you can take part in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament — and find out how you'd score — from your own home!

  1. On Your Computer: Solve the puzzles online on the weekend of the tournament, or at anytime throughout the year. Standings of online competitors are constantly updated. Click here for details.

  2. By Mail: Receive this year's puzzles (upon completion of the tournament) by mail, solve them and return your solutions to us with your times. We'll judge your puzzles, send you your scores, and tell you your ranking in every event in which you were eligible. To Register, click here.