American Crossword Puzzle Tournament

 Crossword Tournament

Crossword Tournament Program

This page contains information for 2023.
The next Tournament will be April 5-7, 2024

45th Annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament
March 31 - April 2, 2023

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

2023 Registration Information

All Events as a Competitor (including Friday)$270*
All Events as a Competitor (beginning Saturday morning)$220*
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$  25
*You may deduct $10 from this amount if payment is made and received by March 26.
Refunds will be made if you are unable to attend by writing to [email protected] prior to the tournament beginning.

Hotel Reservations

  1. You are responsible for making your own room reservations. Wait for us to post the Group Rate Code before you make your reservations.
  2. Online: A link to the Group Code will be posted in January

Be prepared with the following information:

  1. Group name: American Crossword Puzzle Tournament
  2. Dates: March 31 - April 2, 2023
  3. Number of people and choice single, double w/1 bed, or 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 (Thursday, March 30, Friday, March 31, or Saturday, April 1)
  6. Departure date (Sunday, April 2)
  7. Credit card info (number and expiration date)

Note that reservations will be held until 6 pm unless guaranteed for late arrival. Contact Marriott for more information.

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

Schedule

Friday, March 31, 2023
7:00-8:00PM

Sign-in

8:00PM

An evening of warm-up puzzles and entertainment:

  • “Anigrams, a New Puzzle Addiction” — introduced by its inventor, Adam Wagner. Followed by five rounds of Anigrams, conducted live on players' smartphones
  • “Crosswords at The Times of London” — remarks by Mick Hodgkin, puzzle editor at the newspaper
  • Times of London Crossword Contest — featuring an unpublished puzzle. Solve it either with hints or without (your choice)
  • “Puzzle Potpourri" contest — five unpublished puzzles from Games World of Puzzles. Do as many as you can!
10:00PMWine and cheese reception.
11:00PMAwards for all the evening games.
Saturday, April 1, 2023
9:30-11:00AMTournament sign-in (continued)
9:30AM-5PMPuzzle market — Sale of puzzle books and products [in the Pavilion; continues between rounds all day]
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

Evening program:

  • Audience participation word and trivia games (more details to follow)
  • Annual Merl Reagle MEmoRiaL Award for lifetime achievement in crossword construction — presentation by Marie Haley to Rich Norris, with film and live tributes.
Sunday, April 2, 2023
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.

Prizes

Division A1st Prize$7,000
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

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.

Sample Puzzles:

The Judges

The judges and referees include leading names in crossword puzzling.

The Constructors

Constructors are listed alphabetically

  • Kevin Christian
  • Kameron Austin Collins
  • Sam Ezersky
  • Joel Fagliano
  • Christina Iverson
  • Lynn Lempel
  • Andrea Carla Michaels
  • Mike Shenk
  • Robyn Weintraub

Photo Gallery of Constructors and Officials

Stamford, CT: Directions and Information

243 Tresser Boulevard
Stamford, Connecticut 06901 USA

Flying Into...
Note: there is no shuttle service between airports and the hotel.

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

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. Details to follow.

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