American Crossword Puzzle Tournament

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The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament is an annual crossword-solving tournament held every March. Founded in 1978 by Will Shortz, who still directs the tournament, it is the oldest and largest crossword tournament held in the United States; the 2007 event saw nearly 700 competitors. The contest was held for thirty years at the Marriott in Stamford, Connecticut, but due to its increasing popularity, the 2008 tourney will take place at the larger Marriott in Brooklyn, New York.

The main part of the tournament consists of seven rounds; puzzles in these rounds vary in size and difficulty level. In each round, competitors solve the same puzzle; those who complete the puzzle within the time limit may raise their hands and have their puzzles collected by a judge. Puzzles are judged on both accuracy and speed.

The top three solvers after the first seven rounds progress to the final round, which consists of solving a very difficult crossword on an oversized grid on a stage at the front of the tournament room. The three competitors in this round wear noise-blocking headphones so that a team of commentators can remark upon the action for the spectators. The winner of this round is declared the tournament champion.

While anyone is eligible to compete for the tournament championship, prizes are also awarded to solvers in other skill levels, including rookies. Prizes are awarded in various age and geographical divisions as well.

The 2006 documentary Wordplay, directed by Patrick Creadon, focuses on Will Shortz and the ACPT. It includes interviews with many of the top competitors and climaxes with the final round of the 2005 tournament. The DVD release includes video from the final round of the 2006 tournament. The film is the chief reason for the dramatically increased attendance at the 2007 event.