Games World of Puzzles June 2018

Welcome to the June issue of GAMES WORLD OF PUZZLES. Before we celebrate the start of summer, though, let’s rewind for a moment to early spring and an important event in the puzzle world. The 41st annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament took place in Stamford, Connecticut, on March 23–25. This year’s tournament featured a jaw-dropping “A” division victory by 24-year-old Erik Agard, a first-time winner. He bested seven-time champion Dan Feyer in a record-breaking time of 4 minutes, 58 seconds for the final puzzle.

Agard, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, had never even reached the “A” division final before. But this year he was in top form as he donned noise-canceling headphones and steadily filled in the final puzzle, finishing more than three full minutes ahead of Feyer, a musician from San Francisco, California. Feyer’s time was 8 minutes, 8 seconds. In third place was David Plotkin of Gainesville, Florida.

All in all, it was another good year for the ACPT. As always, both casual and competitive cruciverbalists came together to celebrate crossword puzzles. Old friends were reunited and new bonds were forged. Attendance was strong, with more than 670 contestants. What’s more, this year’s tournament will be featured on an episode of HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. Not bad for an event fondly known as the “Nerd Olympics”!

Back to this issue, we have a treat this month for escape room enthusiasts. In Andrew Parr’s “Escape the Panic Room,” which starts on page 34, you’ll need to use your wits and resourcefulness to solve puzzles that will help you find the correct key to escape. Choose carefully: If you pick the wrong key, the door will lock permanently!

And that’s not all. On page 38 you’ll find Raymond Simon’s “Viewer Discretion: A TV Trivia Quiz.” Test your knowledge of popular shows old and new, but don’t worry if you don’t have cable or Netflix: This quiz sticks to major network fare. If you prefer movies over TV, turn to page 44 and check out Jack Lechner’s “Movie Geography” contest. Maybe you’ll be inspired to submit an entry!

As always, our Pencilwise section features a blend of new puzzles and old favorites. Of this issue’s debuts, two of our favorites are Ryan Langewisch’s “Topic Tangle” on page 29 and Grant Fikes’ “Snake Crisscross” on page 30. Give them a try—we think you’ll enjoy them too.

Happy puzzling!