Sudoku News
World record is official
Guinness recognizes Inquirer's inaugural Sudoku National Championship
It’s official.
Brian P. Tierney, publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer announced today that the inaugural Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship, held on October 20, 2007, set the world record for “most people playing sudoku simultaneously” according to Guinness World Records. The national championship attracted a total of 857 players and 302 spectators from all across the country, ranging in age from six to 87 years old.
“We just received the official certificate from Guinness World Records and we are absolutely overwhelmed,” said Mr. Tierney. “We wanted this to be the ‘championship for everyone,’ and having this many people attend in the championship’s first year is a remarkable accomplishment. It is very gratifying to see so many people of all different skill levels come together for a common love of the game, and we hope to beat our own record this year on October 25 with our second championship.”
The certificate by Guinness World Records comes just weeks before the second-annual Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship which will be held in Philadelphia on October 25, 2008. This year’s event will include even more puzzles, more prizes and more solving categories. There will also be more divisions in an effort to accurately match participants against others at their same skill level. Players of all levels, beginner to advanced, are encouraged to participate.
“The Guinness Book of Records announcement is exciting and has generated an extra level of enthusiasm as we approach this year’s championship,” said renowned puzzle master and championship host Will Shortz. “I am honored to be part of this record-setting event, which is now not only the largest sudoku competition in the world, but to my knowledge is also the largest puzzle competition of any kind. The quality and scale of the championship is extraordinary.”
To establish the world record, The Inquirer submitted testimonials, photos, registration lists and media coverage. After an extensive review, Guinness World Records awarded the certificate on July 2, 2008.
Sponsors for this year’s Championship include Jacob’s Music, Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia Park Casino, Giant and Freedom Village.
Nutter backs Inquirer bid for world Sudoku championship
By Peter Mucha
Inquirer Staff Writer
The Philadelphia Inquirer, host of the Sudoku National Championship, hopes to bring the world tournament to the city, and Mayor Nutter this morning heartily endorsed the effort.
"We want this championship here in 2010," the mayor said at a news conference inside the Inquirer Building this morning.
The formal bid will be made this fall, said Brian Tierney, CEO of Philadelphia Media Holdings, which owns the Inquirer and Daily News.
"Our local ownership loves to have the world's attention on this wonderful region," Tierney said.
He also announced that more prize money - $20,000 in all - will be awarded at this year's tournament, to be held Oct. 25 at the Convention Center.
Last October's inaugural challenge lured nearly 900 participants from 35 states and hundreds of additional spectators, making it, Tierney said, the best attended puzzle tournament ever.
New York Times puzzle editor Will Shortz, who will return as master of ceremonies, also spoke - after giving a puzzle to a row of T-shirted solvers.
Just 1 minutes and 46 seconds later, the hand of a red-headed lad shot up.
Jonathan Kustina, 14, who'll be a freshman at Lower Moreland High School in the fall, had finished his puzzle.
Spectators rolled their eyes, shook their heads, and laughed in amazement.
(To try it yourself, print this page: http://media.philly.com/documents/sudokucolor3.pdf.)
This year, Shortz explained, prizes will be given to the top three finishers in all three categories, Easy, Intermediate and Advanced, he said.
He also explained the tournament will have a special guest from Japan - Maki-Kaji, the man who gave Sudoku its name.
Last year, Thomas Snyder of Palo Alto, Calif., won $10,000 and an expenses-paid spot on the U.S. team that went to India.
There, Snyder defended his crown as the world champion, too.
Nutter followed Shortz, welcoming his visit from New York, saying the puzzle master "added prestige to our efforts."
Nutter would like many more New Yorkers to head this way as well, he joked, alluding to Philadelphia's declining population.
He was recently told, he quipped, by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg that "he has more than enough New Yorkers, and would be more than happy to send a few hundred thousand or so."
For more details on the tournament, including how to sign up, go to http://www.philly.com/philly/comics_games/sudoku.
Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.
Inquirer Sudoku champ wins world title
PHILADELPHIA, April 17, 2008 – Brian P. Tierney, publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer, today congratulated Thomas Snyder on his first place win at the 3rd annual World Sudoku Championship.
Snyder represented the United States at the international event, which was held in Goa, India. He earned his place on the U.S Team as a result of winning the 2007 Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship in October 2007.
The World Sudoku Championship attracted 132 competitors from 31 countries. In four days of puzzle solving, Snyder won both of the individual divisions - “classic sudoku” and “sudoku variations.” He solved the winning puzzle in two minutes and 26 seconds.
“I’d like to say it all started here in Philadelphia for Thomas but for him it probably started at birth,” Tierney said. “On behalf of all my colleagues at The Philadelphia Inquirer, we congratulate him and look forward to seeing him in Philadelphia again this October.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship is preparing for its second annual event to be held in October. Last year’s inaugural championship, which was hosted by puzzle master Will Shortz, attracted nearly 1,300 people from across the country. Players ranged in age from six to 86 years old, and at the end of the day Thomas Snyder won the championship along with $10,000 and a spot on the U.S. Sudoku Team.
Snyder represented the United States at the international event, which was held in Goa, India. He earned his place on the U.S Team as a result of winning the 2007 Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship in October 2007.
The World Sudoku Championship attracted 132 competitors from 31 countries. In four days of puzzle solving, Snyder won both of the individual divisions - “classic sudoku” and “sudoku variations.” He solved the winning puzzle in two minutes and 26 seconds.
“I’d like to say it all started here in Philadelphia for Thomas but for him it probably started at birth,” Tierney said. “On behalf of all my colleagues at The Philadelphia Inquirer, we congratulate him and look forward to seeing him in Philadelphia again this October.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship is preparing for its second annual event to be held in October. Last year’s inaugural championship, which was hosted by puzzle master Will Shortz, attracted nearly 1,300 people from across the country. Players ranged in age from six to 86 years old, and at the end of the day Thomas Snyder won the championship along with $10,000 and a spot on the U.S. Sudoku Team.
Thomas Snyder, 27, from Palo Alto, Calif., shows his winning puzzle at the 2007 Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship, held in October. Snyder was the winner of the 3rd annual World Sudoku Championship in Goa, India, after earning his place on the U.S. Team as a result of his Inquirer championship.
Man who named sudoku, Maki Kaji, to be honorary guest at championship
PHILADELPHIA, May 28, 2008 – Ready, set, solve. Brian P. Tierney, Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia Media Holdings and Philadelphia Inquirer Publisher, announced today that The Philadelphia Inquirer will host the second annual Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship (www.philly.com/sudoku) at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on October 25, 2008. With the enormous success of the championship’s debut last year, The Inquirer will partner with world-renowned puzzle master Will Shortz to host the Championship for the second consecutive year.
The first year of the championship attracted 1,300 people, making it the largest puzzle competition in the world. Participants ranged in age from six to 86 years old and came from all across the country. Dubbed “the championship for everyone,” last year’s event attracted 150 experts, 442 intermediates and 265 beginners.
This year’s event will expand to include more puzzles, more prizes and more solving categories. There will also be more divisions in an effort to accurately match participants against others at their same skill level. Players of all levels, beginner to advanced, are encouraged to participate.
“In addition to working with Will Shortz for the second year, we are also thrilled to have Maki Kaji, President of Japanese puzzle giant Nikoli Inc. and the person who gave Sudoku its name, as this year’s Honorary Guest,” said Mr. Tierney. “To have the support of two of the most accomplished leaders in the puzzle world supporting our championship speaks to the quality of the event, and we look forward to bringing Sudoku enthusiasts together for years to come.”
Sudoku has become a puzzle phenomenon since its international debut in 2005 and has been growing rapidly ever since, and now holds a World Sudoku Championship in a different country every year. Last year’s winners of The Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship included Thomas Snyder of Palo Alto, Calif., for the advanced division; Ron Osher of Stamford, Conn., for the intermediate division; and Lori Desruisseaux of Elverson, Pa., for the beginner division.
The October tournament weekend will feature a welcome reception with fun puzzle games for serious and casual sudoku players, culminating in a one-day championship to crown the best sudoku players in multiple skill categories.
“It is exciting to watch this championship establish a strong reputation for itself among people in all solving categories,” said renowned puzzle master Will Shortz. “This year’s championship is going to be even more impressive offering more puzzles, more judges and more prizes. It is an event that promises fun for the entire family.”
“This is a great event not only for sudoku solvers, but also for the city of Philadelphia,” said Mayor Michael Nutter. “I know that the championship will become a Philadelphia tradition that will attract many new and different visitors to our world class city each year.”
The first year of the championship attracted 1,300 people, making it the largest puzzle competition in the world. Participants ranged in age from six to 86 years old and came from all across the country. Dubbed “the championship for everyone,” last year’s event attracted 150 experts, 442 intermediates and 265 beginners.
This year’s event will expand to include more puzzles, more prizes and more solving categories. There will also be more divisions in an effort to accurately match participants against others at their same skill level. Players of all levels, beginner to advanced, are encouraged to participate.
“In addition to working with Will Shortz for the second year, we are also thrilled to have Maki Kaji, President of Japanese puzzle giant Nikoli Inc. and the person who gave Sudoku its name, as this year’s Honorary Guest,” said Mr. Tierney. “To have the support of two of the most accomplished leaders in the puzzle world supporting our championship speaks to the quality of the event, and we look forward to bringing Sudoku enthusiasts together for years to come.”
Sudoku has become a puzzle phenomenon since its international debut in 2005 and has been growing rapidly ever since, and now holds a World Sudoku Championship in a different country every year. Last year’s winners of The Philadelphia Inquirer Sudoku National Championship included Thomas Snyder of Palo Alto, Calif., for the advanced division; Ron Osher of Stamford, Conn., for the intermediate division; and Lori Desruisseaux of Elverson, Pa., for the beginner division.
The October tournament weekend will feature a welcome reception with fun puzzle games for serious and casual sudoku players, culminating in a one-day championship to crown the best sudoku players in multiple skill categories.
“It is exciting to watch this championship establish a strong reputation for itself among people in all solving categories,” said renowned puzzle master Will Shortz. “This year’s championship is going to be even more impressive offering more puzzles, more judges and more prizes. It is an event that promises fun for the entire family.”
“This is a great event not only for sudoku solvers, but also for the city of Philadelphia,” said Mayor Michael Nutter. “I know that the championship will become a Philadelphia tradition that will attract many new and different visitors to our world class city each year.”
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