American Crossword Puzzle Tournament Returns To Stamford This Weekend

STAMFORD, CT — Word game enthusiasts from across the U.S. and Canada will meet in Stamford from April 4-6 for the 47th American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, which is hosted by Will Shortz, the crossword puzzle editor for The New York Times and a former Stamford resident.

The event will take place at the Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa at 243 Tresser Blvd.

"More than 1,000 participants, ages 16 to 98, are registered," said Shortz in a news release. "It will be our largest tournament ever. It's a wonderful way for crossword lovers to test themselves and celebrate their passion, while making and reuniting with friends."

More than $15,000 in prizes will be awarded in 23 categories of skill, age, geographical region, rookie status, and pairs, including a $7,500 grand prize. The event is sponsored by "Games World of Puzzles" magazine.

Registration for the tournament is full for the second year in a row, but there will be a virtual tournament concurrent with the live one, which will be live-streamed from the Marriott at this link, beginning with the Friday night games, and then throughout the tournament on Saturday and Sunday.

Solvers can get more information about the virtual tournament and register here.

The Tournament

Eight crosswords, created especially for the event by leading puzzlemakers, will be presented over the course of the weekend. Each has a time limit of 15 to 45 minutes. Contestants earn points for accuracy and speed.

On Sunday at noon, the top three contestants will face off on a final puzzle while standing at giant boards in front of an audience.

"Stamford is pleased to again host this exciting event that brings visitors, vitality, and dollars into our city and nearby towns," said Tom Civitano, the director of sales and marketing for the Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa. "All of our overnight rooms are booked into Sunday, and we have been directing additional business to The Stamford Hotel and other nearby lodgings. The Stamford Marriott has a special affinity for this event, since the ACPT was founded here in 1978 with 149 contestants."

Robert Murdock, president of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, spoke about the draw of the tournament.

"Stamford is always happy to have this event back, and we welcome its participants and all visitors to enjoy a terrific experience here, in Fairfield County, and across our drivable state," he said in a news release.

Based upon attendance projections and the. number of contestants, Murdock said the three-day event is estimated to bring in more than $884,000 in revenue for the Stamford area, and over $60,000 in taxes for the state.

For more information and a full schedule of events, click here.