Final tournament results available

Congratulations to our winners:

• First prize: Eric LeVasseur
• Second prize: Eric Maddy
• Third prize: Joshua Kosman
• Highest-scoring contestant age 65+: Tom McCann

Breaking News: Tyler Hinman to appear!

Alameda, California - August 7, 2008: Four time ACPT champion and all-around crossword legend Tyler Hinman has graciously offered his services as celebrity judge at the first annual Bay Area Crossword Tournament. We couldn't be happier to have him! A big Thank you! to Tyler for helping make this event even more special.

First Annual Bay Area Crossword Puzzle Tournament to benefit the California Dictionary Project Saturday, September 13, 2008, 10:30am to 3:00pm Alameda High School Cafeteria 2201 Encinal Avenue Alameda, California 94501

Couldn't make it to Brooklyn this year? Can't get enough crossword competition? Then come join other Bay Area crossword puzzle aficionados and enjoy a day of friendly competition to benefit a very worthy cause, the California Dictionary Project.

The Puzzles

The legendary Will Shortz, crossword puzzle editor of the New York Times, has graciously agreed to donate unpublished puzzles from the following week's Times, so you know the puzzles will be challenging and fun. We'll start out in the morning with an easy Monday puzzle, then a Tuesday puzzle, then break for lunch, then come back and do a Wednesday puzzle, and finish with a Thursday puzzle. Scoring will be based on the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament rules. Rankings will be based on the total score on all four puzzles.

The Prizes

• First prize: A $50 Amazon.com gift certificate
• Second prize: A $25 Amazon.com gift certificate
• Third prize: An autographed copy of How to Conquer the New York Times Crossword Puzzle by Amy Reynaldo and Will Shortz.

The top three prize winners, as well as the top solver under age 18 and the top solver over age 65, will receive a Certificate of Achievement, printed in full color on high-quality paper, suitable for framing.

The Schedule

10:30 - 11:00 — Sign in, meet and greet
11:00 - 11:30 — Puzzle 1
11:30 - 12:00 — Puzzle 2
12:00 - 1:30 — Lunch break. Enjoy the many restaurants, sandwich shops, and taquerias of the beautiful island city of Alameda
1:30 - 2:00 — Puzzle 3
2:00 - 2:30 — Puzzle 4
2:30 - 3:00 — Winners announced, prizes awarded

Registration

Map and Directions

By car:

From I-880 south, exit at 23rd Avenue/Alameda. Proceed down 23rd Avenue to the traffic circle by the 7-11 and then turn right over the Park Street Bridge. Go about 1.5 miles and make a right on Encinal.

From I-880 north, exit at High Street, turn left at the first light (High Street) and cross the High Street Bridge into Alameda. Turn right on Fernside, left on Tilden Way, and left on Park. Go three blocks to Encinal Avenue and turn right.

The Alameda High School cafeteria is three blocks from Park Street, 2201 Encinal between Walnut and Willow. There is ample street parking in the area.

By public transit:

From San Francisco:

Take BART to Fruitvale station. Transfer to the AC Transit #50 bus ($1.75 in exact fare) and ride to Park and Encinal.

or

Take the AC Transit O bus from the Transbay Terminal and get off at Park and Encinal.

Turn right on Encinal and walk three blocks to the Alameda High School Cafeteria, 2201 Encinal between Walnut and Willow.

From downtown Oakland:

Take the #51 bus down Broadway to Santa Clara and Willow. Turn right on Willow and walk two blocks to Encinal.