As announced on the Crossword Club site here today…
After a four-year gap, I am delighted to announce that the Times Crossword Championship is back.
The 2023 Championship will be held on Saturday October 21st at Times HQ, the News Building, right by London Bridge station. We are returning to an in-person event, largely following the format of the 2019 contest – two qualifying sessions, a semifinal session for the highest finishers in each qualifier, and a grand final in which the top three semifinalists tackle one puzzle.
The winner will receive £1000 and will get to take home the coveted Times Crossword Championship trophy, and there will be further runner-up prizes, details to come.
There are no qualifying puzzles, and tickets will go on sale at the start of September, priced at £40 (£32 for Times subscribers), including refreshments. The 50 high-ranking 2019 semifinalists who were offered a guarantee of a place for 2020 will be contacted early to ensure they get a chance to book.
Further details, including a link to the competition website and information on how to book, will be given here on the Crossword Club, in the puzzles newsletter (sign up here) and in the paper over the next few weeks.
Mick Hodgkin
Puzzles Editor
I plan on being there. I hope to see many of you there too.
I expect to attend. I have suggested to Mick that he should offer a prize for the slowest all correct submission, it would be my only hope of winning anything
Will miss this unfortunately- it clashes with.a holiday deferred from early 2020.
Yes- great they’re having it again- even if they are not offering free entry to 2019 semi-finalists – thought they promised that in 2019. I can’t make it unfortunately- they’ve scheduled it over half term holiday and our family are away.
Well this is worth breaking my crossword silence for. I imagine you’ll see me there.
Will it be a pen and paper affair? If so, I’m in.
Yes it will. A booklet of 3 puzzles to solve in 60 minutes under exam conditions. See here for a flavour of it.