I attended the event for the first time in 2021 via the Internet and it was an excellent experience. Though I didn't place, I gained insight into the crossword puzzle community and tested my skills. After months of practice with the New York Times crossword, completing such a challenging competition was rewarding.
I first got into crossword puzzles because they were something fun my grandmother and I could do together over the holidays. After trying to make some of my own puzzles, I decided to familiarize myself with more traditional layouts and thought it would be fun to try a competition. Overall, the process has given me a new appreciation for how these puzzles are designed and taught me a lot of new words. It's also introduced me to ubiquitous 'crossword topics' like golf, NCAA football teams and birds of prey.
If competing in crossword tournaments sounds like something that may interest you, more information can be found at crosswordtournament.com.