From Hockey Games to Crossword Fame

Will Nediger, a 35-year-old linguist from London, Ontario, has transformed his childhood fascination with words into a whirlwind success in the crossword puzzle arena. Growing up, he often found himself ignoring the action on the ice during his brother's hockey games, instead immersing himself in books. His early prowess was evident when he began schooling his parents at Scrabble at just eight years old during family summers filled with word games.

An Anagram Prodigy

Nediger's extraordinary talent manifested early. In Grade 3, when tasked with creating anagrams from phrases, he astounded his teacher by generating 120 different ones while the class goal was only 20. This natural gift for words would pave the way for a remarkable career.

A Rising Star at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament

Recently, Nediger achieved an impressive second-place finish at the 47th annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, outmatching over a thousand competitors with his lightning-fast solving skills. While he improved from his previous year's ranking, he remains hungry for victory.

"I’m going to start serious training," he declared post-tournament, acknowledging the fierce competition he faces from reigning champion Paolo Pasco, who has captured the title again.

Crafting Puzzles with Heart

A freelance puzzle creator, Nediger has made a name for himself, producing 52 puzzles for The New York Times and numerous others for special occasions like birthdays and weddings. His approach is refreshingly generous; he believes in fostering a friendly relationship with solvers, aiming to provide satisfying and enjoyable challenges.

A Friendship with Will Shortz

Will Shortz, the legendary puzzle editor of The New York Times, has recognized Nediger's talents since his first submission. Shortz describes Nediger's puzzles as "handsome" and