The Independent Sudoku Grand Master Championship

As I reported on a while back, I’ve being idly doing these Sudoku puzzles that have been appearing everywhere. So, when the Independent launched a national competition, I thought I’d enter. The London regional trial is tomorrow, and today the Independent publish a list of all the qualifiers.

You can see my name highlighted in this close up:

So, I’m going along tomorrow to see how I get on. With 1,991 qualifiers, and only the fastest 100 going to the final, I only stand a 1 in 20 chance. To be honest, I’ve no idea how good I am. I completed the Independent’s competition qualifying sudokus in less than 5 minutes each, but then they were pretty easy…

Will let you know how it goes!

Comments

Ed said:

Your probability skills are rubbish, but good luck!

Posted: June 24, 2005, 4:08 pm #
su said:

So how did you fare – did you complete within the 45 minute upper time limit? I didnt think it was that bad although made some silly error and lost valuable minutes.

Posted: June 30, 2005, 1:12 am #
David said:

Have you heard from the Independent yet? I was at the Bristol heat and think i did ok but it’s all gone horribly quiet and i’m wondering if i made a mistake
David

Posted: July 7, 2005, 3:55 pm #
Ric Brackenbury said:

Wow! I hadn’t realised that they published all the names of the qualifiers. That’ll teach me to buy the paper just for the qualifying puzzles.
I went to a London heat on June 26th and came first in my heat, but I don’t know if the time will be quick enough.
Have you heard anything yet?
All the best,
Ric

Posted: July 7, 2005, 4:44 pm #
Chris said:

Hi,

I was at the Bristol heats, too!

Came first in my heat…took about 26 minutes. Sad I know, but I really wanna find out whether I’m in the Top 100 asap.
Btw…the man said that we’d receive letters on Friday (8th) or they were being sent out on Friday – one of the two.

Chris.

Posted: July 7, 2005, 6:32 pm #
David said:

Chris
The guy told me that 25 – 30 minutes would probably be the cut off so you should be ok
good luck (see you in London)
David

Posted: July 7, 2005, 11:17 pm #
Will said:

I’ve not heard anything (although left home before the postman today). Hopefully the Indie will print the list of finalists so we all know for sure.

Posted: July 8, 2005, 3:28 pm #
heather said:

Well done, people! I was at Bristol too (noon). I finished third, but did finish. As I said on someone else’s blog, I think most people *didn’t* finish, but only people doing 30 minutes or less will probably get in… :( (I was close to 45 minutes…)

Posted: July 8, 2005, 8:17 pm #
Chris said:

Heard anything yet?

Nothing here so far.

Chris.

(seeing as some people are “opening up” a little, I was at the 11am Bristol heat)

Posted: July 9, 2005, 12:39 pm #
David said:

Lots of Bristol people around (2.00 and about 16 minutes i think).
Still no news but i guess in the great scheme of things Sudoku is trivial compared to everything else that’s been going on
David

Posted: July 10, 2005, 8:27 pm #
MatthewRudy said:

I got my letter today.
See y’all at the final on Sunday.

Posted: July 11, 2005, 10:08 am #
Andrew said:

Got my finalist letter today, I only came third in my heat and took a little over 30 mins so there is hope for you all yet.

Posted: July 12, 2005, 9:24 am #
Chris said:

Got mine today.

For Bristol people, dare I ask how people are getting there?

Quite like the idea of going a bit early…spend a few hours in our nation’s capital.

Chris.

Posted: July 12, 2005, 6:22 pm #
Phil Bowman said:

So, how did you do? Having read this post a while back I forgot to check back here to see if you were in the final, as my wife got through and I was there in London with her (and thus presumably you) yesterday! Unfortunately, she didn’t make the cut to the last round.

Posted: July 18, 2005, 12:50 pm #
Chris said:

I was there…came 7th in my group.

Really screwed up one of the puzzles and had to do it 3 flipping times!

7th wasn’t good enough. Boo-hoo.

Chris

Posted: July 18, 2005, 6:37 pm #
Jon Bithrey said:

I came to the UK from Jersey for the Bristol heat but pulled out when I realised the Independent’s contest was a sham. Apparently the real Sudoku Grandmaster refused to approve the contest. A contest without Aleric is no contest.

Posted: July 18, 2005, 10:35 pm #
Sudoku Fan said:

If you like sudokus, look at PrintSudoku.com. Free online Printing Sudoku’s in pdf. 6 new every day.

Posted: August 3, 2005, 12:58 pm #
Jessie Lear said:

Hello…are there any Bristol-based sudoku fans/champions who would be available and willing to speak about the subject on BBC Radio Bristol’s drivetime show? Get in touch!

Posted: September 14, 2005, 12:35 pm #
Bobby S said:

I hear that sudokugrandmaster.com is sueing the Independant over the misuse of the term “Sudoku Grandmaster”. A sudoku player can only be proclaimed a “Grandmaster” if endorsed by another Sudoku Grandmaster.

The winner of this competition will be a fraud and have no right to call himself a Sudoku Grandmaster.

Posted: October 26, 2005, 2:43 pm #
-------------- said:

I like to do the sudoku’s in the saturday papers but i find some r quite hard. i am workin on on right this min and screwed up quite a few times already!

Posted: April 1, 2006, 2:45 pm #
Moritz said:

Hi,

the championship seems to be finished for quite a while now, what were the results?
Moritz

Posted: September 17, 2006, 9:20 am #
fiorella said:

Finally – found a place of like-minded souls! I’m putting together a book on the love of Sudoku because it virtually almost ruined my life – the addiction was ridiculous – so i thought others must love it too!

If anyone has interesting stories on their “addiction” or know of great quirky strategies, factoids, people to talk to … would love to hear it and will include you in my book!!!!!

email me at fiora@sympatico.ca

Posted: April 14, 2007, 1:25 pm #

The Independent Sudoku Grand Master Championship

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