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Will Shortz

NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz has appeared on Weekend Edition Sunday since the program's start in 1987. He's also the crossword editor of The New York Times, the former editor of Games magazine, and the founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (since 1978).

Will sold his first puzzle professionally when he was 14 — to Venture, a denominational youth magazine. At 16 he became a regular contributor to Dell puzzle publications. He is the only person in the world to hold a college degree in Enigmatology, the study of puzzles, which he earned from Indiana University in 1974.

Will sold his first puzzle professionally when he was 14 — to Venture, a denominational youth magazine. At 16 he became a regular contributor to Dell puzzle publications. He is the only person in the world to hold a college degree in Enigmatology, the study of puzzles, which he earned from Indiana University in 1974.

  • NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle along with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and LAist listener Bill Etienne of Laguna Niguel, California.
  • NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle along with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and WVIA listener Mary Ann Paulukonis of Pittston, Pennsylvania.
  • NPR's Ayesha Rascoe and WYPR listener Katherine Jakuta of Baltimore, Maryland play the puzzle with Weekend Edition puzzle master Will Shortz.
  • NPR's Debbie Elliott and KERA listener Adam Boyette of Forth Worth, Texas play the puzzle with Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.
  • NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle along with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and WAMC listener Allison Fitch of Poughquag, New York
  • NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle along with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and KHPR listener Momo Brennan of Honolulu, Hawai'i.
  • NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle along with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and KNOW listener Karen Hillerman of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle along with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and KUHF listener Ned Andrews of Houston, Texas.
  • NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben plays the puzzle along with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and KXJZ listener Nori Aquino of Sacramento, Calif.
  • NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle along with Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz and KQED listener Sara McNinch of Redwood City, California.