The Grey Labyrinth is a collection of puzzles, riddles, mind games, paradoxes and other intellectually challenging diversions. Related topics: puzzle games, logic puzzles, lateral thinking puzzles, philosophy, mind benders, brain teasers, word problems, conundrums, 3d puzzles, spatial reasoning, intelligence tests, mathematical diversions, paradoxes, physics problems, reasoning, math, science.

PuzzleScot · Daedalian Member

Hi guys,

Today is the day that the 18th World Puzzle Championships starts, this year in Antalya, Turkey.

I will be travelling tonight as playing Captain of the UK team Razz

You can find all the information you could ever want to know about this competition at http://www.wpc2009.org/
That includes all the puzzle instructions, with samples!

Most interestingly - this year there will be a 'live round', where anyone anywhere in the world can participate in one round of the competition, directly against the main competitors!! http://www.wpc2009.org/oapc/
This will occur at 14:00 GMT this Friday. You must preregister at the above site. I hope to see a few names from GL on the competitors list!!

PuzzleScot (Alan)

jesternl · Yankee Doodle Dutchie

Wow, have a great time in Turkey!

Antrax · ESL Student

Heh. I imagine you'll find the weather there much nicer Felicitous

Enjoy!
_________________
After years of disappointment with get rich quick schemes, I know I'm gonna get rich with this scheme. And quick!

Zag · Tired of his old title

Wow!! Good luck!

PuzzleScot · Daedalian Member

Thank-you all. Yes, it will be MUCH warmer than 'sunny Scotland' !!

In fact, it was a bit tricky finding summer gear in the shops (sun lotion etc) - I'd have been fine if we'd been going to Iceland!

Must pack. I'll report back on Monday, though you can keep track of scores etc at the above website. Honestly, my 2 goals are
1) finish in the top half of the table
2) be top UK competitor (and earn a 'free pass' to next year's event)

My money's on Ulrich Voigt for the individual championship title, and USA narrowly beating Germany and Hungary for the team title...

Some of you may know some of the American team:
Wei-Hwa Huang (author the google puzzles section - long time google techy)
Roger Barkan (prolific puzzle author, including 'MIT mystery hunts')
Nick Baxter (another prolific name in puzzling)
Will Shortz (US Crossword/KenKen guru & NPR broadcaster)

Will is always looking out for puzzles to use on his radio show, so if anyone here has any suggestions, let me know asap. Or if anyone wants to ask him any questions, let me know..

Scurra · Daedalian Member

All the best, Alan. Sadly I shall be on a train at 2pm on Friday afternoon, so won't be able to play. Not that I'm any good at these sorts of puzzles anyway. They're far too "logical" for me Revenge most foul!

_________________
_{still Quiz Olympiad champion. Must get a life.

New definitions: COFFEE - someone who is coughed upon}

PuzzleScot · Daedalian Member

I'm back.

Ulrich indeed won the individual, and it was Germany who beat USA in the team - not far off with my predictions then...

The standard of competitors this year was extraordinary. eg, in the OAPC round (the 'live' round I discussed before), I finished 21 moderate difficulty puzzles in 2 hours - not a bad average... Ulrich did 40.