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.
Born in 1952 and raised on an Arabian horse farm in Indiana, Will now lives near New York City in a Tudor-style house filled with books and Arts and Crafts furniture. When he's not at work, he enjoys bicycling, movies, reading, travel, and collecting antique puzzle books and magazines.
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NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with winner Erick Eklund of Santa Cruz, California, and puzzle master Will Shortz. -
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NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with winner Mary Springhorn of Bellingham, Washington and puzzle master Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe and Weekend Edition puzzlemaster Will Shortz play the puzzle with this week's winner, Michael Stripp of Richland, Michigan. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with winner Kel Hanlon of Jessup, Maryland and puzzle master Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with winner Brenda Moyse of Bentonville, Arkansas and puzzlemaster Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with listener Jamey Leahey of Danville, Kentucky, along with Weekend Edition puzzle master Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WUFT listener David Kurman of The Villages, Florida along Weekend Edition puzzle master Will Shortz. -
NPR's David Gura plays the puzzle with winner Gary Clements of Chapel Hill, North Carolina and puzzlemaster Will Shortz.
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NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with listener Kate Simpson of Kensington, Maryland and puzzle master Will Shortz.
