Crossword Tournament Program

The Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa provides special low guest room rates ($129, single or double occupancy plus $15 per night overnight self parking), available for contestants Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The rates are $129/night PER ROOM (plus tax) regardless of your choice. This rate is guaranteed through March 8, 2019 (rates afterward subject to room availability). If you need to come early or check out late, please call 800-732-9689 to make arrangements, as this link will only work for Thursday through Sunday. Last day to book is March 8, 2019.

1. Online: We will post a link to group rates in January
2. By phone: Phone call in your reservation to the Marriott at 1-800-732-9689 and be sure to ask for the Crossword Tournament group rate

Be prepared with the following information:

1. Group name: American Crossword Puzzle Tournament
2. Dates: March 22-24, 2019
3. Number of people and choice single, double w/1 bed, or double w/2 beds
4. Your name, (firm), address, and who you are sharing with. Note: to avoid duplication, submit one reservation for room shared by two or more people
5. Arrival date (Thursday, March 21, Friday, March 22, or Saturday, March 23)
6. Departure date (Sunday, March 24)
7. Credit card info (number and expiration date)

Note that reservations will be held until 6 pm unless guaranteed for late arrival. Contact Marriott for more information.

Check-in time is 3pm. Check-out time is noon.

Scoring is based on accuracy and speed. Score as follows:

1. 10 points for every correct word you entered across and down
2. A bonus of 25 points for each full minute you finished ahead of the suggested solution time — BUT reduced by 25 points for each missing or incorrect letter (but not beyond the point the bonus returns to zero)
3. A bonus of 150 points for each completely correct solution

For the purpose of scoring, a "word" consists of any series of letters written between black squares in the grid, or between a black square and the border of the grid, whether it is a single word, a phrase, or otherwise.

Complete rules will be explained prior to competition.

All crosswords have been specially created and edited for the tournament.

Sample Puzzles:

• Puzzle from 1993
• What's in a Name? (pdf)

The judges and referees include leading names in crossword puzzling.

243 Tresser Boulevard
Stamford, Connecticut 06901 USA

• Stamford Marriott

Flying Into...
Note: there is no shuttle service between airports and the hotel.

JFK 42 miles. Driving Directions: Take Van Wyck Expressway to Whitestone Bridge. Follow signs to I-95 North to Connecticut. Take I-95 North to Exit 8. Go up two lights, make a left on Canal Street. Second light make a right on Tresser Blvd. Then make first right into Marriott hotel, go to end and make a right into the Marriott Hotel parking garage. Taxi: Estimated $110 cab fare. Shuttle: Royal Club Limo/Connecticut Express Shuttle; fee: 145 USD (one way); reservation required.

LaGuardia - LGA: 35 miles. Driving Directions: Exit airport, take Grand Central Parkway towards Whitestone Bridge. Follow signs to I-95 North to Connecticut. Take I-95 North to Exit 8. Go up two lights, make a left on Canal Street. Second light, make a right on Tresser Blvd. Then make first right into the Marriott Hotel, go to end and make a right into the Marriott Hotel parking garage. Taxi: Estimated $110 cab fare. Shuttle: Alternate transportation: Royal Club Limo/Connecticut Express Shuttle; fee: 135 USD (one way); reservation required.

Westchester County White Plains Airport - HPN: 13 miles. Driving Directions: Take Route 684 South to 287 East. Follow signs for I-95 North to Connecticut. Take I-95 North to exit 8. Go up two lights and make a left on Canal Street. Second light make a right on Tresser Blvd. Then make a right into the Marriott Hotel, go to the end and make a right into the Marriott Hotel parking garage. Taxi: No estimate available. Shuttle: Alternate transportation: Royal Club Limo/Connecticut Express Shuttle; fee: 70 USD (one way); reservation required.

Public Transportation to the Stamford Marriott

The Stamford Marriott hotel is about 0.6 miles from the Metro North New Haven Line Stamford station. There are several economical ways to get to the Marriott from LaGuardia, JFK and Newark airports via public transportation. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA”) has a booklet that tells how to connect to the railroad:
http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/airconn/AirportBrochure.pdf

Now you can take part in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament — and find out how you'd score — from your own home!

1. On Your Computer: Solve the puzzles online on the weekend of the tournament, or at anytime throughout the year. Standings of online competitors are constantly updated. Click here for details.
   
   
2. By Mail: Receive this year's puzzles (upon completion of the tournament) by mail, solve them and return your solutions to us with your times. We'll judge your puzzles, send you your scores, and tell you your ranking in every event in which you were eligible. To Register, click here.