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 listener Carola Ratzlaff of Lawrence, Kansas. along with Weekend Edition puzzle master Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with winner Julia Wheeler of Kansas City, M.O., and puzzlemaster Will Shortz. -
Shrinidhi Rai plays the puzzle with puzzlemaster Will Shortz and NPR's Ayesha Rascoe. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with listener Kieran Cahalan of Weatherford, Okla., and puzzlemaster Will Shortz. -
Mitchell Szczepanczyk plays the puzzle with puzzlemaster Will Shortz and NPR's Ayesha Rascoe. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WOSU and WKSU listener Yossi Berkowitz and Puzzlemaster Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with listener, Karen Brock, and puzzlemaster, Will Shortz. -
NPR's Camila Domonoske plays the puzzle with listener Brice Harris and puzzlemaster, Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with listener Ned Toll and puzzlemaster Will Shortz. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with listener Terrence Bennett of Upper Black Eddy, PA, and NPR Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.
