In a thrilling culmination of linguistic wit and mental agility, Team England made a clean sweep at the first-ever World Cryptic Crossword Championship —Team Championship, held at The Nehru Centre, London. The prestigious event saw Mark Goodliffe, the 13 times winner of the Times Crossword Championship, clinching the WCCC 2025- World Cup champion’s title, followed by Colin Thomas as the first runner-up, and John Henderson securing the third spot, firmly establishing England’s dominance in the global cryptic crossword arena.
Rounding off the top six were Philip Coote from Australia, Matthew Marcus from the USA, and Shashwat Salgaonkar from India, who showcased formidable skill and earned international acclaim in a contest that brought together elite crossword solvers and setters from across continents.
The first ranker amongst the Winners of WCCC 2025 World Cup is Mark Goodliffe (England) followed by Colin Thomas (England) as first runner-up and John Henderson (England) as the second runner-up. Philip Coote (Australia) stood at 4th, Matthew Marcus (USA) at 5th and Shashwat Salgaonkar from India at 6th. The contest was conceptualized and organised by Extra-C, under the leadership of Vivek Singh, President of the World Crossword Federation (WCWF), with the goal of establishing a global stage for crossword excellence. “Crossword puzzles have endured for over 111 years-older than many celebrated sports,” said Singh during the inaugural address.
“Despite their rich heritage and global following, crossword setters and solvers have rarely enjoyed the international spotlight they deserve. The WCCC was born out of that desire to create a world platform-one that would honour, celebrate, and inspire the cruciverbalist community. London, being the spiritual birthplace of the crossword, was the natural choice for this momentous beginning,” said Singh.
The event was inaugurated by Naorem J Singh (IFS), Director of The Nehru Centre, London, who served as the Chief Guest and applauded the championship for bridging cultural and intellectual borders through a shared love of language, according to a Press release by the organiser.
The competition unfolded in two high-stakes rounds: In the Preliminary Round (Off- Stage), all participants were challenged to solve two demanding cryptic crossword puzzles in just 60 minutes. Performance was judged on accuracy and time. The Final Round (On-Stage) brought the six top scorers into the spotlight for a dramatic cold-solve of two cryptic grids-no letters revealed-in a quiz-style face-off.
Veteran crossword expert Ochintya Sharma masterfully conducted the high-stakes on-stage round, captivating both participants and the audience with his trademark charm, intellectual agility, and crisp delivery. With years of experience in the world of cryptic clues, he effortlessly balanced intensity with humor, offering insightful commentary and maintaining an engaging tempo throughout the contest.
“The difficulty level and quality of the puzzles were exceptional. It’s wonderful to see an event that unites the global crossword community in such a meaningful way,” said Mick Hodgkin, Puzzle Editor at The Times. Suzie Mesure, a prominent crossword columnist, spotlighted a powerful shift in the puzzle community. “English cryptic crosswords have long been male-dominated. It was encouraging to see women like Jeane Willson (UK), Anicha Rebuam (Germany), and Sowmya Ramkumar (Bahrain) actively competing and excelling. This contest is helping challenge the norms and open doors for new voices-especially young female setters,” Mesure added.
Vinayak Ekbote, Vice President of the Crossword Association of Delhi, brought a perfect blend of poise, wit, and command to the stage as he expertly moderated the entire event. His articulate commentary, seamless transitions, and deep understanding of crossword culture added depth and dynamism to the proceedings, ensuring the championship unfolded with energy, clarity, and finesse.
The World Cryptic Crossword Contest — Team Championship is the first global initiative dedicated to celebrating cryptic crossword excellence. Founded by Extra-C and endorsed by the World Crossword Federation, the WCCC seeks to elevate crosswords to a competitive and cultural phenomenon on par with international mind sports.