THEMELESS MONDAY: [ ACROSS LITE][ PDF]
PROGRAMS: [Across Lite] [Adobe Reader]
Phew, what a weekend. Another ACPT in the books, and that means another silver bowl trophy for Dan Feyer. It sure looked like Paolo Pasco was going to take his (eventual) first crown, but a couple half dozen squares in the dastardly Kameron Austin Collins themeless just weren't going to fall. Paolo got them right, mind you, but those hiccups were enough to slow him down and allow ole' Steely to overtake him for yet another title. Incredible work, gentlemen (that includes yet another perennial champion and another head on Mount Rushmore, Tyler Hinman who took third). Looking forward to the rematch in 2024. Unless somebody else makes it up on stage. Shout out to Ben Zimmer for the Emmanuel Lubezki-esque video of the finals up above.
As always, you can your mitts on a copy of the puzzles here. I am hoping that they include the special #1 puzzle in the pack, which had (NO SPOILERS!) the greatest music-related clue in the entire tournament. As for the rest of the lot, the strongest puzzle was by Joel Fagliano (my modest opinion only, feel free to disagree) for a rather creative gimmick that couldn't be made using software. Like the old school dayz. But they're all good. Anyway, pick up a copy if you want to. Or don't.
If you came over and said "hey," it was a pleasure to meet you. I only wish all of our conversations went on longer. There's just Too Many People to meet/reconnect with, and every year that list keeps getting longer. Amazing. I guess the next event that I could maybe possibly make it to is Lollapuzzoola, which looks like will be ... (checks other tab) ... August 19. Watch this space.
Looking for more puzzles? The Hub Crossword (Sunday puzzles by me and Joon Pahk) and Marching Bands year nine is about to begin. So if that To Do list needs even more puzzles, you know what to do.
Share the puzzle. New one on Thursday.
Brendan Emmett Quigley creates custom-made puzzles for all occasions: birthdays and bar mitzvahs, anniversaries and retirements. You name it. Need a puzzle for your website or your publication? He can do that, too.
Brendan's custom work clients have included The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, BeerAdvocate, Boston Magazine, De Beers, The Decemberists, ESPN, The Improper Bostonian, Lollapuzzoola, McSweeney's, Phish, Reflexive, The Smithsonian Magazine, St. Martin's Press, Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, and Andrew Weil.
Call (617) 2-999-BEQ or click 
