To the Nines

The Inquirer National Sudoku Championship

by Aaron Moselle

Walking into Ballroom D of the Pennsylvania Convention Center last Saturday for the second annual Inquirer National Sudoku Championship was like flipping to a PBS special about a remote undiscovered culture — though admittedly, not as interesting. Still, the scene was something to behold: Hundreds of Sudoku players lined up on tables, quiet but eager to see how their skills stacked up against competitors from across the country and abroad. "You never know until you try," said local Lance Noble, after the first of three preliminary rounds.

The majority of the competitors sat in the beginner and intermediate sections. In the smaller advanced section, the tables were adorned with regal red tablecloths. Pencils were used across the board, no one being so bold as to think they could solve a puzzle without a few missteps.

Behind each section were the designated "Sudoku Spectator Sections," where friends and family could show their support by sitting patiently and quietly as each round was under way. No cheering or booing — that would've broken everyone's competitive concentration. There were a few homemade signs, though. "Go Bob!" read one. "Solve First Chris" read another.

The whoops and woos would have to wait until the final rounds, where the top three players from each skill level competed against one another on oversize Sudoku boards. And while it was hard to keep track of each competitor's progress as they raced to complete the 81-square grid, it was easy to tell when someone had won: That was marked by a quick and jubilant fist pump, accompanied by a wide smile.

(aaron.moselle@citypaper.net)