Crossword puzzle fans have the chance to show off their skills and compete against others all for a good cause at the Fifth Annual North Florida Crossword Puzzle Tournament this Saturday.
The tournament will be held at the Terrace Room in Norman Hall on the corner of Southwest 13th Street and Southwest Fifth Avenue from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This year, all the proceeds made from the tournament will go to benefit Caleb’s Pitch, a nonprofit organization in Gainesville that grants experiences with UF athletic teams for hospitalized children.
There will be separate competitions for individuals and teams of three. The overall winner of the individual division wins a $500 travel award to the national tournament, which will be held in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 18 to 20.
The cost to enter the tournament is $40 per person, $30 for students and seniors, $100 per team of three and $75 for a student or senior team of three. Paul Sindelar, tournament master of ceremonies and UF education professor, said what motivates most people to participate is the chance to compete and to socialize.
“All puzzle wonks do at least a puzzle a day, usually alone,” Sindelar said. “The tournament gives them an opportunity to talk with other crossword puzzle lovers while contributing to a very good cause.”
